Aims and Scope. Women & Criminal Justice is the only periodical devoted specifically to scholarly interdisciplinary and international research on all concerns related to women and criminal justice. It provides scholars with a single forum devoted to this critical specialty area in the fields of criminal justice, human rights, law, politics, sociology, social work, and women's studies. Both qualitative and quantitative studies are welcomed, as are studies that test theories about women as victims, professionals and offenders.

 

The journal is refereed and features original research articles from academicians and professionals in the field that reflect its interdisciplinary and international focus, such as:

Authors are strongly encouraged to submit manuscripts electronically via e-mail to the Editor-In-Chief, Dr. Frances Bernat (FRANCES.BERNAT@asu.edu). Send submissions in a single electronic file, including all of your tables and figures. Send a cover letter in a separate file or paste it into the email screen. Note: We will have the greatest ability to read and review manuscripts assembled as Word files (preferably as ‘‘.doc'' as opposed to the latest Word version ‘‘.docx''). Some peer reviewers for WJS may not have the latest Word version and would not be able to open such files. Also, if submitting a revised paper, include the revision memo (this must not reveal the author's identity to the referees).

Manuscripts. Text should be readable copy for the purposes of peer review in a serif typeface (preferably Times Roman) at a font no smaller than 11 points (12 point is preferred). Manuscript text should be double spaced with margins of at least one inch all around the page. In addition to the main text, every submission must include (1) title page, (2) an abstract, (3) a reference list, and any (4) notes, (5) tables, or (6) figures mentioned in the text on separate pages. A word count that includes text, notes, and references must be included in the cover letter. Authors should note that most published articles are about 25 pages (200 words per page) in length. Please organize your paper so that the elements are gathered in this order: title page, abstract, text, references, notes, figures, and tables. Your paper should not place figures and tables where they are discussed in the text, rather make a notation in the text as to where the table or figure would appear (e.g., Table 1 about here).

 

1. Title page. Title page should include your manuscript's full title, the names and affiliations of all authors in the order that they are to appear, and the contact information for the lead author.

2. Abstract. Your abstract page should have your manuscript's title (without author information) and should be as close to 100 words as possible. It should include your research question or puzzle, identify your data, and give some indication of your findings. Your abstract is likely to be sent by email to potential readers: giving an accurate and efficient statement of your project is likely to increase your chances of enlisting their aid. Unfocused, verbose abstracts may make it harder to place your paper with referees.

 

3. References. References, citations, and general style of manuscripts should be prepared in accordance with the style of the Western Criminology Review. Cite in the text by author and date (Smith 1983) and include an alphabetical list at the end of the article. WCJ also allows notes for substantive commentary (see below). Papers without a reference list will not be sent to readers for peer review. Please be sure that your reference list is arranged in alphabetical order and that a comma precedes ‘‘and'' in three-author works. 

4. Notes. The first note (an acknowledgment note) appears on the cover sheet of the manuscript. For peer review, we suggest authors start note numbering with ‘‘1'' in the main text. It is most convenient for referees and editors if notes appear at the bottom of the page where cited (footnotes), but no paper will be withheld from peer review for using endnotes instead.

5. Tables and figures. Tables should be numbered consecutively as they appear in text. WCJ strongly prefers that authors number discrete items separately (table 1, 2, 3, 4, etc.) as opposed to grouping items together (table 1, table 2a, 2b, 2c). Appendix tables are numbered table A1, A2, or table B1, B2, and so on. WCJ frowns on the use of font in tables (i.e., bold or italic to mark a specific cell) and avoids the use of ‘‘panel'' to refer to a specific group of table entries. WCJ requires tables to be collected together at the back of the manuscript rather than placing them where cited in the text. As is the case for tables, number figures consecutively. Select typeface carefully: thick or very ornate letters and numbers can be difficult to read; likewise, san serif characters may be too thin for clarity. Check copy for overlapping or misspelled words. WCJ does not print color figures. Generally, images will be crisper if you use text fill rather than gray scale for your figures. Illustrations submitted (line drawings, halftones, photos, photomicrographs, etc.) should be clean originals or digital files. Digital files are recommended for highest quality reproduction and should follow these guidelines:

• 300 dpi or higher
• Sized to fit on journal page
• EPS, TIFF, or PSD format only
• Submitted as separate files, not embedded in text files

Each manuscript must be accompanied by a statement that it has not been published elsewhere and that it has not been submitted simultaneously for publication elsewhere. Authors are responsible for obtaining permission to reproduce copyrighted material from other sources and are required to sign an agreement for the transfer of copyright to the publisher. All accepted manuscripts, artwork, and photographs become the property of the publisher.

Proofs. Page proofs are sent to the designated author using Taylor & Francis' Central Article Tracking System (CATS). They must be carefully checked and returned within one week of receipt.

Reprints and Issues. Reprints of individual articles are available for order at the time authors review page proofs. A discount on reprints is available to authors who order before print publication. Each corresponding author will receive 3 complete issues in which the article publishes and a complimentary PDF. This file is for personal use only and may not be copied and disseminated in any form without prior written permission from Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.