Aims and Scope

The aim of Criminology (Uzbekistan) is to advance criminological science by disseminating new theoretical approaches, original empirical research findings and methodological developments that contribute to understanding crime, its causes and consequences, preventing crime, protecting victims and improving criminal justice.

The journal provides an academic platform for researchers, university lecturers, master’s and doctoral students, and professionals working in criminology, criminal policy, crime prevention, law enforcement, the administration of criminal sanctions, and related social and legal disciplines.

The journal accepts original research articles, review articles, theoretical and methodological papers, and short research communications. Quantitative, qualitative, mixed-methods, comparative legal, experimental and quasi-experimental studies, as well as systematic reviews and meta-analyses, are welcome.

Research topics

  • Criminological theories, research methods and crime measurement.
  • Causes, patterns, trends and the hidden dimensions of crime.
  • Social, community-based and situational crime prevention, including mahalla institutions.
  • Victimology, victim protection and access to justice.
  • Juvenile delinquency, child protection and age-related changes in criminal behaviour.
  • Domestic and gender-based violence.
  • Criminal policy, sentencing and the effectiveness of sanctions.
  • Imprisonment, probation, rehabilitation, reintegration and desistance from crime.
  • Policing, public safety, procedural justice and public trust.
  • Corruption, economic and financial crime.
  • Organised and transnational crime, trafficking in persons, and illicit trafficking in drugs and weapons.
  • Cybercrime, digital victimisation and online fraud.
  • Artificial intelligence, crime analysis, risk assessment and algorithmic fairness.
  • Environmental crime, comparative criminology and the evaluation of prevention programmes.

Research in law, forensic science, psychology, sociology and technology falls within the journal’s scope when it makes a specific contribution to understanding crime, victimisation, prevention or criminal justice.

Distinctive scholarly focus

The journal’s distinctive scholarly focus is to bring research on crime, victimisation and criminal justice in the social, legal and institutional contexts of Uzbekistan and Central Asia into international academic discussion.

Particular attention is given to the role of local communities and mahalla institutions in crime prevention, the evaluation of criminal justice reforms, the effectiveness of sanctions and rehabilitation programmes, victim protection, and changes in crime associated with digitalisation and cross-border interactions.

The journal promotes the use of regional evidence to develop and critically test criminological theories, conduct comparative analyses and assess the applicability of preventive approaches in different social contexts. Studies should explain the significance of their findings for international scholarship and the conditions under which their conclusions may apply beyond the context examined.

The journal welcomes research from all countries, including studies of other regions and international comparisons.

Journal objectives

The journal seeks to:

  • support the development of theoretical, empirical and methodological research in criminology;
  • facilitate the exchange of scientific knowledge and research findings between the academic community and practitioners;
  • develop the evidence base for crime prevention, victim protection and decision-making in criminal policy;
  • contribute to the objective evaluation of the effectiveness of prevention programmes, sanctions, probation and social reintegration measures;
  • strengthen cooperation among universities, research institutions, criminal justice professionals and civil society organisations;
  • increase the international visibility and scholarly significance of criminological research from Uzbekistan and Central Asia;
  • provide early-career researchers and doctoral students with opportunities to present significant research findings under consistent research quality standards.

Requirements for scholarly contribution

The journal publishes work that demonstrates originality, methodological rigour and credible findings, and makes a specific theoretical, empirical or methodological contribution to criminology and criminal justice.

Manuscripts must present a clear research question or objective, justify the chosen approach, describe methods and sources, analyse results and discuss limitations. Conclusions and practical recommendations must be supported by the evidence presented.

Analyses of legislation, judicial practice and law enforcement practice must include independent scholarly argumentation and explain the significance of their conclusions for criminological knowledge.

Research involving people and the use of personal or confidential data must comply with the journal’s ethical requirements, including the protection of rights, voluntary participation and confidentiality, with particular attention to children, victims and people deprived of their liberty.

ISSN 3060-5369 (Print)