About Us

The Southern Criminal Justice Association is a regional organization affiliated with the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences.

SCJA is a professional association serving criminal justice educators, researchers, practitioners, and students committed to the ongoing development of criminal justice science and practice.

Member states include Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina, Mississippi, Louisiana, Kentucky, Virginia, West Virginia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

Membership in SCJA facilitates professional development and interaction.

Each year is highlighted by the annual conference which rotates to a different location within the region. The conference provides opportunities to access the most current research findings on a wide range of criminal justice related topics. Members participate by presenting papers in panels and in roundtable discussions. Social receptions and activities provide members an opportunity for professional fellowship and the friendly atmosphere welcomes student participation.

Annual dues include a subscription to the official journal of SCJA, the American Journal of Criminal Justice. This journal publishes article length manuscripts and research notes on a broad range of current criminal justice topics. The Journal is multi-disciplinary and serves both an academic and practitioner audience. Each issue also includes reviews of new books of criminal justice interest.

Electronic access to the Journal of Quantitative Criminology is also provided to members of SCJA through the journal’s publisher, Springer.

SCJA is governed by officers and a Board of Directors elected by the membership. The work of the organization is performed in committees and several opportunities to serve exist.