Abstract
As our editorial tenure comes to a close, we find ourselves returning to the vision we set out in our very first editorial. Our goal was to foster an inclusive, interdisciplinary, and globally engaged journal that would advance the field of Criminology and amplify diverse voices. Over the past three years, we have worked alongside a remarkable team: our Managing Editor Rebecca Powell, our Associate Editors, and an Editorial Board whose expertise spans continents and disciplines. We have published transformative research, welcomed new methodological and theoretical approaches, and created space for new voices in criminology. We pursued a series of strategic objectives designed to strengthen the scholarly contribution of the journal, enhance inclusivity, and foster global engagement. We discuss these below.
Encouraging spaces for Indigenous and First Nations scholarship
A central priority has been the creation of meaningful spaces for Indigenous and First Nations scholarship. To this end, the Journal appointed its inaugural Indigenous and First Nations Associate Editor, Professor Kyllie Cripps, whose leadership has been pivotal in shaping our approach. Professor Cripps spearheaded the drafting of the Indigenous Research Statement and collaborated with the Editorial Team to develop mentorship opportunities for Indigenous PhD candidates and Early Career Researchers (ECRs). In consultation with Professor Cripps and the Editorial Board, the Journal formally adopted the Indigenous Research Statement in alignment with the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) Code of Ethics. This statement is now embedded within the manuscript submission process, ensuring authors engage with ethical principles when conducting research involving Indigenous communities.
Fostering an inclusive editorship
Our commitment to inclusivity extends to the composition of the Editorial Board. We have achieved significant diversification, with representation spanning seven countries (Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand, Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, South Africa, and the Netherlands), alongside enhanced gender diversity and increased participation of First Nations scholars. Notably, the appointment of Dr Michael Bryden, Chancellor's Postdoctoral Indigenous Research Fellow at the Jumbunna Institute, as the ECR representative in 2024 marked an important step towards embedding emerging voices in editorial governance. We have also sought to broaden the substantive expertise of the Editorial Board, ensuring the broad church of Criminology is appropriately reflected.
Publishing the ANZSOC Distinguished Criminologist Lecture
Beginning in this issue, we publish the first annual Australian and New Zealand Society of Criminology (ANZSOC) Distinguished Criminologist Lecture, inaugurating this initiative with Professor Leanne Weber's paper, ‘Lines, edges and intersections: Building border criminology from the margins’. Collaborative work with ANZSOC leadership and consultation with editors of other leading international journals informed the development of guidelines for the ongoing publication of this annual lecture.
Special Issues
Recognising the value of thematic scholarship, we established annual Special Issue call-outs in 2023, accompanied by transparent guidelines and provisional acceptance agreements. These measures facilitated the successful publication of the 2025 Special Issue and the initiation of processes for forthcoming issues in 2026–2027.
Leveraging digital technologies for visibility and impact
To strengthen our digital presence, the Journal, under the guidance of Associate Editor (Digital) Professor Tom Holt, expanded its engagement across social media platforms and accelerated the transition from acceptance to Online First publication. Every article is now actively promoted online, amplifying the visibility of authors’ work and the Journal's profile.
Enhancing editorial processes and timeliness
Efficiency and intellectual engagement have been hallmarks of our editorial approach. We have streamlined manuscript review processes, implemented a ScholarOne dashboard workflow for future editorial teams, and sustained reductions in the time from acceptance to online publication. Constructive feedback was integral to our review ethos, supporting authors in refining their scholarship.
In partnership with SAGE, we introduced significant improvements to proofing and copyediting, including a transition to an online editing system and enhanced collaboration between editors, copyeditors, and authors. Updated submission guidelines now provide clearer expectations, ensuring consistency and quality across published work. These collective efforts have contributed to a measurable increase in the Journal's impact factor and improved its ranking within the ‘Criminology and Penology’ category.
As we pass the baton to the next editorial team, we do so with confidence in the journal's future. The challenges facing criminology remain urgent: mass incarceration, systemic inequality, technological harms, and the rise of extremist views, but so too does the potential for rigorous scholarship to illuminate paths forward.
We thank our colleagues, contributors, reviewers, and readers for joining us on this journey. It has been an honour to serve as co-Editors-in-Chief of the Journal of Criminology. We look forward to seeing where the journal goes next, and to continuing the conversations we have helped to shape.
Asher Flynn and Rebecca Wickes