How does the British Society of Criminology support criminology research and professional practice?

The British Society of Criminology (BSC) supports criminology research and professional practice by connecting academic and professional people, publishing research through its journals, and offering funding, awards, events, and public-facing content. It is relevant if you work in, teach, research, or study crime, criminal behaviour, or the UK criminal justice system, or if you want to follow criminological debate and opportunities in the UK.

Who the BSC is for

The BSC describes its purpose as furthering the interests and knowledge of both academic and professional people engaged in any aspect of work or teaching, research, or public education about crime, criminal behaviour, and the criminal justice systems in the United Kingdom. It has existed for 60 years and has a wide-ranging membership in the UK and overseas.

That means its support is not limited to university researchers. It also addresses practitioners, teachers, and people involved in public education around criminal justice.

How it supports research

Journal publishing

Membership includes a personal subscription to the Society’s official journal, Criminology & Criminal Justice, and a subscription to the British Journal of Criminology. These journals are the main route through which the BSC supports the dissemination of criminological research.

Funding and awards

The BSC states that membership benefits include networking opportunities, funding, and awards. These are mechanisms that can support researchers and practitioners in developing and recognising work in the field.

Events and networks

The BSC runs events and research networks. One example given is the BSC Green Criminology Research Network Webinar on 30 September 2026. Full information on all events is available on the Events page. Research networks like this allow people with shared interests to connect and exchange work.

How it supports professional practice and public discussion

Blog and public education

The BSC publishes a blog. A recent example is “Developing an anti-racist & whole-system model for pre-court diversion in Wales” by Professor Mark Jones. The research examines racial disparities in pre-court diversion in the justice system, set against Wales’s aim to be anti-racist by 2030. This shows how the BSC uses its platform to connect research findings with current justice policy questions.

Jobs and career information

The BSC lists jobs, such as a Senior Lecturer in Criminology at Liverpool Hope University with a closing date of 05 Oct 2026. A full list is available on the Jobs page. For practitioners and academics, this is a practical way the site supports professional practice and career movement.

Book draws and member areas

The BSC runs a monthly book draw. One example is Autism, Criminal Defence and Access to Justice by Roxanna Dehaghani and Tom Smith (Routledge), with a closing date of 30 September. Further details are in the members’ area. This is a small but concrete example of how membership adds access to current criminological literature.

What you can do on the site

• Read the latest BSC blog for research-informed commentary on criminal justice issues.
• Check the Events page for webinars and network activity, including the Green Criminology Research Network Webinar on 30 September 2026.
• Check the Jobs page for criminology roles and closing dates.
• Visit the Membership page to see how to join and what membership includes.
• Use the members’ area for book draw details and other member-specific content.

What membership includes, based on the site

The site does not state a membership price in the provided material, so cost is not confirmed here. If price matters to your decision, check the Membership page directly.

When the BSC is the right resource

The BSC is a good fit if you want UK-focused criminology research, connections across academic and professional practice, or access to its journals and member benefits. It is less suited if you need jurisdiction-specific legal advice, individual case support, or clinical guidance, since the BSC is a learned society rather than a direct service provider.

For research and professional practice, the clearest starting points are the Membership page, the Events page, the Jobs page, and the BSC blog.