This is the home page of Dr. Jay Albanese, a criminologist and professor at Virginia Commonwealth University.

This home page summarizes areas of expertise and links to completed work.  Buttons at the left link to work done in each of these substantive areas.  My contact information can be found at the bottom of this page.

 Jay S. Albanese, Ph.D. 
 jsalbane@vcu.edu         (2-page vita summary click here)

What I Do

My research interests can be grouped into 8 areas: organized crime, transnational crime, ethics, white collar crime, gambling and crime, criminal justice education, the future of crime and justice, and Criminologists Without Borders.  This home page provides highlights from past work and ongoing research in each of these areas.

1.  Organized Crime
2.  Transnational Crime
3.  Professional Ethics, Critical Thinking, & the Great Ideas
4.  Corruption & White Collar Crime 
5.  Gambling and Crime
6.  Criminal Justice Education
7.  The Future of Crime and Justice
8.  Criminologists without Borders
 

 Selected Awards

National/International Recognition Award
For exceptional accomplishments and the impact of work nationally and internationally. Virginia Commonwealth University, 2024.

Outstanding Faculty Award
Virginia’s highest honor for a faculty member at a college or university. State Council of Higher Education of Virginia, 2022.

Freda Adler Distinguished Scholar Award
American Society of Criminology
Division of International Criminology, 2021.

Distinguished Scholar Award
International Association for the Study of Organized Crime, 2017.

Distinguished Teaching Award
Virginia Commonwealth University, 2016. 

Excellence in Service Award 
Virginia Commonwealth University, Wilder School of Government & Public Affairs, 2015.

Distinguished Teacher Award
College of Humanities & Sciences,
Virginia Commonwealth University, 2013.

Outstanding Teacher Award 
Virginia Commonwealth University
Wilder School of Government & Public Affairs, 2012.

G.O.W. Mueller Award for Outstanding Contributions to Comparative & International Criminal Justice, Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences, International Section, 2011.

Scholar Award in Criminal Justice
Virginia Social Science Association, 2009.

Academy Fellow
Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences, 2002.

Elske Smith Distinguished Lecturer Award
Virginia Commonwealth University, 
College of Humanities & Sciences, 2001.

Teaching Excellence & Campus Leadership Award
Sears Foundation, 1989-90.

Excellence in Research Award    
College of Arts & Sciences, Niagara University, 1988.

Outstanding Teacher Award (Social Sciences)
College of Arts & Sciences Student Advisory Council,
Niagara University, 1987.

jsalbane@vcu.edu

Biography

JAY S. ALBANESE is Professor in the Wilder School of Government & Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University.  He received the Ph.D. from Rutgers University School of Criminal Justice.  He served as Chief of the International Center at the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), the research arm of the U.S. Department of Justice. 

Dr. Albanese is author of many articles, and is author & editor of 24 books that include:

Professional Ethics in Criminal Justice: Being Ethical When No One is Looking (2024).
We Are Not as Ethical as We Think We Are      (2021).
My Search for Meaning: A Professor, His Students and 12 Great Conversations 
(2025).
Organized Crime from the Mob to Transnational Organized Crime 
(Routledge, 2015).
Transnational Crime in the 21st Century (Oxford University Press, 2011).  

Jay Albanese is editor of the Encyclopedia of Criminology & Criminal Justice (Wiley, 2014), and Dr. Albanese is recipient of the Elske Smith Distinguished Lecturer Award from Virginia Commonwealth University.  He has served as Executive Director of the International Association for the Study of Organized Crime, and is a past president of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences (ACJS).  He was elected Chair of the American Society of Criminology's Division of International Criminology, (2011-13), and Chair of the International Section of ACJS (2013-15).

We Are Not as Ethical as We Think We Are.