ACJA-LAE HISTORY

The American Criminal Justice Association (ACJA), also known as Lambda Alpha Epsilon (ΛΑΕ), was established on December 18, 1937, in Hayward, California. Initially a professional fraternity for law enforcement personnel in California, it was influenced by the early 20th-century law enforcement landscape. August Vollmer, a Berkeley law enforcement officer, played a significant role in its development by utilizing University of California resources to study criminals and their methods.

By the mid-1930s, resources promoting vocational training for police emerged in California, leading to the establishment of the “California Technical Institute for Peace Officer Training.” The ACJA expanded its membership to criminal justice students with the establishment of the School of Criminology at the University of California, Berkeley, in 1950. It moved outside of California in 1952 with the establishment of the Zeta chapter at the University of Indiana. By 1957, the fraternity had opened its membership to all aspects of the criminal justice field.

In 1970, the name was changed from Lambda Alpha Epsilon, Professional Law Enforcement Fraternity to Lambda Alpha Epsilon, Professional Criminal Justice Fraternity. In 1973, it was proposed that the name be changed to Lambda Alpha Epsilon – American Criminal Justice Association, which was then adopted. In 1976, the name was reversed to “American Criminal Justice Association – Lambda Alpha Epsilon”.

Today, the ACJA continues to strive to improve the administration of criminal justice through educational activities, foster professionalism within criminal justice agencies, encourage better communication, and assist in preventing criminal activity.