Editor's report 2005

Editors Report to the Australian and New Zealand Society of Criminology Inc. AGM November 2005

Professor John Pratt

I have pleasure in submitting what will be my final report to the Executive for the period from July 2004 to June 2005. As will be illustrated below, the number of submissions in this period was 43. In point of fact, over the last few years the number has stabilised around the mid to high forties level. This marks a considerable improvement on my first year as editor, when only thirty papers were submitted. I would also like to emphasise that boosting paper submissions has included a considerable amount of work from my self and others associated with the journal, particularly Professor Mark Israel. The limited success we have achieved is indicative of the challenge facing the journal when there is so much competition. For example, the various boutique journals published by Sage and the fact that the British Journal of Criminology is now being published six times per year. Even so, it is not so much the level of submissions that is problematic but the low level of acceptances in this period – only 12 (a full breakdown of the papers received in this period is set out in the table that follows): some way short of the number needed for the journal to reproduce itself. Doubtless Dr Paul Mazerolle, my successor will give thought and consideration to these matters.

At the time of writing, the second issue of the journal this year – the special issue on policing, edited by Professors Clifford Shearing and Philip Stenning,. has gone to press and is due out anytime now. Apart from the intrinsic value it will undoubtedly have, it has also helped to provide a cushion against the shortfall of publishable papers. At the same time I am pleased to report that there is a significant bank of papers for my successor to draw on (eleven). There is now a regular supply of book reviews and review essays for the journal and I would like to thank Dr Sharon Pickering, the book review editor, for her excellent work in these regards. Thanks are also due to the previous Associate Editors, Professor Mark Israel and Professor Alison Young, for their very helpful supportive work in their roles; and, of course, to Professor Rod Broadhurst for his work on the special issue on China. And I would like to thank Frank Morgan for his invaluable work as Statistical Consultant to the journal.

Contents of the third issue of the journal in 2005 include the following:

The breakdown of papers received in the period July 2004 - June 2005 was as follows:

Total papers received from 1 July 2004 to 30 June 2005 43
Reject without sending to referees 15
Sent to referees 28
Reject on referees advice 6
Still under first review 0
Under revision for reconsideration after referees comments 10
Accepted after revision process 12
Total 43

From July 2004, a further 7 papers have been received; four have been rejected without being sent to referees; one has been rejected on the advice of referees; one has been accepted, one is being revised following referees’ comments; the other was sent to Dr Mazerolle as it was clearly much more in his area of expertise than my own. All other matters relating to the transfer of editorship have been agreed between us.

In my time as editor, I have overseen something like 350 papers, plus all those that were solicited for special issues. Of that number, close to 200 have been rejected. I am pleased to say, though, that on only four occasions was any attempt made to either dispute my decision, or to send me a rather unpleasant response to the rejection letter. I am not sure what this says, other than that there is a high level of compliance amongst criminologists. Tow final reflections that my successor might like to ponder on. First, it might be best to dispense or at least considerably restrict the ‘revise and resubmit’ category of review. Referees seldom suggest that a paper should be rejected outright but instead make the less painful suggestion – which in any cases simply prolongs the agony! Second, having said this, I have also had to a good deal of editing of the papers of younger scholars (who were not unfortunately getting this support form their own institution) and also the papers of overseas scholars who do not have English as their first language. Without this ‘hands on’ approach (which I suspect is not provided by most of the journal’s competitors) a number of papers would not have been published.

But it is clearly time for a change – some new vision and energy. So I would like to thank again everyone associated with the journal under my editorship and wish my successor, Dr Mazerolle, every success.

John Pratt
Professor of Criminology
Editor, Australian and New Zealand Journal of Criminology
4 October 2005

Associate Professor Paul Mazerolle

On October 1st, I officially assumed the role of editor of the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Criminology. I wish to thank the outgoing editor, Professor John Pratt for his assistance in ensuring a smooth hand-over of the journal. John has provided me with a great deal of useful input based on his experiences as editor. This has been most helpful. John’s impact on the journal will be felt for some time as he has been able to pass along several papers that will be published later in 2006.

Any time a new editor takes over an existing journal, it will inevitably involve some changes and new approaches. At the same time, you should not expect radical changes for the journal in the future. I am most fortunate to have inherited a strong journal with a sound reputation in Criminology. Part of my role is to build on this in new ways and directions. My philosophy as editor is very simple: I will seek to publish very high quality papers that represent the diversity of research from our field, regardless of methodological orientation. I believe that the ANZJOC should remain as the central location for showcasing the best research in Criminology conducted in Australia and New Zealand and at the same time to be receptive to research from other parts of the world that enhance criminological knowledge.

I generally believe that progress for the field of Criminology is not shaped by the methodological and statistical innovations and sophistication we embrace, although that is important. Rather, my strong view is that the ideas that have informed and reshaped criminological thought since Becarria, Lombroso, Durkheim, Marx, and Sutherland are clear examples that “ideas matter” and are the main vehicles through which our field will continue to progress. To that end, the ANZJOC will continue to embrace and encourage manuscripts that are theoretically informed. While I do not envision that the journal should become another Theoretical Criminology, I do wish to see that as much as possible, research in the ANZJOC takes consideration of the wider theoretical implications of our work. Criminology is a diverse field that draws its expertise from a range of disciplines of knowledge. Amongst the things that unite much of our work should be the need to consider the implications of our work on both a theoretical as well as a practical level.

While in this role, I will aim to publish the best papers that represent the interesting and important criminological research in Australia and New Zealand (and elsewhere) that is relevant here and across the world. To do this well requires the assistance of ANZSOC members as well as colleagues throughout the field. In short, the strength of the journal will continue to rely on the good will and support of criminologists who submit their research to the ANZJOC and who agree to conduct reviews. In summary, if we accept that we desire a strong and well-regarded journal, then it follows that we should work together to achieve that goal.

What does the future hold?

While major changes are not underway, a series of developments are occurring. The first concerns the new associate editors and editorial board. The previous board represented an impressive group of professionals who have done exemplary service in their role. As the incoming editor, I was requested to re-constitute the board. The following list constitutes the new associate editors and editorial board for the ANZJOC.

Associate Editors:

Editorial Board:

My intention has been to develop a board that is representative of the diversity of Criminology in terms of content area, disciplinary background, methodological orientation, and geographical location. I believe this list constitutes a very impressive group of scholars with clear expertise in various areas of Criminology. I expect that the board will assist me greatly in developing and promoting the ANZJOC in new areas and markets throughout the world, which should give rise to increased visibility for the journal.

A second development concerns the position of book review editor, which has now been assumed by Dr. Hennessey Hayes of Griffith University. Hennessey has replaced Dr Sharon Pickering of Monash University. Like John Pratt, Sharon has set a very high standard in her role and has provided a very useful template for how this position can function. In the years ahead, I look forward to working with Hennessey in his role as book review editor.

A third development concerns moving the ANZJOC to electronic submissions as the primary vehicle for receiving manuscripts. Whilst hard copy submissions will still be acceptable, prospective authors will be strongly encouraged to submit their papers electronically. This development will have several benefits, including, most importantly, speeding up the turnaround time for the reviewing process.

Additional developments for the ANZJOC will include the periodic publication of special thematic editions, which has been a useful feature previously for the journal as well as the publication of specially solicited thematic papers. Such special feature articles will be solicited from top scholars in their area of expertise and will be peer-reviewed. This feature for the journal will provide an opportunity for a leading scholar to provide critical insights about the direction of research in a certain area within Criminology. Such papers will surely become seminal statements that will advance thinking and understanding about crime and criminal justice.

Future directions and ambitions during my time as editor of the ANZJOC include moving to a fourth edition per year as well as enhancing the overall impact factor for the journal. Both of these developments will require careful negotiations and considerations in concert with the ANZSOC executive.

In terms of administrative issues for the ANZJOC, I have been most fortunate to have received support from the University of Queensland in the form of a part-time managing editor position. Lisa Kennedy who will work closely with me to address the administrative processes associated with the journal has filled this position. Lisa is a highly experienced Criminology PhD student at UQ, who has a background in applied crime prevention research. I am confident that Lisa’s assistance will ensure that administrative matters associated with the journal operate with minimal fuss and delay.

While it is still very early in my tenure, at present there are three papers currently at the initial stages of the review process. Additionally, I have committed to publish a special edition of the journal in the area of crime and deviant pathways across the lifecourse, which is based on a series of papers presented at a recent symposium on Pathways and Prevention hosted by Professor Ross Homel of Griffith University and Dr Alan France of the University of Sheffield, UK. The symposium featured international scholars of diverse methodological orientation, as well as criminal justice practitioners and policy experts with professional interests in understanding and preventing criminal pathways. In short, the thematic edition will provide a unique opportunity to showcase some of the current intellectual thinking in this area for the wider criminological community.

I should conclude my first report to the ANZSOC Annual General Meeting and reinforce the point that I am looking forward to working in cooperation with you toward ensuring that the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Criminology continues to be an important venue for showcasing high quality criminological research.

Associate Professor Paul Mazerolle
University of Queensland
School of Social Science
St. Lucia, QLD 4072
(email: p.mazerolle@uq.edu.au)
11 October 2005

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