Annual BJS/JRSA Awards

BJS Special Recognition Award for Outstanding Service and Leadership

2009 Award

Joan Weiss, Executive Director, Justice Research and Statistics Association

Ms. Weiss has served as Executive Director of the Justice Research and Statistics Association (JRSA) since August 1990. In that capacity, she oversees the entire JRSA program, including administrative functions, program development, and implementation, and serves as liaison to other national criminal justice organizations. Before coming to JRSA, she served for five and a half years as the Executive Director of the National Institute Against Prejudice and Violence in Baltimore, Maryland. Ms. Weiss has served on national task forces and advisory groups such as the International Association of Chiefs of Police Research Advisory Group, Urban Institute’s Advisory Group for the Evaluation of STOP Grants Under the Violence Against Women Act, National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) Task Force to Improve Law Enforcement in Racially and Religiously Motivated Crimes, and the American Jewish Committee’s Task Force on Youth and Bigotry in America. Ms. Weiss’ publications include articles on intergroup relations, bias crimes, and working with victims. She holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology and a master’s degree in social work from the University of Maryland.

Award Description

Since 1982, the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) annual award has honored a SAC director who demonstrated outstanding achievement over an extended period of time. The new BJS Special Recognition Award for Outstanding Service will replace the G. Paul Sylvestre Award to honor a SAC director, SAC staff member, state or federal official, or other individual who has demonstrated outstanding achievement to help maintain and enhance the state's capacity to address criminal justice issues. The inaugural 2009 BJS Special Recognition Award is made in honor of former BJS employee Paul D. White, who passed away October 29, 2008.

Paul White first came to BJS on a detailed appointment from the Census Bureau in late 1969 as a statistician working in the Comprehensive Data Systems program. Within a couple of months, he became a permanent employee and a valuable part of BJS, working on the National Criminal Justice Improvement Program, the Uniform Crime Reporting Program, and the State Justice Statistics Program for Statistical Analysis Centers, his most significant contribution. He was heavily involved in fostering criminal justice statistics and information systems capabilities within the states. His participation created SACs and UCR programs in nearly every U.S. state and territory. The close working relationship and intimate knowledge of the SACs' capabilities were integral in the growth and sophistication in the SACs' use of analytic techniques. Paul's professional and personal relationships with local, state, and federal officials and other criminal justice agencies made him an invaluable asset to BJS for over 30 years. BJS recognizes his lifetime achievement by dedicating this 2009 award in his memory.

G. Paul Sylvestre Award (1988-2008)