About the Indian Society of Criminology (ISC)

The Indian Society of Criminology (ISC) was established in the year 1970. The Society, which was started with the objectives of advancing the study and application of criminology and allied sciences for the welfare of society and for facilitating co-operation among persons interested in the prevention and control of crime developed in a short period, into a pioneering national organization due to the efforts of the dedicated founders.

     The problems connected with crime and crime prevention are complex and subtle. The prevention of crime and crime control cannot be managed sole by the police, the prosecution, the courts and the correctional institutions but require the fullest co-ordination and co-operation of all the sections of the society. For effective crime prevention, it is necessary to make very efforts to create maximum awareness and secure the participation of the people in all aspects of the crime problem. The need, therefore, of voluntary agencies for this purpose cannot be over emphasized and it is towards fulfilling this need that the Indian Society of Criminology was established in the year 1970 and is registered and headquartered at the Department of Criminology, University of Madras, Chennai, India.

The society was initiated by Professionals like Professor T. E. Shanmugam, Mr. Pitchandi, Justice V. R. Krishna Iyer, Mr. Pon Paramaguru, I.P.S., Professor K. Chockalingam, and Mr K. Mani.

Hon’ble Justice V. R. Krishna Iyer, a jurist and the then Judge of the Supreme Court of India was the founder Honorary President of ISC. Professor T. E. Shanmugam was the founder Chairman, Mr N. Pitchandi was the founder Vice Chairman, Professor K. Chockalingam was the Founder Secretary and Mr K. Mani, was the founder treasurer, and Mr P. Paramaguru, the then Deputy Inspector General of Police as an Executive Committee Member, with others.Hon’ble Justice V. R. Krishna Iyer, a jurist and the then Judge of the Supreme Court of India was the founder Honorary President of ISC. Professor T. E. Shanmugam was the founder Chairman, Mr N. Pitchandi was the founder Vice Chairman, Professor K. Chockalingam was the Founder Secretary and Mr K. Mani, was the founder treasurer, and Mr P. Paramaguru, the then Deputy Inspector General of Police as an Executive Committee Member, with others. The society further grew with the great efforts of: Professor A. Sivamurthy, Dr. S. M. Diaz, Professor K. V. Kaliappan, Mr. C. V. Narasimhan, Mr. V. R. Lakshminarayanan, Mr. K. Senthilathiban, Professor M. Z. Khan, Professor B. B. Pande, Professor S. P. Srivastava, Professor N. R. Madhava Menon, Professor B. N. Chattoraj, Professor R. Thilagaraj, Professor G. S. Bajpai, Professor Arvind Tiwari, and Professor P. Madhava Soma Sundaram.

The society, which was started with the objectives of advancing the study ad application of criminology and allied sciences for the welfare of the society and for facilitating co-operation among the like-minded individuals interested in the prevention and control of crime; started in a short period, over decades in to a pioneering national organisation due to the efforts of the dedicated founders and thereafter office bearers. Consistent with the multi-disciplinary character of the science of criminology, the society attracted representatives, membership spread all over the country with professionals such as criminologists, psychologists, sociologists, judges, lawyers, police officers, correctional officers, forensic scientists, social workers, child protection specialists, probation officers, criminal justice practitioners and others who are interested in the problem of prevention of crime and salvaging the humanity from the law breakers.

The society has been seeking to attain its objectives by organizing annual conferences, periodical symposia, training programmes and public lectures with themes of relevance and current interest in society, crime and its prevention and rehabilitation of the offenders, thus involving the people against crime and delinquency and also stimulating interest among the members of the Criminal Justice System in applying criminological approach to the problem of crime. 

The society has organized 46 Annual All Indian Criminology conference at various places/ institutions in India. The society publishes a bi-annual journal Indian Journal of Criminology (listed in erstwhile UGC Care List). 

The society has instituted various awards (for more details please visit the award page):

The ISC - Kumarappa- Reckless Award was instituted in the year 1973 in order to recognize a person who has made significant contribution to teaching, research or administration in the broad field of Criminology or Criminal Justice Administration.

The ISC – Dr. B. S. Haikerwal and Prof. Sushil Chandra Award for the Senior Social Scientist was instituted in the year 1989 to be presented to a senior social scientist for his / her contribution to criminology in the broad field of social sciences.

The Fellow of the Indian Society of Criminology (FISC) is awarded at the annual conference to the persons who have helped to advance the objects of the society through the channel of the Indian Society of Criminology by participating in its activities and facilitating its growth.

The society organizes periodical awareness programmes and training programmes of contemporary forms of crime, Crime Prevention, Public Safety, recent legislation or amendments, cyber crimes, digital forensics, Intellectual Property Rights, cyber Laws, and the allied areas of criminal justice administrations to the public, academia, law enforcements, judiciary and corporates. The society also undertakes research projects on various topics of the contemporary importance.