Professional Groups
This is a selection of professional organizations related to Criminal Justice. Joining a professional organization adds to your professional knowledge (most offer continuing education and development opportunities), allows you to network in the field, and shows future employers you are engaged in the professional community.
Most offer discounted student rates.
Why Get Involved?
- Expand your network: Make new connections with professionals who can hire or refer work to you. Participating in an organization should provide you with many opportunities to connect with professionals on a local, regional, national, and sometimes global level. Participating in special interest groups, sections, or discussion boards sponsored by an organization is another way to connect with people who are likeminded and/or working in the same niche you are.
- Boost your credibility and visibility: Being actively involved in your professional community can boost your credibility among your peers, your clients, and your prospects. Associations generally look to their members to share their unique expertise and their connections through their participation in the organization. Raise your hand for a leadership role to not only develop your skills as a leader but also to boost increase your visibility. Relating to other professionals who share common interests is a great way to strengthen your reputation.
- Professional development: Join a professional organization that directly aligns with your interests. Organizations often offer articles, webinars, reports, white papers, courses, workshops, seminars, conferences, and certifications to keep their members current on the latest industry research, innovations, and trends.
- Mentorship opportunities: Finding professionals—junior and senior—who can support your growth is a huge benefit in joining a professional association. There are also meaningful rewards in mentoring others, including honing your leadership abilities, learning new perspectives and insights, and feeling a sense of contribution.
- Build a support system: Making connections outside of your school who understand your circumstances and can offer guidance and insight is one of the most important reasons to join a professional organization. Strong bonds within professional organizations will improve your career opportunities, will help you garner more influence, and most importantly, will make work and life more fun.
Best practice: Don’t wait until you are in need to build your support system. Make the investment into developing authentic relationships early to build a network of advocates who want to see you succeed and are happy to help as needs arise.
- Academy of Criminal Justice SciencesOur mission – Transforming Justice through Research, Education, and Practice – is the foundation of the association. Therefore, we actively support a diverse member base comprised of people from a variety of backgrounds
- American Probation and Parole Association (APPA)The American Probation and Parole Association (APPA) is an international association composed of individuals from the United States and Canada actively involved with probation, parole, and community-based corrections. APPA serves, challenges, and empowers members and constituents by educating, communicating, and training; advocating and influencing; acting as a resource and conduit for information, ideas, and support; developing standards and models; and collaborating with other disciplines.
- American Society of Criminology (ASC)The American Society of Criminology is an international organization whose members pursue scholarly, scientific, and professional knowledge concerning the measurement, etiology, consequences, prevention, control, and treatment of crime and delinquency.
- International Association of Crime Analysts (IACA)The IACA is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) professional association comprised of criminal justice professionals, including working analysts, students, educators, researchers and private vendors. We have a common goal of furthering the field of crime analysis and the diversity of our membership provides many perspectives from which we can all learn more.
- Justice Information Resource Network (JIRN)The Justice Information Resource Network (JIRN) is a national non-profit and resource center for researchers, analysts, journalists, and practitioners of justice research. We produce nonpartisan, reputable, and comprehensive research exploring today’s crucial issues across the justice spectrum.
- National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice (NABCJ)The National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice seeks to focus attention on relevant legislation, law enforcement, prosecution, and defense-related needs and practices, with emphasis on law enforcement, courts, corrections, and the prevention of crime.
- National Criminal Justice Association (NCJA)The NCJA exist to promote the justice systems that: enhance public safety, prevent and reduce the harmful effects of criminal and delinquent behavior, adjudicate defendants and sanction offenders fairly and justly, and that are effective and efficient.
- American Bar Association (ABA)The ABA was founded in 1878 on a commitment to set the legal and ethical foundation for the American nation. Today, it exists as a membership organization and stands committed to its mission of defending liberty and pursuing justice.
- Federal Bar Association (FBA)The Federal Bar Association (FBA), founded in 1920, is dedicated to the advancement of the science of jurisprudence and to promoting the welfare, interests, education, and professional development of all attorneys involved in federal law.
- National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL)NACDL’s mission is to serve as a leader, alongside diverse coalitions, in identifying and reforming flaws and inequities in the criminal legal system, and redressing systemic racism, and ensuring that its members and others in the criminal defense bar are fully equipped to serve all accused persons at the highest level.
- National Black Prosecutors AssociationThe mission of the National Black Prosecutors Association (NBPA) is reflected in the organization’s commitment to the recruitment of blacks within the prosecutorial arm of the legal profession. It is to ensure not only retention of Blacks in prosecution, but also to correct the dramatic inequity that exists with respect to black representation in the executive ranks of prosecutors’ offices. A further goal is to recruit, train and mentor younger aspiring lawyers for leadership roles in the years ahead.
- National Conference of Black Lawyers (NCBL)The National Conference of Black Lawyers (NCBL) is an association of lawyers, scholars, judges, legal workers, law students, and legal activists. We exist for the purpose of enhancing our professional strength and skill for the benefit of the Black community in its struggle for full social political and economic rights. They are the legal arm of the Movement for Black Liberation.
- National Legal Aid & Defender Association (NLADA)Their mission statement: Because the quality of justice in America should not depend on how much money a person has, NLADA leads a broad network of advocates on the frontlines to advance justice and expand opportunity for all by promoting excellence in the delivery of legal services for people who cannot afford counsel.
- Association of Law Enforcement Intelligence Units (LEIU)The Association of Law Enforcement Intelligence Units (LEIU) is focused on providing leadership and promoting professionalism within the criminal intelligence community. This both enhances public safety and protects constitutional, civil liberties and other privacy rights.
- International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP)Their mission: The International Association of Chiefs of Police advances the policing profession through advocacy, research, outreach, and education.
- International Association of Women Police (IAWP)The International Association of Women Police (IAWP) is a global organization for women police officers and women in other criminal justice roles. Our mission is to strengthen, unite and raise the capacity of women police around the world.
- National Association of Chiefs of Police (NACOP)The mission of the National Association of Chiefs of Police is to support and promote the law enforcement profession.
- National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE)NOBLE consists of community leaders united in our mission to promote justice, equity, and excellence in the administration of justice.
- National Sheriffs' AssociationChartered in 1940, the National Sheriffs' Association is a professional association dedicated to serving the Office of Sheriff and its affiliates through law enforcement education and training, and through the provision of general law enforcement informational resources. NSA represents thousands of sheriffs, deputies and other law enforcement, public safety professionals, and concerned citizens nationwide.
- American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS)The American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) is a multidisciplinary professional organization that provides leadership to advance science and its application to the legal system. Our objectives are to promote professionalism, integrity, competency, education, foster research, improve practice, and encourage collaboration in the forensic sciences.
- American Polygraph Association (APA)The American Polygraph Association (APA) is a professional organization that exists to provide training, best practices, and professional resources for the continued growth of ethical and evidence-based detection of deception through the use of the polygraph. The APA membership consists of professional polygraph examiners, educators and researchers who share a common commitment to the public interest through the development, communication, and promotion of valid and ethical polygraph practices.
- High Technology Crime Investigation Association (HTCIA)HTCIA is an organization that provides education and collaboration to our members for the prevention and investigation of high tech crimes. HTCIA helps all those in the high technology field by providing extensive information, education, collective partnerships, mutual member benefits, board leadership and professional management.