American Criminal Justice Association–Lambda Alpha Epsilon (ACJA-ΛΑΕ) is a coed professional fraternity in the field of criminal justice based in the United States. It was established in 1937 in Hayward, California.
History Lambda Alpha Epsilon held its first meeting in Hayward, California on December 18, 1937. Initially, it was a professional fraternity for those employed in law enforcement. It was essentially a regional organization, with all members and chapters being located in California.
Its first annual convention was held between June 13 and 15, 1938 in Lodi, California. In 1945, membership was open to individuals who worked full-time for enforcement agencies or as instructors in police training courses in state colleges. 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.
In 1952, moved outside of California with the establishment of the Zeta chapter at Indiana University. The next year, a chapter for women was established in Sacramento. At the 1957 annual meeting, the fraternity voted to open its membership to all aspects of the criminal justice field.
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. In February 1973, it was proposed that the name be changed to Lambda Alpha Epsilon – American Criminal Justice Association, which was then adopted. The name was adopted later in the year. In 1976, the name was reversed to "American Criminal Justice Association – Lambda Alpha Epsilon."
Symbols and traditions 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).
The Lambda Alpha Epsilon emblem is a hexagon with the Greek letters ΛΑΕ across its center. Below the letters is a spider web that represents "the great complexity of criminal activity". Above the letter are a pair of scales that symbolize justice and a six-pointed star which represents the "light of knowledge".
The ACJA/LAE Journal and the ACJA/LAE National Newsletter are published semiannually.
Activities ACJA-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." The fraternity holds a week-long national convention that includes seminars and written, physical, and practical competitions. It also awards annual scholarships to members.
Membership Membership in ACJA-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. As of 2007, the fraternity has 4,500 active members.
Chapters As of 2024, there are 69 active chapters of ACJA-ΛΑΕ. Collegiate chapters are located at colleges and universities with criminal justice programs. Professional chapters are located geographically or at an agency for criminal justice professionals.
In the following list, active chapters are indicated in bold and inactive chapters are in italics.
ChapterCharter date and rangeTypeInstitutionLocationStatusAlpha FirstProfessionalHayward, CaliforniaReassignedAlphaProfessionalMartinez, CaliforniaActiveBeta FirstProfessionalLos, Angeles, CaliforniaReassignedBetaCollegiateGreenville Technical CollegeGreenville, South CarolinaActiveGammac. 1945ProfessionalSan Jose, CaliforniaInactiveDeltac. 1945ProfessionalSan Francisco, CaliforniaInactiveEpsilon1950CollegiateUniversity of California, BerkeleyBerkeley, CaliforniaInactiveZeta1952CollegiateIndiana UniversityInactiveEtac. 1950ProfessionalSacramento, CaliforniaInactiveTheta1953ProfessionalWomen's ChapterSacramento, CaliforniaInactiveIota1956Sacramento State UniversitySacramento, CaliforniaInactiveLambdaCollegiateFlorida State UniversityTallahassee, FloridaActiveMuCollegiateCalifornia State University, Los AngelesLos Angeles, CaliforniaActiveNuInactiveXiInactiveOmicronCollegiateUniversity of LouisvilleLouisville, KentuckyActivePiInactiveRhoInactiveSigmaInactiveTauInactiveUpsilonInactivePhiInactiveChiCollegiateTruman State UniversityKirksville, MissouriActivePsiInactiveDelta ChiCollegiateSam Houston State UniversityHuntsville, TexasActiveIota SigmaCollegiateIndiana State UniversityTerre Haute, IndianaActivePi Kappa1961CollegiateCerritos CollegeNorwalk, CaliforniaInactivePi ChiCollegiateFlorida State University Panama CityPanama City, FloridaActiveSigma ZetaCollegiateClemson UniversityClemson, South CarolinaActiveSigma PiCollegiateLong Beach City CollegeLong Beach, CaliforniaActiveSigma ChiCollegiateCalifornia State University, SacramentoSacramento, CaliforniaActiveChi NuCollegiateRadford UniversityRadford, VirginiaActivePsi OmegaCollegiateUniversity of New HavenWest Haven, ConnecticutActiveDelta Psi ChiCollegiateBoise State UniversityBoise, IdahoActiveEta Alpha MuProfessionalGilroy, CaliforniaActiveAlpha Epsilon PhiCollegiateTexas State UniversitySan Marcos, TexasActiveAlpha Sigma OmegaCollegiateJacksonville State UniversityJacksonville, AlabamaActiveAlpha Upsilon BetaCollegiateUniversity of ArkansasFayetteville, ArkansasActiveAlpha Upsilon LambdaProfessionalDanville, VirginiaActiveAlpha Phi KappaCollegiateLamar UniversityBeaumont, TexasActiveAlpha Psi OmegaCollegiateUniversity of PittsburghPittsburgh, PennsylvaniaActiveAlpha Omega RhoCollegiateWebber International UniversityBabson Park, FloridaActiveBeta Kappa RhoCollegiateFerris State UniversityBig Rapids, MichiganActiveBeta Phi ZetaCollegiateSt. Edward's UniversityAustin, TexasActiveBeta Sigma Omega LambdaCollegiateInver Hills Community CollegeInver Grove Heights, MinnesotaActiveGamma Alpha EpsilonCollegiateCollin CollegeMcKinney, TexasActiveGamma Epsilon DeltaCollegiateUniversity of Central MissouriWarrensburg, MissouriActiveGamma Theta EpsilonCollegiateFranciscan University of SteubenvilleSteubenville, OhioActiveDelta Zeta OmegaCollegiateUniversity of Central FloridaOrlando, FloridaActiveDelta Sigma UpsilonCollegiateDalton State CollegeDalton, GeorgiaActiveDelta Sigma ChiCollegiateDyersburg State Community CollegeCovington, TennesseeActiveDelta Tau OmegaCollegiateFort Hays State UniversityHays, KansasActiveDelta Chi AlphaAlumniMontgomery, TexasActiveDelta Kappa EpsilonCollegiateNorthern Oklahoma CollegeTonkawa, OklahomaActiveEpsilon Chi ChiCollegiateEl Paso Community CollegeEl Paso, TexasActiveEpsilon Chi UpsilonCollegiateEast Central UniversityAda, OklahomaActiveZeta Epsilon NuCollegiateUniversity of Tennessee at MartinMartin, TennesseeActiveTheta Lambda ChiProfessionalBuena Park, CaliforniaActiveIota Kappa ChiCollegiateUniversity of Texas Rio Grande ValleyBrownsville, TexasActiveKappa Xi SigmaCollegiateOcean County CollegeToms River, New JerseyActiveKappa Omicron RhoCollegiatePeru State CollegePeru, NebraskaActiveKappa Omega PsiCollegiateColorado Technical UniversityAurora, ColoradoActiveLambda Kappa AlphaCollegiateLongwood UniversityFarmville, VirginiaActiveLambda Mu UpsilonCollegiateJames Madison UniversityHarrisonburg, VirginiaActiveNu Alpha ChiCollegiateNortheast Alabama Community CollegeRainsville, AlabamaActiveNu Sigma AlphaCollegiateUniversity of North Carolina at CharlotteCharlotte, North CarolinaActivePi Lambda AlphaCollegiateCentral Methodist UniversityFayette, MissouriActiveSigma Gamma PhiCollegiateNorthwestern State UniversityNatchitoches, LouisianaActiveSigma Delta OmegaCollegiateArizona Western CollegeYuma, ArizonaActiveSigma Iota GammaProfessionalStrongsville, OhioActiveSigma Kappa ChiCollegiateUniversity of Texas Rio Grande ValleyEdinburg, TexasActiveSigma Tau OmicronCollegiateWest Chester UniversityWest Chester, PennsylvaniaActiveSigma Chi AlphaCollegiateBarton CollegeWilson, North CarolinaActiveSigma Chi NuCollegiateNorthern Virginia Community CollegeManassas, VirginiaActiveTau Alpha OmicronCollegiateTrine UniversityAngola, IndianaActiveTau Epsilon LambdaCollegiateGarden City Community CollegeGarden City, KansasActivePhi Omega AlphaCollegiateCalifornia State University, FresnoFresno, CaliforniaActivePhi Alpha SigmaCollegiateWestern Illinois UniversityMacomb, IllinoisActivePhi Kappa SigmaCollegiateTalladega CollegeTaladega, AlabamaActiveChi Sigma UpsilonCollegiateColumbia Southern UniversityOnlineActivePsi Sigma IotaCollegiateKent State UniversityKent, OhioActiveOmega Sigma AlphaCollegiateUniversity of ScrantonScranton, PennsylvaniaActiveOmega Omega Omega 1963CollegiateRio Honda CollegeWhittier, CaliforniaInactiveAlpha Omega Delta ZetaCollegiateKeiser UniversityOrlando, FloridaActiveGamma Epsilon Zeta RhoProfessionalNewark, DelawareActiveLambda Epsilon Omega SigmaCollegiateParadise Valley Community CollegePhoenix, ArizonaActiveNu Omega Lambda OmicronCollegiateCollege of the Muscogee NationOkmulgee, OklahomaActiveChi Omega Pi SigmaProfessionalBoothwyn, PennsylvaniaActive
See also Professional fraternities and sororities
References