Criminal Justice

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 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.

To improve criminal justice through educational activities.
To foster professionalism in law enforcement personnel and agencies.
To promote professional, academic, and public awareness of criminal justice issues.
To encourage the establishment and expansion of higher education and professional training in criminal justice.
To provide a unified voice for professionals in, and students of, criminal justice.
To promote high standards of ethical conduct, professional training, and higher education within the criminal justice field.

As the voice of the community corrections industry, the American Probation and Parole Association (APPA) serves as the field’s leading professional membership association. Our work is supported by thousands of passionate members throughout the U.S. and Canada, as well as other countries actively involved in strengthening community corrections work.

The American Society of Criminology is an international organization whose members pursue scholarly, scientific, and professional knowledge concerning the measurement, etiology, consequences, prevention, control, and treatment of crime and delinquency.

Established in 1995, the National Association of Forensic CounselorsTM is the first certification board to develop standards and establish the specialty professions of Forensic Counselor and Criminal Justice Specialist, and the very first certification board to develop standards and establish certification for Human Trafficking Victims Services Providers.

The NCJA exist to promote the justice systems that: enhance public safety, prevent and reduce the harmful effects of criminal and delinquent behavior, adjudicate defendants and sanction offenders fairly and justly, and that are effective and efficient.