2026 Policing, Policy, and Philosophy Initiative (3PI) Symposium

The Policing, Policy, and Philosophy Initiative (3PI) is accepting submissions for its 2026 Paper Prize. The prize winner will be recognized this November at the Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) Society Annual Meeting in New Orleans, LA.

The prize committee will evaluate papers based on their originality in advancing philosophical debates on policing and their skill in translating insights from philosophy into concrete implications for policy. The winner of the 3PI Paper Prize will receive a $1,000 award. Also, should the author(s) choose, the paper awarded the 3PI Paper Prize will receive consideration for publication in the Journal of Public Policy. 

Faculty, postdocs, graduate students, and independent scholars with advanced degrees all are eligible to submit a paper for consideration. (Past prize winners are not eligible.) Submissions for the 3PI Paper Prize should be (1) unpublished manuscripts, (2) anonymous, and (3) no more than 3,500 words (excluding abstract, notes, and references). The deadline to apply is May 8, 2026. Please submit your paper at the following link: https://forms.gle/nGgsBLPwWsPRfphHA. Decision notifications will be sent in late May.

The winner and runner-up of the prize will present their papers at the 3PI Symposium, which for the first time in 2026 will be in person. The symposium will take place at the 2026 PPE Society Annual Meeting, November 12–14 in New Orleans. The exact day of the symposium/panel featuring the 3PI prize winner and runner-up will be announced this summer. Symposium participants will need to register for and travel to the PPE Society Annual Meeting.

About 3PI: The Policing, Policy, and Philosophy Initiative (3PI) draws on tools from philosophy to understand policing’s role in society and inform policy. Through its events and resources, 3PI fosters collaboration among philosophers and ethicists, highlights research in philosophy on policing, and connects scholars with policymakers and community leaders. 3PI has been supported by funding from the American Philosophical Association and Rock Ethics Institute at Penn State, where it is based. For more information about 3PI, visit: https://3pi.la.psu.edu/. If you have questions about 3PI or its paper prize, please email [email protected].