Conference

The Society for Police & Criminal Psychology is a multi-disciplinary group that encourages the scientific study of the criminal justice system and the application of behavioral science knowledge to problems in criminal justice, including law enforcement, judicial, and corrections elements. Consequently, it solicits participation from psychologists, psychiatrists, lawyers, police officers, corrections personnel, social workers, and other professionals involved in the scientific study of the criminal justice system.

The 37th Annual Conference of The Society for Police & Criminal Psychology will be held in Walnut Creek, California, October 16-18, 2008 at the Embassy Suites.  Walnut Creek is on the East Bay, just east of San Francisco. The number for the hotel in Walnut Creek is 925-934-2500.  A special conference rate is available for the nights of October 15, 16, and 17 only.  The rate is $139/night plus tax.  Ask for Conference Plan Code “SPC” (Society for Police and Criminal Psychology Conference.)   

An informal pre-conference evening reception will be held October 15. Conference presentations will begin on Thursday, October 16, and continue through Saturday, October 18.  Additional information will be announced soon.  The deadline for submission of proposals for presentations is May 15 2008.

Please share your knowledge at our conference! We invite individuals from all over the world, with expertise from every relevant discipline, to present their work on police and criminal psychology. We welcome proposals regarding research, theory, and applications that may be of interest to our group, so please consider sharing your expertise with us by making a presentation at our conference. We welcome presentations from psychologists, psychiatrists, lawyers, police officers, corrections personnel, social workers, and other professionals involved in the scientific study of the criminal justice system. Presentations should be applicable to an international audience. Presentation proposals should be submitted by completing the form available online.

We recommend that you prepare your submission abstract using a word processor and paste it into the form. Because clinicians will have the opportunity to earn Continuing Education (CE) for attending this conference, every submission must include two learning objectives (requested on the form). Please also e-mail your Curriculum Vitae (CV) to JoAnne Brewster (brewstja@jmu.edu) to complete your application to make a presentation at our conference.

If you’d like to discuss your presentation ideas, please feel free to e-mail Jana Price-Sharps:

Jana Price-Sharps, EdD
President, Society for Police and Criminal Psychlogy
Alliant International University
Center for Forensic Studies
5130 E. Clinton Way
Fresno, CA 93727
jprice-sharps@alliant.edu

Student Rizza Bermio (rbermio@alliant.edu) is helping Dr. Sharpes with the conference.  Proposals are due May 15, 2008.

Award and Honorarium for the Best Student Paper

The Society for Police and Criminal Psychology advocates the academic pursuit of excellence in the field of police, criminal and forensic psychology by encouraging the submission of papers in the field by current students who have an interest in research in this area. The Michael Serafino Award is given annually to the best student paper presented at our yearly conference. Papers are judged on scholarship, contribution to the fields of criminal justice and psychology, and the quality of presentation at our annual conference.

Get further information about the Michael Serafino Award

Conference History

The Society sponsors an annual conference held in October of each year at varying locations throughout the United States. The conference focuses on the interface between criminal justice and the behavioral sciences. It includes presentations on international perspectives in policing, specialized police procedures and techniques, personnel decision-making issues in criminal justice agencies, the law and criminal justice, litigation issues, inmate populations, issues in probation and parole, and other issues affecting those in the criminal justice system

View locations and past presdents list