Mission
Alpha Phi Sigma, the National Criminal Justice Honor Society, recognizes and promotes high standards of scholarship among students actively engaged in collegiate preparation for professional service in the field of criminal justice.  More information may be found at Alpha Phi Sigma-National Chapter.

Requirements
The membership requirements are as follows:
1) Must be a declared Justice Systems major or minor;
2) Must have an overall G.P.A. of 3.2;
3) Must have an overall G.P.A of 3.2 in Justice Systems courses;
4) Must be enrolled as a sophomore or higher; and
5) Must have completed 12 credit hours in Justice Systems

Local Chapter
Professor Marjorie Burick-Hughes   advises the Tau Chapter of Alpha Phi Sigma at Truman State University.  Robert Brossett  is the President.  Either one may be contacted for questions by email or by calling the Justice Systems office at x4667 or by stopping at the Justice Systems Department in BT 2210. Questions may also be directed to the National Secretariat Office.

Alpha Phi Sigma holds informal meetings once every two weeks. We assist in publishing the criminal justice newsletter, we participate in fund-raisers including the annual toy drive to benefit Victim Support Services of Northeast Missouri, and we also try to take one or two field trips a year. 

The Tau Chapter at Truman State University can be as fulfilling an experience as its members decide it to be. The chapter can be a forum for guest speakers, fieldtrips, tour facilities, and become involved in community service projects. Some examples are recent tours to state prisons, K-9 training facilities, and crime labs. We also utilize the old barn on campus for mock crime scenes.

APS offers leadership and group organizational experience to those students interested in doing a little more. Each local chapter contains four elected officer positions (President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer).

The V.A. Leonard Scholarship Fund provides eligible students with the opportunity of receiving financial assistance in the form of $500 in cash. Applicants must apply through the National Office for the scholarship money.

For anyone interested in a career in Federal Law Enforcement, APS can provide an unrivaled experience. APS has guaranteed positions for internships at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, Georgia.

National officers are elected annually at the national convention. These positions are open to nomination of active members. The national convention can be a valuable experience in its own right. There you will get to meet with fellow APS members from across the nation. Since APS holds its National Convention in conjunction with the Academy of Criminal Justice sciences Convention, there is also the opportunity to meet professionals in the field. Valuable information can be gained from the many lectures given, as well as, possible graduate programs of interest. There is also a chance to make valuable contacts, which may prove to be beneficial in the future.

Membership in Alpha Phi Sigma entitles you to receive our bi-annual newsletter,
THE DOCKET, which contains information on the national organization and the criminal justice field. Members will also receive a membership certificate, pin and card.

Alpha Phi Sigma is a highly respected organization which is growing very quickly. We hope that with the expanded growth of the organization we can take Alpha Phi Sigma to a higher level. Your involvement can help make this possible.

History
In 1941, Dr. Vivian Anderson Leonard formed Alpha Phi Sigma with a group of 17 students majoring in police science and administration at Washington State College, now University. The chapter later became known as the "Alpha Chapter". As to be expected, Dr. Leonard was the first chapter advisor and Glen Hill was the first chapter president of Alpha Phi Sigma. Dr. Leonard’s vision was to facilitate scholastic excellence in the field of criminal justice.

During its initial years Alpha Phi Sigma experienced only limited growth, but in 1976 in Dallas, Texas, the executive board of the Academy of Criminal Justice Science (ACJS) voted unanimously to designate Alpha Phi Sigma as THE National Criminal Justice Honor Society. In 1978, Alpha Phi Sigma began to hold its national convention in conjunction with the annual ACJS meeting. At the time Alpha Phi Sigma had only fourteen chapters, but grew rapidly with the academy's continued support of Alpha Phi Sigma’s purpose—the recognition of scholarly achievement in the field of criminal justice. Today, there are 264 chapters.

In 1981, Alpha Phi Sigma was admitted to the Association of College Honor Societies. In 1984, Alpha Phi Sigma established an affiliation with the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, which continues today and provides members with one of the federal government’s most prestigious internships—FLETC!