SCJA Southern Criminal Justice Association

We've gotten a week to marinate in the excitement coming out of our time at Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences (ACJS) in Philadelphia, and many of us are in spring break season before the rush to the finish line of the semester resumes. 😎

🏖️ Whether you're at the beach or need to pretend, our latest issue of Crime & Grits makes for a great beach read:https://www.southerncj.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Issue12_March2026.pdf

📘 We also recommend checking out the newest issue of our journal, the American Journal of Criminal Justice, as well: https://link.springer.com/journal/12103

🏝️ To keep the sand and sun in your future, make your plans now to join us in Fort Lauderdale for our annual meeting in September! The theme is Justice in Transition: Innovation, Equity, and Community, abstracts are due June 15. Nomination details for annual awards will be announced soon.

📌 Want to get more involved in SCJA? We have two director-at-large positions on the executive board and 2nd Vice President position nominations open until May 8.

Details are in Crime & Grits for all of these opportunities and more!

🧳🗺️📷 In the meantime, we want to see how our SCJA members are spending their break! Comment below with yours. Your Records & Communication committee chair was reminiscing about our 2018 annual meeting in Pensacola, picking up some vintage coffee cups from one of our past presidents. Stay safe, take it easy, hydrate, and wear sunscreen, y'all!

It’s time! The SCJA Regional Reception is starting NOW at Sueño in Philly. 🚨
Drop your conference bags, grab a drink, and come hang out with the best region in criminology. Great food, amazing company, and top-tier networking. See y’all here! 🌮

Greetings from Philly! is officially underway, and we have the perfect reading material for your downtime between panels.

The Spring 2026 issue of our official SCJA newsletter, The Crime & Grits, is out now! ☕️📰

Whether you are here in Pennsylvania at Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences (ACJS) with us or following along from home, this issue has some updates you won't want to miss:

🌱 Grit & Growth: The SCJA Board shares their top tips for surviving and thriving at national conferences.

🏖️ Save the Date: The official announcement for our September 2026 Annual Meeting at The Westin Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort!

📊 Research into Practice: A brand new column by 1st VP Dr. Ben Stickle on bridging the gap between academia and the real world.

👋 Transitions: A farewell report from our ACJS Region II Rep Dr. John Stogner, and an intro to our 2nd VP, Dr. James Hawdon.

🗳️ Call for Nominations: Details on how to run for our 2026 Executive Board!

Read the full issue here:https://www.southerncj.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Issue12_March2026.pdf

🚨 SCJA AT ACJS REMINDERS 🚨

If you are at the conference, don't forget to connect with us!

📍 TODAY (Wed, Mar 4): General Business Meeting | 5:00 - 6:00 PM EST | Level 4, Rm 414-415 (Open to all!)

📍 TOMORROW (Thurs, Mar 5): SCJA Reception for members and prospective members| 6:00 - 9:00 PM | Sueño (114 S 12th St)

See you around the Marriott! 👋

Heading to Philadelphia next week for the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences (ACJS) annual meeting? With everyone heading that way in a week, make sure to connect with your regional colleagues while you're there! The Southern Criminal Justice Association is hosting two opportunities to engage:

-General Business Meeting: Wednesday, March 4th from 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM Eastern at the conference hotel (Level 4, Room 414-415). Open to ANYONE attending!

-SCJA Reception: Thursday, March 5th from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM at Sueño (114 S 12th St) for great food, drinks, and networking! It's only four minutes walking from the conference hotel, whether you're in your comfy shoes or the fancy ones.

Don't forget to check your ACJS Membership to verify that you're listed as a member of Region II. Safe travels and we'll see y'all in Philly!

The Southern Criminal Justice Association is pleased to release the Fall 2025 issue of our official newsletter, Crime & Grits. This issue provides updates on our activities and upcoming initiatives.

Featured in this issue:

-A detailed recap of the 2025 Annual Meeting in Charleston, South Carolina.

-An interview with Dr. Jeff Smith, recipient of the 2025 Outstanding Professional of the Year Award, discussing the integration of research and practice.

-Updates from the Editor of the American Journal of Criminal Justice, including recent publications and calls for papers.

-The inaugural installment of our "Grit & Growth" series, focusing on mentorship within the discipline.

We also invite members interested in service opportunities to reach out about joining our Records & Communication Committee to work on future issues and social media.
Read the full issue here:

www.southerncj.org

has come to an end, and what a brilliant week it has been here in Charleston!
Worry not, friends--as you look down the calendar towards the chilly months ahead, you can imagine the beautiful week on the beach next September for in Ft. Lauderdale!

Day 2 of is here! We have even more panels and roundtables available today, including three of the Presidential Discussant Panels. Today is our Student Day, which includes three sessions focused on supporting our student members looking towards what's next for them in research, academics, and practice. This includes our breakfast panel with Rick Dierenfeldt, Ph.D. , Dr. Shaun Thomas, Dr. Jodi Lane, and Dr. Matthew Wilkinson at 8:15-9:30.

Our Presidential Discussant Panels today include Drs. David May (Public Perception of the Profession: Bridging the Gap Between Police and the Public at 8:00 in Rutledge), Marvin Krohn (Early Life and Family Impacts on Juvenile Delinquency at 9:30 in Pinckney), and Brandon Applegate (Addressing Juvenile Delinquency: How Law Enforcement and the Public Impact Outcomes at 1pm in Pinckney).
We are especially excited for the poster session this afternoon from 3-5 PM in Carolina B. We have 35 posters, 23 of which are student-led! The judges for the Outstanding Student Poster Award committee will be milling about, and this event remains one of our most attended, year after year.
Then, join us for a tailgate-themed reception hosted by our sponsor Springer at 5:30pm in the Colonial Ballroom. Be sure to bring your school spirit for our second raffle benefitting FAVOR Lowcountry!

We have over 280 participants this year, and we could not be more excited to get the day underway.

Day 1, recap: after a day of panels, including the first of our Presidential Discussant sessions with Dr. Johanna Thomas from the University of Arkansas University of Arkansas - Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences Center for Social Research on gun violence.
We capped the day with President Julie Baldwin's Presidential Address & reception! The reception after was a hit, including a bounty of fresh seafood: stone crab claws, shrimp, and oysters.

Dr. Baldwin, Research Professor & Director of Center for Research & Collaborative Partnerships at American University School of Public Affairs, spoke to the theme of this year's meeting, "Bridging the Gap: Advancing Research to Practice". She discussed the imperative of science in developing sound policy and practice. As she wrote in the program, discussants and the address "promote discussion on how to take the presented research to the next step to inform practice, policy, programming, and other areas that make a difference in people's lives." Discussants were chosen for their, "extensive experience in [their] panel topic and, for many, also their dedicated work in having research make an impactful difference on the ground beyond the ivory tower." You will see the sessions with Presidential Discussants noted on the “At a Glance” pages, as well as in blue in the daily schedules.

We also had the first of our three raffles, benefitting the local non-profit FAVOR Low Country! All three nights' raffle proceeds will be donated to this local organization, which supports people overcoming substance use disorder and their families. We look forward to hearing from FAVOR during the Thursday luncheon.

Up and at 'em in Charleston, !
It is time for our 53rd annual meeting of the Southern Criminal Justice Association. This year, our theme is "Bridging the Gap: Advancing Research to Practice," for which we are eager to present several Presidential Discussant Panels throughout the next few days.

Day 1 kicks off this morning with the registration table and coffee to give you some pep in your step before our first sessions begin. We have our first Presidential Discussant panel this afternoon, the General Business meeting after, then rolling into Dr. Julie Baldwin's Presidential Address with reception to follow.

Our planning committees and Board are excited for you to have a great time here at the annual meeting in Charleston's beautiful Francis Marion Hotel. Whether it is your first time at Southern, a career-long fixture, and all in-between: we are glad you joined us!

Final program available here:
https://www.southerncj.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/2025-Program_FINAL_2025-09-02.pdf

While you're packing for Charleston, don't forget your school spirit! We have a tailgate theme reception Wednesday night. Our presidential line and past presidents are ready!