Session Organizer:

Conference Description

The AAJ Fall Conference 2026: Designing for Justice Positive and Communication Connection, will be held October 7-9 in Minneapolis, MN. This conference will explore the pivotal role architects play within the justice system, emphasizing the societal impact and community connection of their designs in justice facilities. We want to build a more equitable and just system, empowering disenfranchised, poor, underserved communities and allowing them to thrive and flourish.

We will explore our role in building a justice system focused on improved results outcomes (improved health and well-being, reduced incarceration rates, lower recidivism, lower overall crime) across the communities we serve. The conference will focus on how architects achieve this through Humane Design Principles: exploring innovative strategies to integrate compassion and humanity into the architectural and environmental design of justice facilities, ensuring they promote well-being for all inhabitants; designing justice facilities that cater to the diverse needs of all users, including staff, visitors, and the incarcerated and their families, promotes inclusivity, accessibility and comfort; and encouraging designs that not only serve their primary function within the justice system but also engage with and contribute positively to their local communities.

We invite architects who are actively engaged in designing for those impacted by the justice system to submit proposals and share your expertise with our members and allied professionals. Proposals must be submitted by 5:00pm ET on Friday, February 20, 2026.

Who Should Submit the Proposal?

The person submitting the proposal will act as the session organizer. They will serve as the primary contact with AIA staff. The organizer may be the primary speaker, a logistical contact for the primary presenter or a planning committee volunteer. The organizer will be responsible for following the submission guidelines and meeting deadlines for preparation and delivery. The organizer will be responsible for communicating with their entire speaker panel.

Submission and Review Process
Proposals will be assessed by a group of peer reviewers comprised of subject matter experts in the justice architecture industry and evaluated according to the criteria below:

• Relevance of the content to the conference theme within the context of designing and influencing changes in facilities within the justice system including: 

o Community Services – crisis care, diversion, behavioral/mental health centers
o Law Enforcement
o Courts – adult, juvenile, specialty
o In-Custody – jails, juvenile facilities, prisons
o Reentry / Community Corrections – reentry housing, supportive housing, job training

• Topic is an objective best practice
• Innovative and/or an emerging practice trend

For any questions, please contact lisaberretta@aia.org 

Learning Outcomes:

List four learning outcomes for session participants, noting what they will be able to do as a result of participating in this session.

Health, Safety, and Welfare (HSW):   Three of the mandatory learning objectives above (75% of course content and instructional time) must address HSW topics including, but not limited to, accessibility, building design, codes, energy efficiency, materials and systems, preservation, building security, structural issues, and sustainable design.) See HSW CE Guidelines for more information. 

Proposed Speakers:

Please provide the following information for all speakers, including the session organizer, if applicable. Panel sizes are not to exceed four people, including the moderator.

Thank you for submitting your proposal. You will be able to make edits until the form closes.