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JSA/ HISTORY
JSA HISTORY: Print Version
In 1995
Dennis Sullivan and Larry Tifft discussed the
possibility of creating a new journal that would
publish work on justice that had a difficult
time finding a home in conventional academic
journals because of its view of the nation-state
and the globalizing market economy. They began
to outline an issue of the journal which
they tentatively called Contemporary Criminology:
A Journal of Ideas Predisposed Toward Radical
Democratization. It was hoped that the first
issue might arrive during the Fall of 1996.
About
the same time, Dennis and Larry also spoke about creating
a new association for scholars, activists, and practitioners
that would serve as an alternative to the conventional academic
criminology and criminal justice organizations. It was suggested
that the members of this association might come together
each year and share their ideas and discuss their current
work in mostly plenary sessions. Great emphasis would be
put on the participation of everyone present through extensive
discussions. An invitation would be extended to all those
associated with the restorative justice community who, though
they met periodically around the globe, had no permanent
home or community with which to share their ideas and find
support.
It was also apparent that there were small groups of scholars
in the academic fields of anthropology, political science,
religious studies, and sociology among other academic disciplines
which were grappling with nonviolent, non-state, non-power-economy-based
approaches to justice. Moreover, many of the people interested
in these issues were not limiting their concerns about justice
to criminal or even restorative justice but were in fact extending
them to matters within the family, the school, the workplace,
and the neighborhood.
To
help with the establishment of the new journal and the
new association, the Institute for Economic and Restorative
Justice was formed. It was intended to serve as a catalytic
agent to bring the new journal and association into existence.
After Larry and Dennis guest-edited a special issue of
The Justice Professional on "Criminology as Peacemaking," Dennis began negotiations
with Gordon &
Breach to publish a journal not on criminology or criminal
justice but on justice issues generally. The journal would
be called Contemporary Justice Review with
a subtitle of Issues in Criminal, Social, and Restorative Justice.
Thanks to G&B Editor, Kirsty Mackay, the journal soon became
a reality. In the meantime, Dennis and Larry in collaboration
with Peter Cordella and Peter Sanzen began work toward making
a trial-run of the new association in the form of a conference
in Albany, New York.
This three-day
conference was held in early June 1997. Its theme was "Justice
Without Violence: Views From Peacemaking Criminology and
Restorative Justice." It was cosponsored by the
Institute for Economic and Restorative Justice and the Criminal
Justice Department of Hudson Valley Community College. There
was great uncertainty about how many people would come but
in fact over 165 scholars, practitioners, and activists of
justice from all parts of the U. S., Canada, New Zealand,
England, and Australia, arrived to examine new ways to think
about and practice justice without violence. And somewhat
contradictory to the usual way of doing business at such
meetings, at the conclusion of the conference, almost everyone
who came was still present. Moreover, the full participatory
format was well received and thoroughly enjoyed.
The following June (1998) about a dozen people were invited
to Saint Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire for
a three-day symposium to discuss issues of restorative
justice but also to talk about ways to further the development
of the new association. Among those present were David
Karp of Skidmore College, Javier Treviño of Wheaton
College, Peter Sanzen of Hudson Valley Community College,
Peter Cordella and Polly Smith of Saint Anselm College,
Dennis Sullivan of the Institute for Economic and Restorative
Justice, Fred Boehrer and Diana Conroy of the Albany Catholic
Worker, and Frank Kirkpatrick of Trinity College, CT.
Then,
in November of that year, during the 50th annual meeting
of the American Society of Criminology in Washington, DC,
Javier Treviño, Peter Sanzen, Peter Cordella, Larry
Tifft, Dennis Sullivan, Hal Pepinsky (who was presenting
at the time of the formal organizational meeting), and Fred
Boehrer (who had to return home early) met to form the new
international association which was named Justice
Studies Association (JSA). The cofounders decided
that, while the new association would be concerned about
issues of criminology and criminal justice, its focus would
extend globally to issues of justice in all areas of our
lives.
The cofounders also emphasized how important it was that
the association welcome activists and practitioners as well
as scholars to share their ideas and current work and hopefully
collaborate on projects. Hence, we continue to see members
come from all fields of academic endeavor interested in justice:
anthropology, social work, history, religion, criminal justice,
sociology, psychology, law, among others. And the work that
people come to share ranges from broad theories of social justice
to specific restorative justice demonstration projects including
direct action and practice. Members of JSA continue to reiterate
that the association considers activists and practitioners
to be an essential part of its makeup. They are seen as an
integral part of the mix that gives depth to the exchanges
that take place throughout each conference. The first formal
conference of JSA was held in June 1999, also at Saint Anselm
College. The 2000 conference was held in Albany, New York in
May/June 2000, attracting participants internationally and
from all parts of the U. S. At the membership meeting at the
close of this conference, the association's first officers
were selected: A. Javier Treviño, president; Beverly
Quist, vice president; Dan Okada, treasurer; and Hal Pepinsky,
secretary
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Justice Studies Association
Social Science/Criminal Justice Department
Mohawk Valley Community College
Utica, NY 13501
Tel: 315-792-5653
Fax: 315-792-5666
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