History of AJFO

AJFO is dedicated to advancing effective approaches for working with women and girls in the criminal justice system. For more than a century, AJFO has served as a leader in promoting collaboration, knowledge sharing, and advocacy in this field.

AJFO’s roots trace back to the 1912 National Prison Congress, when an Association of Women was formed to provide a space where women could come together for mutual support, share expertise, and elevate the importance of work with women in correctional settings. Over time, this early network evolved into a sustained effort to advance practice, policy, and outcomes for women and girls across the criminal justice system.

In the 1980s, AJFO launched the Adult and Juvenile Female Offender workshops, held biennially to expand knowledge and strengthen professional practice. These workshops later evolved into the AJFO conference, which continues today as a biennial event co-hosted with a local partner and attended by approximately 400 professionals from across the field.

In 2003, the Association on Programs for Female Offenders (APFO), an affiliate of the American Correctional Association, began co-sponsoring the biennial conferences. In 2015, APFO and AJFO formally merged, strengthening the organization’s reach and impact.

In 2025, the organization rebranded and is now known simply as AJFO. While the name has evolved, the mission remains the same: to support professionals and organizations in improving outcomes for women and girls in the criminal justice system through collaboration, learning, and leadership.