Journal of Criminal Psychology

Scope & Guideline

Bridging the gap between psychology and criminal law for societal impact.

Introduction

Immerse yourself in the scholarly insights of Journal of Criminal Psychology with our comprehensive guidelines detailing its aims and scope. This page is your resource for understanding the journal's thematic priorities. Stay abreast of trending topics currently drawing significant attention and explore declining topics for a full picture of evolving interests. Our selection of highly cited topics and recent high-impact papers is curated within these guidelines to enhance your research impact.
LanguageEnglish
ISSN2009-3829
PublisherEMERALD GROUP PUBLISHING LTD
Support Open AccessNo
CountryUnited Kingdom
TypeJournal
Convergefrom 2011 to 2024
AbbreviationJ CRIM PSYCHOL / J. Crim. Psychol.
Frequency4 issues/year
Time To First Decision-
Time To Acceptance-
Acceptance Rate-
Home Page-
AddressFloor 5, Northspring 21-23 Wellington Street, Leeds, W YORKSHIRE LS1 4DL, ENGLAND

Aims and Scopes

The Journal of Criminal Psychology focuses on the intersection of psychological principles and criminal behavior, emphasizing empirical research and theoretical frameworks that contribute to the understanding of crime, victimization, and the criminal justice system.
  1. Criminal Behavior Analysis:
    The journal extensively covers topics related to the psychological underpinnings of criminal behavior, including investigations into personality traits such as psychopathy, the role of trauma, and cognitive processing in offenders.
  2. Victimology and Trauma:
    Research addressing the experiences and psychological impacts on victims of crime, particularly focusing on sexual violence, domestic abuse, and the consequences of victimization.
  3. Forensic Psychology Applications:
    The journal highlights the application of psychological assessment and intervention in forensic contexts, including evaluations of offenders, risk assessments, and the role of mental health in criminal justice.
  4. Policing and Legal Decision-Making:
    Exploration of the psychological aspects influencing policing practices, juror decision-making, and the efficacy of legal processes, with an emphasis on improving outcomes for victims and offenders alike.
  5. Emerging Crime Trends and Interventions:
    A focus on contemporary issues in crime, such as cybercrime, extremism, and innovative intervention strategies in community and forensic settings.
The Journal of Criminal Psychology is increasingly focusing on contemporary issues and innovative approaches in the field of criminal psychology, as highlighted by recent publications.
  1. Intersection of Mental Health and Crime:
    A rising trend in exploring how mental health issues intersect with criminal behavior, including the effects of trauma, psychopathology, and the role of psychological assessments in legal contexts.
  2. Impact of Technology on Crime:
    An emerging focus on how technological advancements, such as digital behavior analysis and cybercrime, affect criminal practices and law enforcement strategies.
  3. Gender and Crime Dynamics:
    Research examining the nuances of gender in criminal behavior, victimization, and the judicial process, highlighting the experiences of female offenders and male victims.
  4. Community-Based Interventions:
    An increasing number of studies are dedicated to evaluating community and school-based approaches to crime prevention, indicating a shift towards practical applications of psychological research.
  5. Cultural and Societal Influences on Crime:
    Recent publications are increasingly examining how cultural context and societal factors contribute to criminal behavior and victimization, suggesting a broader understanding of crime within diverse populations.

Declining or Waning

While the Journal of Criminal Psychology has maintained a strong focus on several core areas, certain themes appear to be declining in prominence based on recent publications.
  1. Traditional Theories of Crime:
    There is a noticeable reduction in papers that rely heavily on classical criminological theories without integrating psychological perspectives, suggesting a shift towards more interdisciplinary approaches.
  2. Generalized Studies of Violence:
    Research that broadly examines violence without specific context or psychological insight has become less frequent, indicating a trend towards more nuanced and context-specific studies.
  3. Overreliance on Quantitative Methods:
    The journal seems to be moving away from purely quantitative studies, as there is a growing emphasis on qualitative research methods that provide deeper insights into the lived experiences of offenders and victims.

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