Contact: Chris Godek, 212-237-8628; Doreen Vinas, 212-237-8645

NEW YORK, June 15 /Standard Newswire/ -- John Jay College of Criminal Justice and the Center for Media Crime and Justice are encouraging all print crime reporters to submit their entries for two annual awards which recognize excellence in criminal justice reporting. Established in 2005, the Excellence in Criminal Justice Reporting Awards will be given in two categories - daily coverage and series reporting.

Print journalists are encouraged to submit stories which were published between September 1, 2006 and August 31, 2007. The deadline to submit entries is September 5, 2007. A cash prize of $1,000 accompanies each award.

A panel of distinguished journalists and academics will judge the entries. The awards will be presented at a luncheon during the Harry Frank Guggenheim Foundation Symposium Changing the View of Crime in America in late fall 2007.

In 2006, the award for best series went to Rick Tulsky from the San Jose Mercury News for a five-part series entitled "Tainted Trials, Stolen Justice," that exposed some form of misjudgment or misconduct in one in three cases prosecuted in Santa Clara County over a five year period. The award for best story went to Christina Jewett and Dorothy Korber of the Sacramento Bee for "Questions Persist Over Jail Heath Care" which examined poor medical care for inmates in county jails in Sacramento, Calif.

For full details on eligibility criteria and the entry form, please visit www.jjay.cuny.edu/award or contact Chris Godek, Director of Public Relations at 212-237-8628.

About the Center on Media Crime and Justice: The Center promotes and encourages quality, in-depth reporting on criminal justice, and brings journalists together with scholars and practitioners to help broaden public understanding of the trends, problems and issues relating to crime and justice in 21st Century society.

About John Jay College of Criminal Justice: An international leader in educating for justice, John Jay College of Criminal Justice of The City University of New York offers a rich liberal arts and professional studies curriculum to upwards of 14,000 undergraduate and graduate students from more than 135 nations. In teaching, scholarship and research, the College approaches justice as an applied art and science in service to society and as an ongoing conversation about fundamental human desires for fairness, equality and the rule of law. For more information, visit www.jjay.cuny.edu.