Faculty in the Department of Justice, Law & Society are leading scholars in the fields of criminal justice, criminology, terrorism, law and society, among other areas.

Located in Washington, D.C., the School of Public Affair's Department of Justice, Law & Society offers courses of study at the doctoral, graduate, and undergraduate levels, including master's and PhD programs in Justice, Law and Society.

Through SPA’s Justice Programs Office, JLS faculty scholarship is shared with the AU and Washington communities, and across the nation.

Recent News

Research: No Link Between Violent Media and Crime

Professor Joanne Savage's research suggests that violent media has much less of an impact (if at all) on violent behavior than many other experts claim. Read more »

On 50th Anniversary of Right to Counsel Case, AU offers Symposium

Abe Krash, attorney on the landmark Gideon v. Wainwright case, will provide an historical perspective, and 35 other thought-leaders will meet during the symposium on March 18. Learn more »

Professor Jon Gould seen in Washington, D.C. Photo by Jeff Watts.

Study Offers 10 Factors to Bar Wrongful Convictions

A new research report from Professor Jon Gould and his team helps identify factors that point to systemic failure in the criminal justice system. Read more »

Adam Lankford, SPA/PhD ’08
Photo by: Z. Riggins

PHD GRAD'S NEW BOOK CHALLENGES THE MYTH OF MARTYRDOM

Adam Lankford, SPA/PhD ’08, offers groundbreaking research in his new book, The Myth of Martrydom: What Really Drives Suicide Bombers, Rampage Shooters, and Other Self-Destructive Killers, suggesting suicide terrorists are motivated by their own psychological pain, not altruism and sacrifice as many experts assert.

Read more »

SPA announces three-year BA program

Politics, Policy, and Law Scholars will complete their degree in three years while using Washington as a laboratory for practical experience. In the JLS department, students can pursue a degree in Law and Society (LS). Learn more »