About ACJS

Who We Are

The Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences (ACJS) is an international association established in 1963 to foster professional and scholarly activities in the field of criminal justice. ACJS promotes criminal justice education, research, and policy analysis within the discipline of criminal justice for both educators and practitioners.

Our Mission

Our mission – Transforming Justice through Research, Education, and Practice – is the foundation of the association. Therefore, we actively support a diverse member base comprised of people from a variety of backgrounds including:

Scholars who are international in scope and multidisciplinary in orientation,
Professionals from all sectors of the criminal justice system, and
Students seeking to explore the criminal justice field as future scholars or practitioners.

Our Purpose

ACJS provides a forum for disseminating ideas related to issues in research, policy, education, and practice within the field. Through the vital interchange of ideas, ACJS members develop and share knowledge about critical issues regarding crime and criminal and social justice.

ACJS Statement on Academic Freedom

Our History

Learn more about ACJS' rich history here:

The History of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences (ACJS): Celebrating 50 years, 1963-2013
by Willard M. Oliver, Sam Houston State University and ACJS Historian

A Timeline of the Development of Criminology and Criminal Justice (CCJ) Education in the United States (1908 – 2024)
by John J. Sloan III, The University of Alabama at Birmingham

ACJS Membership

ACJS has over 2,000 members, representing every state in the United States, many countries, and virtually every institution of higher learning with a criminal justice/criminology program. Members may also choose to connect with an area of interest by joining a Section.

ACJS Sections

There are currently thirteen (13) ACJS Sections. Persons may join one or more Sections with their annual ACJS membership, renewal, or members can request to add a Section(s) to their existing membership by contacting the ACJS Manager at manager@acjs.org.

List of Sections:

ACJS Journals and Newsletter

ACJS provides online access from volume 1 of its three official journals, Justice Quarterly, the Journal of Criminal Justice Education, and Justice Evaluation Journal as a membership benefit. The online subscription for ACJS members also provides access to articles that are in line for publication through iFirst and a mechanism whereby members can obtain electronic notification as new articles and issues are published to the online system.

ACJS Today is the official online newsletter of the Academy, and it contains articles and book reviews applicable to the fields of criminal justice, criminology, sociology, and other related fields.

ACJS Annual Meeting

As the premiere Criminal Justice Sciences Association, ACJS is host to the industry’s elite annual meeting which is held nationally and provides hundreds of panels, seminars, and workshops. The ACJS Annual Meeting is an exciting vehicle to learn, grow, and network.

National Office
P.O. Box 960
Greenbelt, MD 20768-0960

Telephone:
(301) 446-6300
Email: info@acjs.org

Executive Director: John L. Worrall, Ph.D., acjsexecutivedirector@acjs.org

Association Manager: Letiscia Perrin, CMP, manager@acjs.org

Association Coordinator: Debra Grandy, BSN, BS, dgrandy@acjs.org