Dear Colleagues,
Welcome to another volume of JCJE. In my role as editor, I wanted to send some brief editorial thoughts. First, JCJE is in great shape. The prior editors have done a remarkable job keeping the journal relevant and widely respected in the discipline. I plan to continue this tradition. Second, while I plan to publish the typical scholarship that appears in pedagogical-related journals, I am asking potential contributors to push the boundaries of JCJE. This includes submitting innovative articles that have the potential to add something new to the literature. I still plan to consider the traditional practical pedagogy articles devoted to sharing novel exercises/practices. However, with few exceptions, I will require that such articles include an evaluative component of the paper that highlights the value of the assignment to student learning. Higher education has been inundated with assessment as a result of an emphasis on accountability by regional accrediting agencies. This emphasis calls on our field (and others) to provide evidence that what we do in the classroom benefits students. This evidence can be provided in a multitude of ways. Also, assessments that move beyond one class and one semester should be the goal. Third, I am seeking articles that move beyond simply focusing on doctoral programs in the field. There are hundreds of non-doctoral granting programs in the field that we need to study. I challenge readers to research these programs and tell us more about them. Fourth, I would like to mention one concern that I have already had to address as editor. There was an instance of self-plagiarism in which much of the content of an article that was accepted in JCJE was republished (cut and paste) later in another article. Please refrain from doing this. It is a serious ethical issue that can derail careers. Taylor and Francis runs every article through a similarly test that detects plagiarism. Other publishers use similar software. The APA Manual provides guidelines on self-plagiarism. I encourage you to review these guidelines. Finally, I thank the ACJS Executive Board for entrusting me with the editorship of JCJE. It is a true honor to serve in this role!
Sincerely,
Shaun
Journal of Criminal Justice Education
Distinguished Professor of Criminal Justice, Penn State Harrisburg