The Home for Counselors Specializing in Addictions and People Impacted by the Criminal Justice System.
Identity.
AAJIC is an organization of counselors, counselors-in-training, supervisors, researchers and counselor educators who specialize in the areas of addiction and/or criminal justice-involved counseling. Members work in a variety of settings and provide education, advocacy, prevention, intervention and treatment. It is governed in accordance with the Association’s Articles of Incorporation, the Association’s Bylaws, the Bylaws of the American Counseling Association, and the Code of Ethics of the American Counseling Association.
Vision.
AAJIC’s vision is to be a high-quality source organization that supports prevention, intervention, treatment, research and training regarding counseling persons with addictions and/or involvement with the criminal justice system . We envision a world where all persons experiencing addiction and/or involvement with the criminal justice system receive high-quality, ethical, evidence based, and culturally affirming care.
Mission.
AAJIC’s mission is to provide leadership, support and advocacy in the fields of addictions and/or criminal justice-involved client counseling.
History.
AAJIC was formed in 1972 as the Public Offender Counselor Association (POCA) and was granted Division status in 1974 by the American Personnel and Guidance Association (APGA), which evolved into the American Counseling Association (ACA). The original goals of POCA were to promote quality rehabilitation services to people involved in the criminal justice system as well as to represent the interest and concerns of professional counselors who provided these services.
In 1990, POCA became the International Association of Addictions and Offender Counselors (IAAOC), a change which reflected the Division’s expanded clinical focus that included addictions counseling. In 2026, members voted to amend the Division’s name once more to the current Association for Addictions and Justice-Involved Counseling (AAJIC) in an effort to support non-stigmatizing, person-first language. The Division’s journal underwent a similar name change, from the Journal of Addictions and Offender Counseling (JAOC) to its current name, the Journal of Addictions and Justice-Involved Counseling (JAJIC).
Throughout the Division’s history, the consistent theme has focused on the recognition of the Professional Counselor as a qualified practitioner in these fields. AAJIC was an active leader in the development and promotion of the Master Addictions Counselor (MAC) credential through the National Board of Certified Counselors, which recognizes appropriate graduate education and specialized training.
AAJIC has maintained an active partnership with the American Counseling Association (ACA), the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), the Council of Presidents and Regional Association Chairs (COPARC), and numerous other committees and task force designed to meet the needs of all professional counselors and their clients in a rapidly changing society.