Volume 6, Issue 1, March 2005 ISSN 1096-4886 http://www.westerncriminology.org/Western_Criminology_Review.htm © 2005, The Western Criminology Review. All Rights Reserved.

We are very pleased and proud to present this issue, which is our final issue as editors of Western Criminology Review. We believe this issue represents some of the best work we have published during our editorship, in terms of the quality of the papers, and certainly in terms of quantity. After all, there are ten Feature Articles included in this collection, which is twice as many as in our previous issues, and we are certain that readers will appreciate the contributions the studies make in furthering our knowledge about crime and justice.

One of the biggest worries we had when we became editors of the journal was the concern of whether we would receive enough quality submissions to comprise several issues a year. It should be obvious from the ten excellent feature articles in this issue, as well as the filled issues of the past few years, that there was little reason to worry. In fact, our journal received hundreds of submissions over this period, with our acceptance rate over the three years averaging 13 percent. This rate is similar to several of the higher-tier journals in our discipline, and is an indication that the feature articles we do publish are subjected to rigorous evaluation through our review process.

In addition to the feature articles, this issue also contains papers published in two formats that are new to WCR. Specifically, this issue contains the first research note that the journal has published, as well as the first discourse contained in a single issue, which are the first two papers in the Commentary section. Regarding the discourse papers, they both concern a piece by Bill Glaser in a previous Special Issue on Therapeutic Jurisprudence. We felt that such point-counterpoint debate would be good for the journal, and perhaps stimulate more research and theoretical development in the area, not to mention the importance of the issues in terms of policy. Finally, the issue is rounded out with two book reviews on works that deal with a couple of timely topics: government crime and forensic psychology.

It is hard to believe that our three-year term is ending, and despite the hard work and unexpected computer glitches, we will miss it. Still being in the early stages of our careers, we both felt very honored and fortunate to be given such a task by the Executive Board of the Western Society of Criminology (WSC). So we would like to thank them for their confidence in us, as well as the support they have provided the journal throughout our term. We also would like to acknowledge the preceding and founding editor, Pat Jackson, for advising and helping us transition into our editorial role. Most importantly, we would like to thank you — the readers — who not only are the reason for the journal in the first place, but also because to the constructive feedback you have given us over the last few years.

The exceptional support by provided by the editorial team Christine Hayes and the technical staff of the Sonoma State Library, Ruth Jones, Melanie Tennant, and Joseph Wilcox cannot be overstated. Another person we cannot thank enough is Dominique Biven, our managing editor. She continued to provide support above and beyond the "call of duty." Our editorial advisory board provided a great deal of advice and guidance at crucial times. Finally, without the assistance, advice and support of Mary Schmidt and Dr. Larry Gaines from the Department of Criminal Justice (CSUSB) and Dale Sechrest from the Center for Criminal Justice Research (CSUSB) we would have been unable to produce such a high quality product.

Perhaps the best thing about our departing is that we are leaving the journal in highly competent hands. The new co-editors of the journal are Dr. Sharon Chamard and Dr. André Rosay, both professors at University of Alaska, Anchorage. We know that Sharon and André will do a fantastic job and we felt a sense of relief when they were appointed to the position because the journal will only improve under their guidance.

Sincerely,

Gisela Bichler
Stephen G. Tibbetts

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