Call for Papers: Developing Criminology in Contemporary China
Call for Papers
Developing Criminology in Contemporary China
Editor:
Moulin Xiong, Ph.D.
Editorial Board Member, Current Criminology
Chair and Professor
Institute of Criminal Law, Law School
Southwestern University of Finance and Economics
President, Asian Criminological Society, China
Background:
Over the past decade, criminology in China has developed rapidly, generating important theoretical and empirical insights for criminal justice, criminal law, and law enforcement. As international academic exchange and scholarly influence have expanded, Chinese criminologists have increasingly sought to develop distinctive contributions to global criminology, particularly Asian criminology. In recent years, Chinese criminologists have pursued two complementary paths to further advance the field in China.
On one hand, Chinese criminologists have explored an international path for the development of criminology in China. After four years of preparatory work, the Asian Criminological Society (ACS) formally approved the establishment of three national chapters—ACS China, ACS India, and ACS Sri Lanka—in early 2024. Later that year, the ACS Board elected Dr. Moulin Xiong as the President of ACS China. In May 2026, ACS China set up 10 committees, namely the Secretariat, Treasurer Committee, Academic Committee, Conference Committee, Intellectual Committee, Award Committee, Developing Committee, Professional Committee, Survey Committee, and Methodological Committee, and nominated chairpersons and members for each committee.
On the other hand, Chinese criminologists have pursued a domestic path for the development of criminology in China. After many years of sustained preparation, Dr. Moulin Xiong initiated the application to establish the Comparative Criminology Committee of the Chinese Society of Criminology in June 2024, with the assistance of key members of ACS China. Collaborating with Dr. Wei Lin, Dr. Su Jiang, and Dr. Yiwei Xia, the preparatory group received invaluable support from officials of the Chinese Society of Criminology during the following year. On October 17, 2025, the board meeting of the Chinese Society of Criminology formally voted to establish the Comparative Criminology Committee. On May 22, 2026, the inaugural meeting was held at Southwest University of Political Science and Law, and the managerial positions of the Comparative Criminology Committee were appointed.
To celebrate the establishment of ACS China and the Comparative Criminology Committee of the Chinese Society of Criminology, and to recognize the sustained efforts of Chinese criminologists to diversify criminology in China, Current Criminology is organizing a special issue examining the development, current state, and future directions of criminology in contemporary China.
We welcome submissions from Chinese and international criminologists for this special issue.
Recommended topics:
- The history, development, and challenges of criminology in China
- The uniqueness, commonalities, and differences of criminology in China
- The traditions, roles, and functions of Chinese criminology in Asia
- Conceptual, theoretical, and methodological developments in contemporary China
- Criminological research articles on any topic related to China
Submission timeline:
- June 1, 2026: Submissions open
- September 1, 2026: Submission deadline
Early submissions are strongly encouraged.
Submission requirements:
- References should follow APA Reference Style.
- Manuscripts should be well organized and include a title page, abstract, main text, tables, figures, appendices, and any other relevant materials.
- Word count: 6,000 words or more, with no maximum word limit.
Journal information:
Current Criminology, founded in 2025, is an international, open-access journal dedicated to advancing criminological research in its many contemporary forms. The journal publishes work across a broad range of subfields, including but not limited to quantitative, comparative, experimental, evaluative, and critical criminology. It welcomes both theoretically informed and empirical contributions from criminology and related disciplines including sociology, law, psychology, political science, economics, public policy, data science, and public health, with a primary focus on furthering criminological knowledge. The journal publishes original research articles, methodological innovations, and policy and practice-oriented studies that contribute to ongoing debates and advancements in criminology and its intersecting fields.