ABOUT ACJRCA

DESCRIPTION

The Association for Criminal Justice Research ( California) is a dynamic mix of analysts: in academia, in government, and in other agencies; and providers: those in public service, those in non-profit agencies, and those consulting for all of the above entities. The persons from these diverse backgrounds are united by their common interest in criminal justice and the criminal justice system, particularly in this country, and by their belief that a data-based, analytical approach is needed to improve both the justice process and the delivery of services.

The Association believes that the key means of furthering this improvement is through discussions in which the most diverse group participates. To this end, the Association organizes two conferences each year, and has for over thirty years. One conference occurs in Northern California each spring, the other in Southern California in the fall. Conference programs are developed to deliberately include participants from all of the groups mentioned above, and to include a variety of topics of current interest. These topics and presenters range from law enforcement to drug therapies, from policy issues and policymakers to statistical program evaluations. The size of the Association and size of the conferences has been allowed to remain rather small so that all attendees can feel comfortable attending the same session and in participating in the discussions that follow.

In addition to the discussions and networking that occur at the conferences, information is shared by a regularly published newsletter and through this website. As technology continues to develop, the Association hopes to provide additional networking and discussion options.
 

MISSION/PURPOSE

The Mission or Purpose of the Association for Criminal Justice Research ( California) is to stimulate and improve research on crime, delinquency, and the criminal justice process. It seeks to encourage cooperative relations among persons engaged or interested in research in the criminal justice area for scientific purposes. All activities of the Association are for the public interest, therefore all research performed by the Association and all activities of the Association will be for the benefit of the general public.

 

VALUES

The primary values of the Association are as follows:

 

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE

ASSOCIATION FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE RESEARCH ( CALIFORNIA)
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In 1972, forty criminal justice researchers from Northern and Southern California met and formed the Association for Criminal Justice Research ( California chapter). On December 2, 1972, the Association was incorporated and the first Board of Directors was elected. Much of the initial inspiration and guidance for ACJR CA 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 not be restricted to an academic focus – there already were several such organizations around – but should encourage interaction between academic researchers, government agency analysts, and program directors and other practitioners.

The Association was formed in order to stimulate and improve research on crime, delinquency and the criminal justice process. Through the establishment of twice-yearly conferences, the Association sought to encourage cooperative relations among persons engaged in researching criminal justice programs. With the initial focus of inclusion of all those interested in criminal justice issues from a research perspective, these conferences quickly expanded into an exciting, eclectic mix of researchers, program evaluators, academics, consultants, and program staff. United by a common involvement in the criminal justice process and a common desire to improve criminal justice programs, conference participants enjoyed excellent and varied presentations and the lively discussions that followed.

One conference was held in Southern California. For many years this conference was held in the Claremont area, then it moved down to San Diego. For the past few years the conference has been located in Long Beach, which seems the most inviting and convenient for persons in Southern California who would be traveling from San Diego, Orange or Ventura Counties, the Inland Empire (San Bernardino and Riverside), as well as from the many parts of Los Angeles County. The Northern California conference has been held in the Sacramento area, and has attracted researchers and analysts from a number of state agencies, as well as drawing persons from the Bay Area and other parts of Northern California.

The conferences have remained small enough to allow stimulating presentations and vigorous discussions of relevant criminal justice issues. The conferences have allowed the development of strong bonds between program practitioners and those with more analytic and evaluative backgrounds and positions. This networking mix has provided all Association members with new resources and ideas. The variety of recent conference topics can be seen by looking at materials posted elsewhere on this web site. One last goal of the Board of Directors regarding conferences needs to be mentioned: The Board has strived to keep the costs of attending the conferences as low as possible to enable more persons, including those working for non-profit agencies and students, to attend. A look at our conference registration form will make this desire to keep costs low quite evident, with registration fees under $100 for the two-day conference.

In addition to the conferences, the Association has continued to inform its members, provide additional information and resources, and stimulate discussions by the regular distribution of a newsletter. The Board is actively involved in extending participation opportunities and the sharing of information through efforts to expand the newsletter. In the late 1990’s, a fairly extensive web site was established with the hope to provide additional interactive opportunities. The web site has now launched its third iteration. Additional opportunities to share ideas and resources are being incorporated into the site.

All of this work and information-sharing and participation are supported through a low membership fee of only $45 ($15 for full-time students). We hope that any non-members reading this will be encouraged to come to a conference and support our work by becoming members. For further information, contact the Executive Officer, Ann Goolsby at (510) 527-0264 or agoolsby@ berkeley.edu.

As an illustration of the diverse nature of our members, past presidents of the Association include:

Sheldon Messinger, Professor, School of Criminology & School of Law, UC Berkeley I.J. Shain, Director of Research, Judicial Council of California Solomon Kobrin, Sr. Research Associate, Institute for Social Science Research, USC Floyd Feeney, Center on Administration of Criminal Justice, UC Davis Malcolm Klein, Professor, Sociology, University of Southern California Keith Griffiths, Director of Research, California Youth Authority Daniel Glaser, Professor, Sociology, University of Southern California Elaine Duxbury, Research Manager, California Youth Authority Peter Greenwood, Criminal Justice, The RAND Corporation James Galvin, National Council on Crime and Delinquency Joan Petersilia, Criminal Justice, The RAND Corportation James Austin, Director of Research, National Council on Crime & Delinquency Robert Cushman, American Justice Institute Steve Crawford, Bureau of Criminal Statistics Robert Dickover, Research, Department of Corrections Susan Turner, Criminal Justice, The RAND Corporation Gwen Kurz, Orange County Probation Susan Collins, Orange County Probation Christine Curtis, San Diego Association of Governments Dale Sechrest, Professor, Criminal Justice, California State University, San Bernardino Norman Skonovd, California Youth Authority John Berecochea, Director of Research, Department of Corrections Shirley Melnicoe, Executive Director, Northern California Service League Hon. Tomar Mason, Judge, San Francisco Superior Court Darlanne H. Mulmat, San Diego Association of Governments Lyn Angene, San Diego Superior Court Michael Stefanko, Orange County District Attorney’s Office Sandy Hilger, Orange County Probation; Superior Court, Orange County

CURRENT BOARD OF DIRECTORS (through June 30, 2008)

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BOARD OF DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE RESEARCH ( CALIFORNIA) 2008-2009 With terms of office and affiliations LARRY CARR, 2008-2011 Chief, Offender Information Services, CA Department of Corrections/Rehabilitation, Sacramento FRANCES COLES, 2006-2009 President Professor (Retired), Criminal Justice, California State University, San Bernardino BOB CUSHMAN, 2006-2009 (Retired) County Criminal Justice Analyst, Santa Clara County RUDY HAAPANEN, 2008-2011 Chief of Research, Juvenile Justice Branch, CA Dept. of Corrections/Rehabilitation, Sacramento SANDRA HILGER, 2006-2009 Director of Planning & Research, California Superior Court, Orange County SHIRLEY HUNT, 2007-2010 Vice-President (South) Research Manager, Orange County Probation Department, Santa Ana JUILA JIM, 2007-2010 Secretary-Treasurer Grants Manager, Planning & Research, California Superior Court, Orange County JIM LINDBERG, 2005-2008 Vice-President-North Legislative Director, Friends Committee on Legislation, Sacramento AMANDA NOBLE, 2007-2010 Research Specialist, Attorney General’s Office, Sacramento BRIAN PACIOTTI, 2007-2010 Research Program Specialist, Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development, Sacramento KATIE PARSONS, 2006-2009 Research Manager, District Attorney’s Office of Orange County, Santa Ana CARRIE PETRUCCI, 2008-2011 Senior Research Associate, EMT, Encino MICHAEL PRENDERGAST, 2008-2011 Research Historian, Integrated Substance Abuse Programs, Los Angeles ELIZABETH SIGGINS, 2007-2010 Principal Consultant, California State Senate, Senate Rules Committee, Sacramento NORMAN SKONOVD, 2006-2009 Program Manager, Little Hoover Commission, Sacramento MICHAEL STEFANKO, 2008-2009 Director of Administration, Inner City Law Center, Los Angeles JASON AN COURT, 2008-2011 Coordinator, Violent Death Reporting System, CA Department of Public Health, Sacramento JENNIFER WALSH, 2007-2010 Associate Professor, Political Science, Azusa Pacific University, Azusa Ex Officio HON. TOMAR MASON, 2006-2009 Vice-President (North) Judge, California Superior Court, San Francisco

 

 

AWARDS
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In 2003, the Association’s Board of Directors decided to honor one of its founders, the recently deceased Sheldon Messinger, by initiating an award in his name. The first Sheldon Messinger Award was presented in the Fall of 2004 to Larry Bennett. The criteria for the Messinger Award is described below.

For a number of years, the American Justice Institute has awarded its McGee Career Achievement Award at the luncheon of the Spring ACJRCA conference. This spring the award was presented to Susan Turner. This award and the criteria used by the American Justice Institute to select recipients will be described below as soon as information is received from AJI.

THE SHELDON L. MESSINGER AWARD

The Association of Criminal Justice Research ( California) gives the Sheldon L. Messinger Award to honor an individual who has significantly contributed to the goals of the Association by mentoring researchers and encouraging collaboration among researchers and practitioners in criminal justice. Each year the President, in consultation with the Executive Committee, selects the awardee. The Award will be a certificate or plaque naming the awardee, giving a brief indication of her or his significant contributions and other relevant information. The President will determine that the awardee is willing to receive the award before announcing it. The award will be presented at the northern or southern conference. Expenses associated with travel to the conference will not be reimbursed. If the awardee is not a member of the Association she or he will not be required to register for the conference nor become a member in order to attend that conference.

The recipients of the Sheldon L. Messinger Award are:

2004 Lawrence A. Bennett

2007 Shirley Hunt