After an analysis of the data, we regretfully bid you
FAREWELL
In 1972, forty criminal justice researchers from Northern and Southern California met and formed the Association for Criminal Justice Research (California chapter). Much of the initial inspiration and guidance for ACJRCA came from Sheldon Messinger, a professor at the School of Criminology and the School of Law at the University of California at Berkeley. One of the most important decisions made in these initial years was that the Association should encourage interaction between academic researchers, government agency analysts and program directors, and other practitioners.
Over the past fifty-three years the Association’s twice-yearly conferences encouraged cooperative relations among an eclectic mix of researchers, program evaluators, academics, consultants, and program staff, with students of criminal justice encouraged to participate as well. Over time, a new generation took over the operations of the Association through its Board of Directors. Continuity was achieved through our dedicated Executive Director, Ann Goolsby, who organized more than 90 conferences. Our information outreach was expanded through the addition of this website.
Prior to the Covid pandemic, yet another generation of researchers joined the Board and plans to add social media options and update our conference format were discussed. The Covid pandemic shut down our in-person conferences and many Board members became involved in other opportunities and priorities. The activities of the Association have always depended on the volunteer efforts of the officers and Board. The amount of work required to organize conferences, maintain the website, and expand into social media uses was beyond the capacity of the remaining Board members, and there were no longer enough active members to revive the Association.
And so the remaining directors made the regretful but necessary decision to dissolve the Association. One of the key tasks was finding a non-profit with a similar mission to ACJRca to whom we could donate our remaining funds. The letter from of the Robert Presley Center of Crime and Justice Studies at the University of California, Riverside accepting our funds appears in another section of the Home Page.
Over the life of the Association, the sharing of much important information led to many impactful decisions that improved many areas of criminal justice in California. We celebrate our achievements and move on to other endeavors.
Presley Letter
September 11, 2025
Dear Members of the Association of Criminal Justice Research of California,
On behalf of the Presley Center of Crime & Justice Studies at the University of California, Riverside, I would like to extend our deepest gratitude for your organization’s service in catalyizing conversations and creating space for dialogue about criminal justice. Your knowledge-sharing efforts have been instrumental in shaping a more connected and informed criminal justice community.
We are honored by your generous offer to entrust our Center with your remaining funds of $22,000.00. We view this as not only an investment in our work, but also as a continuation of ACJRC’s mission to stimulate critical discussion and knowledge exchange on criminal justice issues in our state.
The Presley Center’s research program focuses on topics vital to criminal justice: re-entry and rehabilitation, workforce reintegration of justice-impacted individuals, and broader efforts to strengthen evidence-based practice and policy. We are committed to advancing high-quality research that speaks directly to policymakers, practitioners, and community. Just as importantly, we are deeply invested in disseminating our findings broadly—through academic publications, reports for practitioner audiences, presentations to policymakers, and stakeholder convenings—so that knowledge can support meaningful action. Further, the Presley Center also works closely with undergraduate and graduate students through fellowships, internships, and mentoring, preparing them to carry forward the values of rigorous research and public service that ACJRC has long championed.
Your trust in our work is profoundly meaningful and we are committed to honoring ACJRC’s legacy by using these funds to continue advancing criminal justice research in California and ensuring that findings reach a wide community of practitioners, community members, students, and academics – akin to those you have brought together over the years.
With our gratitude,
Sharon S. Oselin, Ph.D.
Director, Presley Center of Crime & Justice Studies
Professor, School of Public Policy
University of California, Riverside