Awards & Recognition

For more information about any of the awards listed below, please click on the award title.

The AP-LS Award for Best Undergraduate Paper is awarded to an outstanding undergraduate research paper that is focused on the interdisciplinary study of psychology and law. To be eligible for an award, the student must be the major contributor to a project on a topic relevant to psychology and law (i.e., the student had primary responsibility for initiating and conducting the project even though the project will usually be conducted under the supervision of a mentor).  Data collection should be complete.  The annual submission deadline is June 30.

The American Psychology-Law Society confers Dissertation Awards for scientific research and scholarship that is relevant to the promotion of the interdisciplinary study of psychology and law. Students who complete dissertations involving basic or applied research in psychology and law, including its application to public policy, are encouraged to apply for these awards. Only students who have completed their dissertations in the current calendar year are eligible to apply. First-, second-, and third-place awards are conferred, and winners will be invited to present their research at the AP-LS Annual Conference. The annual submission deadline is January 1.

The Saleem Shah Award is co-sponsored by the American Psychology-Law Society and the American Board of Forensic Psychology.  The award is for early career excellence and contributions to the field of psychology and law.  The focus on the nominee’s contributions may be in any area of forensic practice, research, or public policy. The annual nomination deadline is December 1.

The American Psychology-Law Society confers an award for Outstanding Teaching and Mentoring in the Field of Psychology and Law to recognize teaching excellence in a variety of contexts. The annual nomination deadline is December 1.

The AP-LS Award for Distinguished Contribution to Psychology and Law honors one who has made distinguished theoretical, empirical, and/or applied contributions to the field of psychology and law.  This Award will not be presented on a regular basis.  Rather, it will be reserved for those individuals whose contributions are so unusual as to merit special commendation. The annual nomination deadline is ongoing.

The American Psychology-Law Society Book Award is given for a scholarly book devoted to psychology and law issues.  The award is intended to recognize outstanding scholarship in psychology and law.  The annual nomination deadline is September 15.

The AP-LS/AACP Award for Contributions to Correctional Psychology is given jointly by the American Psychology-Law Society and the American Association for Correctional Psychology to recognize professionals who have made significant contributions to correctional psychology. The annual nomination deadline is July 15.

As further explained on the American Psychological Association's Web site, Fellow status is an honor bestowed upon APA Members who have shown evidence of unusual and outstanding contributions or performance in the field of psychology. AP-LS/Division 41 is seeking nominations (including self-nominations) for Fellow status. The annual deadline for consideration of nomination by AP-LS is January 15.