Symposium
Symposium Call for Papers
2022-2023 Symposium – Deadline for Paper Proposals Extended!
The Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology (JCLC) is excited to be accepting papers for its 2022-2023 Symposium to be held in March 2023, at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law in Chicago, Illinois.
This year’s symposium is entitled: Reflections on the Future of American Criminal Law. With this topic, we hope to provide a forum for discussion of the areas of criminal law where we see the most significant change occurring, and identify avenues for future change, both in the courts and the legislature. Symposium authors are encouraged to consider, several key themes, including:
- Recent developments in Supreme Court caselaw
- The role for traditional tools of statutory interpretation in criminal law reform
- Changes in criminal statutory frameworks at the state and federal level
- The impact of prosecutorial discretion and discretion more generally on the future of criminal enforcement
- An analysis of trending and successful arguments to spur change in American criminal law
JCLC maintains an interdisciplinary focus and hopes to welcome authors and articles whose topics include, but are not limited to:
- policing
- restorative justice
- sentencing guidelines
- criminal law legislation
- codifying the rule of lenity
- interpretation of criminal law offenses
What to Include in Your Paper Proposal
A strong paper proposal should do the following in at least 2-3 pages:
- Describe the paper idea and its contribution to legal scholarship in as much detail as possible;
- list potential authors who will contribute to the scholarship for publication by JCLC; and
- provide the name and contact information of the primary contact person, who will serve as the point person for coordination and decisions with JCLC executive board.
How to Submit a Proposal
To submit a paper proposal, please send an email to jclcsymposium@law.northwestern.edu with your proposal and a copy of your CV(s) attached. JCLC will accept submissions until November 21, 2022.
Proposal Selection
After November 21, 2022 JCLC will review all submissions. JCLC may request additional information or the opportunity to discuss the proposal in further detail. JCLC will notify submission authors of its decision by December 5, 2022.
The JCLC executive board will review each proposal based on:
- originality
- timeliness
- academic quality and diversity of perspectives
- societal impact
Publication of the Symposium Issue
JCLC anticipates the Symposium event occurring in March 2023. The first drafts would be due in late January 2023 with revised drafts due by early May 2023. Symposium pieces would be included in the Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology Volume 113 Issue 4, which will be published in fall 2023.
Speakers are not guaranteed publication. JCLC retains full discretion in selecting pieces for publication in our print and online editions. JCLC will offer publishing contracts to contributors based on the recommendations of the JCLC board and submitted proposals.
Now in its second century, JCLC seeks to capture the breadth and depth of legal scholarship on crime through the publication of legal articles, criminology research, student comments, and symposia. JCLC is consistently ranked among the most influential legal and criminology publications and remains the most widely read and cited criminal law journal. You can find out more about JCLC and review our publications here.
Questions should be directed to Senior Symposium Editor Julia Fleurantin at julia.fleurantin@law.northwestern.edu.
Archive of Past Symposia
(2022) Do Hate Crime Laws #stophate, #stophatecrimes, & #standagainsthate
(2020) Progressive Prosecution: Legal, Empirical, and Theoretical Perspectives
(2019) Voluntariness of Confessions
(2016) The Death Penalty’s Numbered Days? | Schedule
(2015) Improving Forensic Science
(2014) Conviction Integrity Conference
(2014) Champion of Justice: A Celebratory Event to Honor Rob Warden’s Quest to Free the Innocent