Scholars, law enforcement professionals, and policymakers from across Asia and beyond attended the 15th Annual Conference of the Asian Criminological Society (ACS) to explore strategies for enhancing criminology education.

Held earlier this month, this year’s conference was anchored on the theme, “Criminology, Criminal Justice, Technology, and Public Safety.”

The event featured discussions, research presentations, and workshops addressing contemporary challenges in criminology.

The 15th Annual Conference of the Asian Criminological Society was a significant event that tackled the challenges and opportunities in criminology and criminal justice across Asia, while also paving the way for future innovations in the field.

This year’s conference was brought to the Philippines by the Professional Criminologists Association of the Philippines (PCAP), co-presented by the Philippine College of Criminology (PCCR), in collaboration with the Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC) Board of Criminology and Wiseman’s Books Trading.

Role of technology in criminology

This year's theme highlighted the role of technology in modern criminological practices and policies.

Plenary speakers covered a range of topics, including the role of technology in criminology education, strategies for preventing and prosecuting cybercrime, character and competency-based approaches to policing, human rights issues in Asia, public safety management within democratic systems, and the acknowledgment of professional qualifications in criminology.

In parallel sessions, scholars and law enforcement practitioners shared their research on a variety of subjects, including criminological theories, human rights, juvenile delinquency and justice, forensic science, digital science, cybercrimes, artificial intelligence, gender-based crimes, law enforcement, crime prevention, restorative justice, and transnational crimes.

“We are proud to bring this international gathering to Manila again,” said PCAP President Dr. Gerry Cano.

ACS President Ramasubbu Thilagaraj from the University of Madras underscored the importance of “collaboration and knowledge-sharing among criminologists across Asia.”

He noted that this would help “address region-specific crime issues and help develop policies to enhance justice and public safety in the Asian context."

Future of criminology education

PCCR President Ma. Angelica Lei Bautista also highlighted the need to strengthen criminology education.

"Future criminologists should be equipped with the knowledge necessary to tackle contemporary issues such as cybercrime, digital forensics, and AI, so an effective and relevant education should be available now,” she said.  

PRC Board of Criminology Chair Raul Gabao, on the other hand, noted that the gathering offered a “platform to explore the latest research and trends in crime prevention, law enforcement, and public safety.”

“The government can develop informed policies that address these emerging challenges, improve public safety, and ensure the effective administration of justice,” he added.

At the end of the three-day conference, it was announced that next year’s conference would be hosted in Queensland, Australia.