Awards

2025 Awards

Submission for this year’s award nominations has been extended to August 1st. Please send all nomination materials to the Awards Committee Chair, Connie Koski, at connie.koski@ndsu.edu. Get your nominations in now before it’s too late!

Avoiding Conflicts of Interest

Executive Board and Awards Committee members are not eligible for award consideration and are prohibited from submitting or signing a nomination letter for a nominee.

Awards

The Division of Policing will present our awards at the Annual meeting in Washington, D.C.

Lifetime Achievement Award

The Lifetime Achievement Award is bestowed to a scholar to recognize their lifetime scholarly achievement in the field of policing. The award is not given for any single research project or study but rather for a body of research developed over one’s career. To be bestowed the award the applicant’s nomination package should demonstrate a lifetime commitment to high quality scholarly activity and the production of outstanding work that has had a demonstrable impact on the field of policing. The following are the specific requirements for the award and criteria for how nominees will be selected.

Award Criteria

The nominee should have a record of scholarly activity to include peer-reviewed journal articles, books, final reports and executive summaries, and/or a record of grant/research project activity that has resulted in the generation of knowledge that has influenced the field of policing in meaningful ways.
The nominee should have a record of working with the practitioner community and the application must be able to demonstrate their influence on the field of law enforcement not just via scholarly output, but also via tangible influence on police policy and practice.
The application should demonstrate the nominees record of mentoring younger scholars who have gone on to become influential in the field of policing.

Although nominees need not have a record that includes all of the above, the awards committee will consider the breadth of the nominee’s achievements against other nominees. Members may not self-nominate. Award decisions will be based on the strength of the nominee’s qualifications and not on the number of nomination endorsements received for any particular candidate.

Application Requirements

All nominees’ applications must include a current curriculum vitae and a nomination letter addressing each of the award criteria noted above.
Where appropriate, numeric tallies for each of the above criteria should be provided.

Distinguished Scholar Award

The Distinguished Scholar Award recognizes an established academic/researcher who has held a Ph.D. degree for at least ten years and is in the middle of their career. The outstanding contributions to the field of policing may consist of a single outstanding work, a series of theoretical or research contributions, or the nominee’s accumulated scholarly contributions.

Award Criteria

The nominee must have held a Ph.D. for at least 10 years.
The application should demonstrate that the single work has made significant contributions to the field of policing if they are being nominated for a single outstanding work.
The application should demonstrate that the theoretical and research contributions have made significant contributions to the field of policing if they are being nominated for a series of theoretical or research contributions.
The application should demonstrate outstanding scholarly contributions by noting relevant publications, grant awards, research reports, books, research projects, or other scholarly outputs if they are being nominated for their accumulated scholarly contributions.
Members may not self-nominate.

Award decisions will be based on the strength of the nominee’s qualifications and not on the number of nomination endorsements received for any particular candidate.

Application Requirements

All nominees’ applications must include the following materials in order to be considered:

A current curriculum vitae
An indication of whether the scholar is being nominated for a single outstanding book or work, a series of theoretical or research contributions, or the nominee’s accumulated scholarly contributions
A nomination letter addressing each of the award criteria noted above
One or two publications reflecting the nominee’s work

Early Career Award

The Early Career Award recognizes outstanding scholarly contributions to the field of policing by someone who has received his or her Ph.D. degree within the last five years. The outstanding contributions to the field of policing may consist of a single outstanding book or work, a series of theoretical or research contributions, or the recipient’s accumulated scholarly contributions during the early years of their careers. The following are the specific requirements for the award and criteria for how nominees will be selected.

Award Criteria

The nominee must have completed a Ph.D. within the past five years.
The application should demonstrate their outstanding scholarly contributions by noting relevant publications, grant awards, research reports, books, research projects, or other scholarly outputs.
The application should demonstrate relevant membership and contributions to professional organizations, committees, and/or practitioner organizations.

Although nominees need not have a record that includes all of the above, the awards committee will consider the breadth of the nominee’s scholarly output against other nominees. Members may not self-nominate. Award decisions will be based on the strength of the nominee’s qualifications and not on the number of nomination endorsements received for any particular candidate.

Application Requirements

A current curriculum vitae
A nomination letter addressing each of the award criteria noted above. Where appropriate, numeric tallies for each of the above criteria should be provided
One or two publications reflecting the nominee’s work

Teaching and Mentorship Award

This award honors outstanding achievement in teaching and mentoring among the Division’s membership. One award will be given for each of the following categories: a) Faculty members of R1 or Doctoral Programs, and b) Faculty members of non-R1 or Non-Doctoral Programs.

Award Criteria

Faculty member at an accredited institution of higher education.
Evidence of excellence in teaching and/or mentorship.
Excellence in teaching can be demonstrated in a number of ways, including but not limited to: Proposing/implementing new courses, innovative assignments or teaching methods, advanced pedagogical techniques, innovative or exceptional contributions to department curricular needs, incorporation of research into teaching methods or content.
Excellence in mentorship can be demonstrated in a number of ways, including but not limited to: Student mentorship (e.g., publications with students, serving on thesis/dissertation committees), student-centered service, informal mentorship, student advising (formal or informal), career advising.
Nominations may be made on the basis of teaching or mentorship, though a mixture of the two is preferred.

Application Requirements

A current curriculum vitae
A letter of nomination detailing how the nominee demonstrates excellence in teaching and/or mentorship

The Division particularly encourages nominations of Division members who are faculty members at non-R1 institutions and/or in departments without doctoral programs.

Innovation in Policing Award

This award recognizes a law enforcement practitioner or an individual working in a professional, non-academic position, who has made outstanding contributions to evidence-based policing or who has played an integral role in advancing the field of law enforcement and public safety in innovative ways. This may have been accomplished through a number of methods including but not limited to the following:

A sustained period of leadership
Evidence of producing organizational change
Evidence of leading initiatives that have produced reductions in crime
Development of partnerships to enhance public safety
Increasing community participation in public safety
Collaborative roles with research that have led to significant changes in law
Implementing major new programs or policies

Application Requirements

All nominees’ applications must include a current curriculum vitae and a nomination letter addressing each of the award criteria noted above.
Award decisions will be based on the strength of the nominee’s qualifications and not on the number of nomination endorsements received for any particular candidate.

Outstanding Book Award

The Outstanding Book in Policing Award recognizes a monograph (not a textbook, anthology, or edited volume) published in the three calendar years preceding the year in which the award is made. The award honors a text that deserves recognition due to its significant empirical, theoretical, or policy-relevant contributions to the field.

Award Criteria

The nomination must relate to a monograph and not a textbook, anthology or edited volume.
The award must have been published within three calendar years of the year the award is being made (e.g., for the 2025 Award, the book must have been published in 2022 or later)
The book must have been published by an academic press or trade publisher.
The nomination letter must make clear why the book deserves recognition by outlining the contributions that it has made to the field of policing, the specific areas to which it contributes, and its status relative to other works in policing.
Nominations may not come from a publisher.

Application Requirements

All nominees’ applications must include a current curriculum vitae, a nomination letter, and the book’s name and publisher.

Outstanding Student Article Award

The Outstanding student Article Award is given for a single outstanding paper on the topic of policing that was written by a student enrolled in a recognized Ph.D. program. It is required that the paper have been published or accepted for publication in an academic journal.

Award Criteria

The nominee must be enrolled in a recognized Ph.D. program at the time of submission.
The paper must have been published in 2023 or 2024 or it must be accepted for publication.
Co-authored papers may be submitted, yet the nominee must be the first author and must have made significant contributions to the paper.
The nomination letter must demonstrate why the paper is deserving of the award and the work’s outstanding contribution to the field of policing.
Members may not self-nominate.
If the paper has multiple authors, co-authors may nominate the lead author.

Application Requirements

A current curriculum vitae
A nomination letter addressing each of the award criteria noted above. The letter should note whether the paper has been published or whether it has been accepted for publication. Evidence of acceptance for publication should be included if the paper has not yet been published.
If the paper is co-authored, the nomination letter must discuss each author’s contribution to the work.
A copy of the paper

Outstanding Dissertation Award

Any Division of Policing member who completed their doctoral dissertation in 2023 or 2024 can be nominated for this award. We wish to acknowledge dissertations with a strong potential impact in the policing field.

Award Criteria

The application should demonstrate an especially high-quality dissertation, with elements of originality, analytical skills, and provide a significant contribution to the policing field.
The work should be well-written and well-organized and, where relevant, should incorporate reference to both theory and empirical evidence.
Members may not self-nominate.
Award decisions will be based on the strength of the nominee’s qualifications and not on the number of nomination endorsements received for any particular candidate.

Application Requirements

All nominees’ applications must include the following materials in order to be considered:
A dissertation narrative that is no more than 750 words outlining the following elements: (a) research question(s); (b) methods and data used; (c) analytic strategy; (d) findings; (e) theoretical/ research/ practical conclusions.
A current curriculum vitae
A nomination letter addressing each of the award criteria noted above.

Student Travel Award

The Division is dedicated to assisting students with the cost of attending the ASC Annual Meeting, permitting the availability of funds. Awardees of the Student Travel Award will be chosen from the students who have submitted abstracts for presentation at ASC. In 2024, the Division will be making at least two awards of $500 each.

Award Criteria

Current ASC Division of Policing Student Member at the time of abstract submission
A currently enrolled undergraduate or graduate student at the time of the ASC conference
The student is the lead author (and presenter) of the submission

Applications should include:

Name
Year of study
University and program of study (include degree)
Estimated graduation date
Presentation title and abstract

Selection will take place after the final program is released by ASC, and all applicants will be notified by September 2025. Travel awards will be disbursed as reimbursement after the conference and will be recognized at the Division of Policing reception.

ASC 2024

Click here to see Division of Policing Reception and Awards Ceremony information and photos from ASC 2024 in San Francisco.

Past Awards

Lifetime Achievement Award

This award recognizes lifetime scholarly achievement in the field of policing. The award is not given for any single research project or study, but for a body of research developed over one’s career.

2015 Winner: Stephen Mastrofski, George Mason University

2016 Winner: Lawrence Sherman, University of Cambridge and University of Maryland

2017 Winner: David Bayley, State University of New York at Albany (Emeritus)

2018 Winner: Samuel Walker, University of Nebraska at Omaha

2019 Winner: David Weisburd, George Mason University

2020 Winner: Gary Cordner, Academic Director for the Baltimore Police Department

2021 Winner: No award given

2022 Winner: Peter Manning, Northeastern University (retired)

2023 Winner: Robert Worden, State University of New York at Albany

2024 Winner: Geoffrey Alpert, University of South Carolina

Distinguished Scholar Award

The Distinguished Scholar Award recognizes an established academic/researcher who has held a Ph.D. degree for at least ten years and is considered to be mid-career. The outstanding contributions to the field of policing may consist of a single outstanding book or work, a series of theoretical or research contributions, or the recipient’s accumulated scholarly contributions.

2015 Winner: Edmund McGarrell, Michigan State University

2016 Winner: Lorraine Mazerolle, University of Queensland

2017 Winner: Richard Leo, University of San Francisco

2018 Winner: Eugene Paoline, III, University of Central Florida

2019 Winner: Anthony Braga, Northeastern University

2020 Winner: Michael White, Arizona State University

2021 Winner: William Terrill, Arizona State University

2022 Winner: Christopher Koper, George Mason University

2023 Winner: Cynthia Lum, George Mason University

2024 Winner: Jeremy Wilson, Michigan State University

Early Career

The Early Career Award recognizes outstanding scholarly contributions to the field of policing by someone who has received his or her Ph.D. degree within the last five years.

2015 Winner: Tal-Jonathan-Zamir, Hebrew University

2016 Winner: Scott Wolfe, University of South Carolina

2017 Winner: Eric Piza, John Jay College of Criminal Justice

2018 Winner: Cody Telep, Arizona State Univeristy

2019 Winner: Cory Haberman, University of Cincinnati

2020 Winner: Justin Nix, University of Nebraska, Omaha

2021 Winner: John Shjarback, Rowan University

2022 Winner: Natalie Todak, University of Alabama at Birmingham

2023 Winner: Kyle McLean, Clemson University

2024 Winner: Ian Adams, University of South Carolina

Innovation in Policing Award

*Formerly the Outstanding Law Enforcement Practitioner Award*

This award recognizes a law enforcement practitioner or an individual working in a professional, non-academic position who has made outstanding contributions to evidence-based policing or who as played an integral role in advancing the field of law enforcement and public safety in innovative ways. This may have been accomplished through a number of methods including but not limited to the following:

A sustained period of leadership
Evidence of producing organizational change
Evidence of leading initiatives that have produced reductions in crime
Development of partnerships to enhance public safety
Increasing community participation in public safety
Collaborative roles with research that have led to significant changes in law
Implementing major new programs or policies

2016 Winner: James Bueermann, Police Foundation & Redlands Police Department (ret.)

2017 Winner: No award given

2018 Winner: Rene Mitchell

2019 Winner: No award given

2020 Winner: Ivonne Roman

2021 Winner: Michael Newman

2022 Winner: Stephen Bishopp

2023 Winner: Marc Buslik, Chicago Police Department (retired)

2024 Winner: Ryan Perlongo, NY State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS)

Teaching & Mentorship Award

This award honors outstanding achievement in teaching and mentoring among the Division’s membership.

2023 Winners:

Sherah Basham, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Cory Haberman, University of Cincinnati

2024 Winners:

Jennifer C. Gibbs, Penn State Harrisburg
Jessica Huff, University of Cincinnati

Outstanding Book in Policing Award

This award recognizes a monograph (not a textbook, anthology or edited volume) published in the three calendar years preceding this year.

2016 Winner: No award given

2017 Winner: No award given

2018 Winner: Policing Immigrants: Local Law Enforcement on the Front Line

2019 Winner: Stop and Frisk: The Use and Abuse of a Controversial Policing Tactic

2020 Winner: Evidence-Based Policing: Translating Research into Practice

2021 Winner: Police-Community Relations in Times of Crisis: Decay and Reform in the Post-Ferguson Era

2022 Winner: Implementing Evidence-Based Research: A How-to Guide for Police Organizations

2023 Winner: Policing Unrest: On the Front Lines of the Ferguson Protests

2024 Winner: The Danger Imperative: Violence, Death, and the Soul of Policing

Outstanding Dissertation Award

This award acknowledges especially high-quality dissertations with a strong potential impact in the policing field.

2022 Winner: Carlena A. Orosco, while at Arizona State University

2023 Winner: Melanie F.P. Soderstrom, while at the University of Central Florida

2024 Winner: Katharine Brown, while at Arizona State University

Outstanding Student Paper Award

The Outstanding student Paper Award is given for a single outstanding paper on the topic of policing that was written by a student enrolled in a recognized Ph.D. program.

2016 Winner: No award given

2017 Winner: Paul Taylor

2018 Winner: Stephen Wuff

2019 Winner: Rachel Lautenschlager

2020 Winner: Brandon Turchan

2021 Winner: No award given

2022 Winner: Scott Mourtgos

2023 Winner: Kiseong Kuen

2024 Winner: Jed Knode, Michigan State University