ASC’s Commitment to Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

The American Society of Criminology (ASC) strives to foster an inclusive community of scholars, researchers, practitioners, teachers, and students who are committed to advancing criminological knowledge as well as criminological practice in ways that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion. As an international organization, we recognize the imperative of promoting these values in every facet of our mission and activities, as well as within the field of criminology writ large.

Growing a Diverse Pipeline: ASC is committed to nurturing a robust pipeline of diverse criminologists, recognizing that broad perspectives enrich and advance the field in ways that expand and deepen our impact. We are committed to creating and nourishing opportunities for mentorship, teaching, research collaboration, and professional development to empower the next generation of criminologists.

Centering Marginalized Communities: ASC acknowledges the profound impact of crime and crime control measures on marginalized people and communities in the context of broad systemic inequalities. We pledge to initiate, sustain, and promote research and scholarship that address the deeply entrenched challenges faced by marginalized people and communities and to ensure that their voices are heard, understood, and valued in our academic and professional discourse and practices. By doing so, we aim to amplify our contributions to the meaningful development of solutions that promote justice and equity.

Addressing Past Harm: ASC is resolute in its commitment to dismantling barriers to access within the field of criminology. We recognize the historical inequities and harm that have marred our discipline’s past. Through sustained commitment and ongoing effort (see attached), we continually strive to create a more equitable and welcoming space where all individuals, regardless of their social categories, can flourish and contribute to the advancement of inclusive criminological knowledge and practice.

Building on these principles, ASC aspires to foreground diversity, equity, and inclusion as a central tenet of its core mission within the realm of criminology and criminal justice. We invite our members, partners, and stakeholders to join us on this journey, as we work collectively to create a just, equitable, and inclusive future for our discipline and the diverse communities we serve.