2026 ACJS ACADEMY AWARDS
Awards Committee Chair, Jason Williams, williamsjas@montclair.edu
Awards Committee Deputy Chair, Kimberly Dodson, DodsonK@UHCL.edu
List of Awards Sub-Committee Members
All awards are due by September 15, 2025, unless otherwise noted.
ACJS BRUCE SMITH, SR. AWARD
Awarded in recognition of outstanding contributions to criminal justice as an academic or professional endeavor. Award recipients are expected to attend the ACJS Annual Meeting and to make a presentation on their research at that meeting. Membership in the Academy is not a requirement. Prior recipients of the Bruce Smith Sr. Award are not eligible for nomination.
1. For outstanding contributions to criminal justice as an academic and/or professional endeavor.
2. Active involvement in criminal justice or other endeavors which have made substantial contributions to the emerging body of knowledge in criminal justice.
Deadline: September 15, 2025
Nominations sent to: Henry Pontell, pontell@uci.edu
Copy nomination to: Jason Williams, williamsjas@montclair.edu
ACADEMY FELLOW AWARD
For a distinguished contribution to justice education and scholarship.
- Active member in good standing of ACJS for at least five (5) consecutive years prior to being recommended.
- Scholarly achievement in the faculty member's discipline. Includes, but is not limited to, books, articles, reviews, technical reports, grants or papers to scholarly associations.
- Professional contributions to the Academy includes: active participation or leadership in the Academy through workshops, conferences, panels, or offices.
- Other recognitions to include: awards, fellowships, visiting lecture/professor, office holder in state, regional, national, or international societies.
- Minimum of five (5) years teaching courses on crime and/or criminal justice.
Prior recipients of the Academy Fellow Award are not eligible for nomination.
Deadline: September 15, 2025
Nominations sent to: George Higgins, gehigg01@louisville.edu
Copy nomination to: Jason Williams, williamsjas@montclair.edu
ACADEMY FOUNDERS AWARD
For outstanding service to ACJS and the profession.
- Active member in good standing of ACJS for at least the five (5) past consecutive years prior to being recommended.
- Through service activities, has made a substantial contribution to the Academy and to the discipline of criminal justice.
Prior recipients of the Academy Fellow Award are not eligible for nomination.
Deadline: September 15, 2025
Nominations sent to: Brian Payne, bpayne@odu.edu
Copy nomination to: Jason Williams, williamsjas@montclair.edu
ACADEMY NEW SCHOLAR AWARD
The Academy New Scholar Award recognizes outstanding scholarly contributions to the study of crime and/or criminal justice by someone who has received his/her most recent doctoral degree within the past six (6) years. Scholarly contributions include, but are not limited to, books, articles, book chapters, reviews, technical reports, grants, or papers to scholarly associations.
Deadline: September 15, 2025
Nominations sent to: Aleksandra Snowden, aleksandra.snowden@mu.edu
Copy nomination to: Jason Williams, williamsjas@montclair.edu
OUTSTANDING BOOK AWARD
In recognition of the best book published in the area of criminal justice. Nominations for the Outstanding Book Award are restricted to members of the Academy. Individuals who are involved in the production of a book, or who have a financial interest in it, may not nominate that book for this award.
Deadline: August 31, 2025
Nominations sent to: Melissa Morabito, melissa.morabito@uml.edu
Copy nomination to: Jason Williams, williamsjas@montclair.edu
MICHAEL C. BRASWELL/ROUTLEDGE OUTSTANDING DISSERTATION AWARD
The award for the dissertation selected will include a $300 stipend, and the dissertation will be eligible for consideration to be published as a Routledge Monograph. Nominations must include a carefully edited, electronic copy of the dissertation. For the outstanding criminal justice-related dissertation award, the following criteria are considered:
- Relevancy of research problem.
- Quality of theoretical orientation.
- Rigor of empirical and/or logical documentation.
- Quality of writing.
- Dissertations must have been completed within two years of nomination.
Deadline: September 15, 2025
Nominations sent to: Daniela Peterka-Benton, peterkabentd@montclair.edu
Copy nomination to: Jason Williams, williamsjas@montclair.edu
DONAL MACNAMARA AWARD
The MacNamara Award for Outstanding Journal Publication was created by a donation to ACJS from Dr. Donal MacNamara, one of the Academy of Criminal Justice founding scholars. The purpose of the award is to recognize outstanding scholarship published in one of the publication venues of the Academy (Justice Quarterly, Journal of Criminal Justice Education, Justice Evaluation Journal and ACJS Today).
Deadline: September 15, 2025
Nominations sent to: Volkan Topalli, vtopalli@gsu.edu
Copy nomination to: Jason Williams, williamsjas@montclair.edu
WILLIAM L. SIMON/ROUTLEDGE OUTSTANDING PAPER AWARD
The award for the selected paper will include a $500 stipend. Nominations must include a carefully edited, electronic copy of the paper.
- Award is for the outstanding paper presented at the 2025 Annual Meeting.
- Conceptual and methodological rigor in the development of the thesis and its subsequent empirical or logical documentation.
- Theoretical or pragmatic relevance of the thesis and its importance to the developing body of knowledge for criminal justice.
- Formal organization of material, flow of ideas, and clarity of narrative.
Deadline: September 15, 2025
Nominations sent to: Katherine Durante, katherine.durante@soc.utah.edu
Copy nomination to: Jason Williams, williamsjas@montclair.edu
KEN PEAK AWARD
The purpose of this award is to recognize and honor criminal justice and criminology faculty members for innovative teaching methods. The goal is to identify, acknowledge, and disseminate innovation in relation to learning and teaching; therefore, the focus of the nomination should be clearly evidenced by specific practices that are replicable and effective.
Eligibility: The nominee must be: (1) a full-time faculty appointment (i.e., lecturer, assistant professor, associate professor, professor) in a criminal justice department or program; (2) a member in good standing of ACJS; and (3) teaching courses in criminology or criminal justice at a regionally accredited, post-secondary institution. Nominees who meet the above criteria may be at any point in their career and can be either self-nominated or recommended by an academic colleague. Previous recipients are not eligible. Award recipient(s) are expected to attend the ACJS Annual Meeting and participate in the SAGE/ACJS Professional Development Teaching Workshop and present their innovative teaching method at the Workshop.
Award amount: $3,000 per awardee
Number of Awardees: 1-2
PDF of Award Description and Submission Materials
Deadline: September 15, 2025
Nominations sent to: Sherill Morris-Francis, svmorrisfrancis@pvamu.edu
Copy nomination to: Jason Williams, williamsjas@montclair.edu
ACADEMY LEADERSHIP AND INNOVATION AWARD (PRACTITIONER)
Nominations of practitioners are being accepted for the new ACJS Leadership and Innovator Award. Practitioners are individuals employed in a professional capacity in the criminal justice system, related and ancillary programs, services, and agencies such as victim services, juvenile justice, case management and treatment, drug/alcohol and mental health services, and community coalitions, as well as research, government, or public service.
This award will be given in recognition of a practitioner whose work has had a direct, positive, and significant effect on the criminal justice system, with a commitment to improving the criminal justice system. These contributions may include program development, policy implementation, education, training, direct services, research, and legislative action.
Nominees need not be ACJS members. Regional Organizations affiliated with ACJS and ACJS members may nominate a practitioner for this award by submitting a letter of nomination. The nomination letters shall include the nominees’ full contact information, resume, and rationale for the nomination. ACJS will recognize the Awardee at its annual ceremony during the ACJS Annual Meeting. The Awardee will receive a plaque, a $600 monetary award, and one year membership in ACJS.
Deadline: September 15, 2025
Nominations sent to: Christine Tartaro, Christine.Tartaro@stockton.edu
Copy nomination to: Jason Williams, williamsjas@montclair.edu
ACADEMY CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCY OR NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION LEADERSHIP AND INNOVATION AWARD
Criminal justice agencies and non-profit organizations include agencies such as corrections, police, victim services, juvenile justice, case management and treatment, drug/alcohol and mental health services, and community coalitions, as well as research, government, or public service, along with related and ancillary programs, and services.
This award will be given in recognition of a criminal justice agency or non-profit organization whose work has had a direct, positive, and significant effect on the criminal justice system, with a commitment to improving the criminal justice system. These contributions may include community outreach, program development, policy implementation, education, training, direct services, research, and legislative action.
Nominees need not be institutional ACJS members. Regional Organizations affiliated with ACJS and ACJS members may nominate a criminal justice agency or non-profit organization for this award by submitting a letter of nomination. The nomination letters shall include the nominees’ full contact information and rationale for the nomination. The winner of this award is expected to send an agency or organizational representative to the ACJS Annual Meeting and will receive a $600 travel stipend.
Deadline: September 15, 2025
Nominations sent to: Christine Tartaro, Christine.Tartaro@stockton.edu
Copy nomination to: Jason Williams, williamsjas@montclair.edu
ACJS OUTSTANDING MENTOR AWARD
The ACJS Outstanding Mentor Awards honor outstanding mentors who, during the course of their career, have made a significant contribution to the professional development of graduate students and junior faculty members in criminal justice. These outstanding mentors will be honored in recognition of their excellence in the role of student/faculty mentor as evidenced by their willingness and commitment to foster the professional growth and achievement of students and faculty. The award will be limited to three (3) recipients; however, strong consideration will be given to those nominees who have letters submitted on their behalf which demonstrate and articulate a level of commitment, dedication, and support which go above and beyond the normal expectation of a faculty member in their job role.
All members of ACJS are invited to nominate candidates. This is your opportunity to voice your opinion and recognize a faculty member (current or retired) who, in your judgment, deserves acknowledgment as an outstanding mentor.
Deadline: September 15, 2025
Nominations sent to: Candace Griffith, cagriffith@augusta.edu
Copy nomination to: Jason Williams, williamsjas@montclair.edu
DOROTHY BRACEY/JANICE JOSEPH MINORITY AND WOMEN NEW SCHOLAR AWARD
The Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences Affirmative Action Committee will decide one award to recognize outstanding academic contributions by new minority and female scholars in honor of the first female and racial minority ACJS Presidents. The award will be $1,000.
To be eligible for this award, the applicant must meet the following criteria:
- Be a woman or a member of a group that has experienced historical discrimination.
- Be a current member of ACJS.
- Have obtained a Ph.D. within the past seven (7) years.
- Demonstrated a strong record as a new scholar in the areas of research, teaching, and service.
- Not previously received this award.
- Be willing and able to attend the Annual Meeting.
- The applicant must have submitted a proposal for a paper or poster presentation for the Annual Meeting to the ACJS website by the due date.
Award and Application details to download
Deadline: October 16, 2025
Nominations sent to Affirmative Action Committee Chair: Miltonette O. Craig, moc006@shsu.edu
Copy nomination to: Jason Williams, williamsjas@montclair.edu
ACJS NATIONAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE MONTH AWARDS
The Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences’ National Criminal Justice Month Committee is accepting nominations for awards in recognition of National Criminal Justice Month events. Three plaques will be awarded to academic departments, schools, colleges, and/or universities for National Criminal Justice Month celebrations that focus on education, community engagement, as well as an overall program of the year award. Efforts will be made to highlight the award winners on the ACJS website as well as in ACJS Today. For more information on National Criminal Justice Month please visit: https://www.acjs.org/national-cj-month/.
Applications may be made for each of the three awards, but departments are only eligible to win one award per year.
Deadline: September 15, 2025
Applications sent to: Lisa M. Carter, lcarter@flsouthern.edu
Copy nomination to: Jason Williams, williamsjas@montclair.edu
SAGE JUNIOR FACULTY PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TEACHING AWARDS
These awards provide deserving junior faculty with travel reimbursement scholarships of $700 to participate in the Annual Meeting in 2026 and to attend the ACJS Teaching Workshop. Up to four (4) awards will be given.
To be eligible for this award, the applicant must:
- Be a current ACJS member at the time of application.
- Have received their most recent graduate degree with the past 5 years.
- Have taught full-time for less than 5 years. There is no limit on part-time teaching experience.
- Be currently teaching in a criminal justice/criminology program at a regionally accredited institution of higher education.
- Be an untenured faculty member or doctoral-level teaching assistant.
- Have submitted a complete electronic application by the due date.
Award and Application details to download
Deadline: September 15, 2025
Nominations sent to: Robert Bing, rbing@uta.edu
Copy nomination to: Jason Williams, williamsjas@montclair.edu
ACJS MINORITY MENTORSHIP GRANT AWARD
The ACJS Minority Mentorship Grant Award was created to provide opportunities for mentorship of minority doctoral students or junior faculty by senior criminal justice professors at the same or another institution within the ACJS organization. The goal is to facilitate a mentoring relationship between new or junior faculty and senior faculty to facilitate the former's professional development for a productive criminal justice academic career. The Awardee will receive an award check of $1,000 and a certificate. The Mentee will receive a certificate.
Deadline: September 15, 2025
Nominations sent to: Lee Ross, lross@ucf.edu
Copy nomination to: Jason Williams, williamsjas@montclair.edu
ACJS STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP AWARD
The Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences’ Student Affairs Committee is accepting nominations for the ACJS Student Scholarship Awards. Two students (one at the Master’s level and another at the Ph.D. level) will receive funding in the amount of $600 each to apply towards travel to the annual ACJS conference. The award is to support meritorious scholarship by students (as evidenced by the paper the student will present) and to enable them to present their research at the Annual Meeting. The student need not have the recommendation of a faculty member to be considered. Self-nominations are welcome. While a nominee may submit a single paper for multiple awards, a single paper may only be the basis for one ACJS scholarship award each year.
Deadline: October 16, 2025
Nominations sent to: Jennifer C. Noble, noble@csus.edu
Copy nomination to: Jason Williams, williamsjas@montclair.edu
STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP MINI-GRANT TRAVEL AWARD FOR PEOPLE OF COLOR AND WOMEN
The Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences' Affirmative Action Committee is accepting applications for two mini grants targeted to racial/ethnic minority and women students for the purpose of promoting the involvement of all minority groups in the Academy. These grants will permit students to attend and present a research paper at the ACJS Annual Meeting in 2026. Each award will be for a maximum of $600. Recipients also receive complimentary two-year ACJS Student membership. Recipients are required to submit receipts to receive reimbursement for their expenses. While a nominee may submit a single paper for multiple awards, a single paper may only be the basis for one ACJS scholarship award each year.
Deadline: September 15, 2025
Nominations sent to Affirmative Action Committee Chair: Miltonette O. Craig, moc006@shsu.edu
Copy nomination to: Jason Williams, williamsjas@montclair.edu