American Criminal Justice Association–Lambda Alpha Epsilon

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American Criminal Justice Association–Lambda Alpha Epsilon
AJCA-ΛΑΕ
FoundedDecember 18, 1937; 86 years ago (1937-12-18)
Hayward, California, US
TypeProfessional
ScopeNational (US)
PublicationACJA/LAE Journal
ACJA/LAE National Newsletter
Chapters121 (69 active)
Members4,500 collegiate
Headquarters3211 Fitzgerald Drive
Montgomery, Texas 77356
United States
Websitewww.acjalae.org

American Criminal Justice Association–Lambda Alpha Epsilon (AJCA-ΛΑΕ) is a coed professional fraternity in the field of criminal justice based in the United States.

History[edit]

Lambda Alpha Epsilon held its first meeting in Hayward, California on December 18, 1937.[1] Initially, it was a professional fraternity for those employed in law enforcement.[1] It was essentially a regional organization, with all members and chapters being located in California.[1]

Its first annual convention was held between June 13 and 15, 1938 in Lodi, California.[1] In 1945, membership was open to individuals who worked full-time for enforcement agencies or as instructors in police training courses in state colleges.[1]

When the School of Criminology was established at the University of California, Berkeley in 1950, the group decided to expand its membership to criminal justice students and chartered the Epsilon chapter.[1]

In 1952, moved outside of California with the establishment of the Zeta chapter at the University of Indiana.[1] The next year, a chapter for women was established in Sacramento.[1] At the 1957 annual meeting, the fraternity voted to open its membership to all aspects of the criminal justice field.[1]

At the Annual Grand Chapter Business Meeting in 1970 in Anaheim, California, the name was changed from Lambda Alpha Epsilon, Professional Law Enforcement Fraternity to Lambda Alpha Epsilon, Professional Criminal Justice Fraternity.[1] In February 1973, it was proposed that the name be changed to Lambda Alpha Epsilon – American Criminal Justice Association, which was then adopted.[1] The name was adopted later in the year. In 1976, the name was reversed to "American Criminal Justice Association – Lambda Alpha Epsilon."[1]

Symbols and traditions[edit]

The fraternity's name was selected for the letters ΛΑΕ which represent the Greek words Lambano (to detect and apprehend), Anakrinen (to adjudicate), and Exorthoun (to rehabilitate).[2]

The Lambda Alpha Epsilon emblem is a hexagon with the Greek letters ΛΑΕ across its center.[2] Below the letters is a spider web that represents "the great complexity of criminal activity".[2] Above the letter are a pair of scales that symbolize justice and a six-pointed star which represents the "light of knowledge".[2]

The ACJA/LAE Journal and the ACJA/LAE National Newsletter are published semiannually.[3]

Activties[edit]

AJCA-ΛΑΕ seeks "to improve the administration of criminal justice through educational activities, to foster professionalism within agencies of criminal justice, to encourage better communication and expansion of higher education in the field of criminal justice, and to aid and assist all persons to prevent criminal activity."[3] The fraternity holds a week-long national convention that includes seminars and written, physical, and practical competitions.[3] It also awards annual scholarships to members.[3]

Membership[edit]

Membership in AJCA-ΛΑΕ is open to individuals who are committed to the field of criminal justice through their profession or education, those who are retired from a career in criminal justice, or those who volunteer in areas related to the administration of criminal justice.[3] As of 2007, the fraternity has 4,500 active members.[4]

Chapters[edit]

As of 2024, there are 69 active chapters of Lambda Alpha Epsilon.[5] Collegiate chapters are located at colleges and universities with criminal justice programs.[5] Professional chapters are located geographically or at an agency for criminal justice professionals.[5]

Following is a list of Lambda Alpha Epsilon chapters.[5] Active chapters are indicated in bold. Inactive chapters are in italics.

Chapter Charter date and range Type Institution Location Status References
Alpha First December 18, 1937 Professional Hayward, California Reassigned [1]
Alpha Professional Martinez, California Active
Beta First April 25, 1941 Professional Los, Angeles, California Reassigned [1]
Beta Collegiate Greenville Technical College Greenville, South Carolina Active
Gamma c. 1945 Professional San Jose, California Inactive [1]
Delta c. 1945 Professional San Francisco, California Inactive [1]
Epsilon 1950 Collegiate University of California, Berkeley Berkeley, California Inactive [1]
Zeta 1952 Collegiate University of Indiana Inactive [1]
Eta c. 1950 Professional Sacramento, California Inactive [1]
Theta 1953 Professional Women's Chapter Sacramento, California Inactive [1]
Iota 1956 Sacramento State University Sacramento, California Inactive [1]
Lambda Collegiate Florida State University Tallahassee, Florida Active
Mu Collegiate California State University, Los Angeles Los Angeles, California Active
Nu Inactive
Xi Inactive
Omicron Collegiate University of Louisville Louisville, Kentucky Active
Pi Inactive
Rho Inactive
Sigma Inactive
Tau Inactive
Upsilon Inactive
Phi Inactive
Chi Collegiate Truman State University Kirksville, Missouri Active
Psi Inactive
Delta Chi Collegiate Sam Houston State University Huntsville, Texas Active
Iota Sigma Collegiate Indiana State University Terre Haute, Indiana Active
Pi Kappa 1961 Collegiate Cerritos College Norwalk, California Inactive [1]
Pi Chi Collegiate Florida State University Panama City Panama City, Florida Active
Sigma Zeta Collegiate Clemson University Clemson, South Carolina Active
Sigma Pi Collegiate Long Beach City College Long Beach, California Active
Sigma Chi Collegiate California State University, Sacramento Sacramento, California Active
Chi Nu Collegiate Radford University Radford, Virginia Active
Psi Omega Collegiate University of New Haven West Haven, Connecticut Active
Delta Psi Chi Collegiate Boise State University Boise, Idaho Active
Eta Alpha Mu Professional Gilroy, California Active
Alpha Epsilon Phi Collegiate Texas State University San Marcos, Texas Active
Alpha Sigma Omega Collegiate Jacksonville State University Jacksonville, Alabama Active
Alpha Upsilon Beta Collegiate University of Arkansas Fayetteville, Arkansas Active
Alpha Upsilon Lambda Professional Danville, Virginia Active
Alpha Phi Kappa Collegiate Lamar University Beaumont, Texas Active
Alpha Psi Omega Collegiate University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Active
Alpha Omega Rho Collegiate Webber International University Babson Park, Florida Active
Beta Kappa Rho Collegiate Ferris State University Big Rapids, Michigan Active
Beta Phi Zeta Collegiate St. Edward's University Austin, Texas Active
Beta Sigma Omega Lambda Collegiate Inver Hills Community College Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota Active
Gamma Alpha Epsilon Collegiate Collin College McKinney, Texas Active
Gamma Epsilon Delta Collegiate University of Central Missouri Warrensburg, Missouri Active
Gamma Theta Epsilon Collegiate Franciscan University of Steubenville Steubenville, Ohio Active
Delta Zeta Omega Collegiate University of Central Florida Orlando, Florida Active
Delta Sigma Upsilon Collegiate Dalton State College Dalton, Georgia Active
Delta Sigma Chi Collegiate Dyersburg State Community College Covington, Tennessee Active
Delta Tau Omega Collegiate Fort Hays State University Hays, Kansas Active
Delta Chi Alpha Alumni Montgomery, Texas Active
Delta Kappa Epsilon Collegiate Northern Oklahoma College Tonkawa, Oklahoma Active
Epsilon Chi Chi Collegiate El Paso Community College El Paso, Texas Active
Epsilon Chi Upsilon Collegiate East Central University Ada, Oklahoma Active
Zeta Epsilon Nu Collegiate University of Tennessee at Martin Martin, Tennessee Active
Theta Lambda Chi Professional Buena Park, California Active
Iota Kappa Chi Collegiate University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Brownsville, Texas Active
Kappa Xi Simga Collegiate Ocean County College Toms River, New Jersey Active
Kappa Omicron Rho Collegiate Peru State College Peru, Nebraska Active
Kappa Omega Psi Collegiate Colorado Technical University Aurora, Colorado Active
Lambda Kappa Alpha Collegiate Longwood University Farmville, Virginia Active
Lambda Mu Upsilon Collegiate James Madison University Harrisonburg, Virginia Active
Nu Alpha Chi Collegiate Northeast Alabama Community College Rainsville, Alabama Active
Nu Sigma Alpha Collegiate University of North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte, North Carolina Active
Pi Lambda Alpha Collegiate Central Methodist University Fayette, Missouri Active
Sigma Gamma Phi Collegiate Northwestern State University Natchitoches, Louisiana Active
Sigma Delta Omega Collegiate Arizona Western College Yuma, Arizona Active
Sigma Iota Gamma Professional Strongsville, Ohio Active
Sigma Kappa Chi Collegiate University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Edinburg, Texas Active
Sigma Tau Omicron Collegiate West Chester University West Chester, Pennsylvania Active
Sigma Chi Alpha Collegiate Barton College Wilson, North Carolina Active
Sigma Chi Nu Collegiate Northern Virginia Community College Manassas, Virginia Active
Tau Alpha Omicron Collegiate Trine University Angola, Indiana Active
Tau Epsilon Lambda Collegiate Garden City Community College Garden City, Kansas Active
Phi Omega Alpha Collegiate California State University, Fresno Fresno, California Active
Phi Alpha Sigma Collegiate Western Illinois University Macomb, Illinois Active
Phi Kappa Sigma Collegiate Talladega College Taladega, Alabama Active
Chi Sigma Upsilon Collegiate Columbia Southern University Online Active
Psi Sigma Iota Collegiate Kent State University Kent, Ohio Active
Omega Sigma Alpha Collegiate University of Scranton Scranton, Pennsylvania Active
Omega Omega Omgega 1963 Collegiate Rio Honda College Whittier, California Inactive [1]
Alpha Omega Delta Zeta Collegiate Keiser University Orlando, Florida Active
Gamma Epsilon Zeta Rho Professional Newark, Delaware Active
Lambda Epsilon Omega Sigma Collegiate Paradise Valley Community College Phoenix, Arizona Active
Nu Omega Lambda Omicron Collegiate College of the Muscogee Nation Okmulgee, Oklahoma Active
Chi Omega Pi Sigma Professional Boothwyn, Pennsylvania Active

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w "Our History". American Criminal Justice Association (ACJA-LAE). Retrieved 2024-01-26.
  2. ^ a b c d "Emblem". American Criminal Justice Association (ACJA-LAE). Retrieved 2024-01-26.
  3. ^ a b c d e Sharon Lyles; Marilyn Leach; Ruth Joel (1996). Directory of Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Associations and Research Centers. U.S. Department of Commerce, Technology Administration, National Institute of Standards and Technology. p. 4.
  4. ^ Steverson, Leonard A. (2007-08-28). Policing in America: A Reference Handbook. Bloomsbury Publishing USA. p. 213. ISBN 978-1-59884-044-5 – via Google Books.
  5. ^ a b c d "Chapters". American Criminal Justice Association (ACJA-LAE). Retrieved 2024-01-26.