The practitioner award recognizes innovative and excellent practitioners in the criminal justice system who make a positive impact on the criminal justice system, including innovative research or policy implementation, active engagement with legislation, involvement with program operations, or other service to the field. Practitioners are those employed in a professional capacity in the criminal justice system, including community programs, services, or agencies or other research, government, or public service entities. Nominees are not required to be MCJA members. Current academic faculty members are not eligible for receipt of this award.
To nominate a practitioner for this award, please submit a letter of nomination detailing the nominee’s accomplishments, commitment, and/or advancement in the field of criminal justice to mcja@mcja.org by July 15th with “Practitioner Award” in the subject line.
The selected winner of this award will be determined by a committee comprised of MCJA members. The selected nominee is encouraged to attend the annual MCJA conference in Chicago, Illinois in September to receive their award. The conference fee will be waived to the awardee.
2025 Practitioner Award Recipient
Captain Jacob Morris and Lieutenant Kyle Gelenius
Lorain, Ohio Police Department
Previous Practitioner Award Recipients
2023 | Rosilyn Temple KC MO Mothers in Charge Kansas City, Missouri | |||||
2021 | Bryan Wright Founder and Owner of Dynamic Family Solutions Wisconsin | |||||
2021 | Troy Hatfield Chief Probation Officer Monroe Circuit Court | |||||
2019 | Christian A. Gossett District Attorney Winnebago County, Wisconsin |