Welcome to the Division of Policing

Our Mission

The Division of Policing seeks to advance theory, knowledge and practice in policing through rigorous research and evaluation. The Division recognizes the fundamental importance of the police for maintaining order, protecting civil liberties, and enhancing public safety in free societies. It is committed to advancing the science of policing, testing innovation in the field, and promoting excellence in practice through translational activities. These goals can be achieved by facilitating a dialogue and building partnerships among policing scholars, practitioners, policy makers, community leaders, and students of policing.

Division of Policing Mission and Constitution

Executive Board

The current executive board began serving their two year term at ASC 2022:

  • Chair: Carol Archbold
  • Vice Chair: Janne Gaub
  • Secretary-Treasurer: Lisa Barao
  • Executive Counselors: Samantha Clinkinbeard, Connie Koski, Jacqueline M. Drew

The Division of Policing and the History of the American Society of Criminology (ASC)

Did you know that the ASC began with August Vollmer and a group of policing scholars and practitioners interested in advancing policing and police research? Read more about this history here with Albert Morris’s 1975 Criminology article detailing ASC’s history from 1941-1974 and here with Edward Petty’s 1959 account of the early history of ASC. The Oxford University Press blog post by Cody Telep entitled: “Back to the future with the ASC’s new Division of Policing” also charts the history of ASC and the founding of the Division of Policing.

Division Journal Partnership

We are delighted to announce our formal partnership with Policing: a Journal of Policy and Practice, a leading policy and practice publication aimed at connecting law enforcement leaders, police researchers, analysts and policy makers. As the official journal of the DoP, we collaboratively seek to contribute quality research based in North America. As such, we urge DoP members to send their work to Policing: a Journal of Policy and Practice! We thank past DoP chairs, Bill Terrill and Gene Paoline, for their efforts in making this happen.