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Social Sciences publishes Special Issues to create collections of papers on specific topics, with the aim of building a community of authors and readers to discuss the latest research and develop new ideas and research directions. Special Issues are led by Guest Editors, who are experts on the topic and all Special Issue submissions follow MDPI's standard editorial process. The journal’s Editor-in-Chief and/or designated Editorial Board Member will oversee Guest Editor appointments and Special Issue proposals, checking their content for relevance and ensuring the suitability of the material for the journal. The papers published in a Special Issue will be collected and displayed on a dedicated page of the journal’s website. Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies and Guest Editor responsibilities can be found here. For any inquiries related to a Special Issue, please contact the Editorial Office.

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Achieving Crime Prevention and Community Safety Through Evidence-Based and Theoretically-Driven Early Interventional, Diversionary, as Well as Community Building and Engagement Programs

edited by Mark David Chong

submission deadline 30 May 2026 | 4 articles | Viewed by 13430 | Submission Open

Keywords: modern approaches to crime prevention and community safety; early intervention; proactive; diversionary; evidence-based; theoretically driven; criminal opportunity-focused; non coercive; non-penally oriented; community building and engagement; primary; secondary; and tertiary interventions; community/NGO– governmental partnerships.

(This special issue belongs to the Section Crime and Justice)

Intimate Relationships in Diverse Social and Cultural Contexts

edited by Pan Wang and

William Jankowiak

submission deadline 31 May 2026 | 6 articles | Viewed by 17159 | Submission Open

Keywords: intimacy; love; courtship; sex; marriage; emotion; romance; affection; partnership; relationship

(This special issue belongs to the Section Family Studies)

Policying and Policing: The Governance of Refugee/(Im)migrant Education in an Age of Hostility—2nd Edition

edited by Jill Koyama,

Adnan Turan

and

Setrag Hovsepian

submission deadline 31 May 2026 | 3 articles | Viewed by 3281 | Submission Open

Keywords: refugee education; education policy; education equity

Journalism, Disinformation, and Artificial Intelligence: Ethical, Political, and Social Challenges

edited by

Jorge Tuñón-Navarro

, Giulia Sandri and

Rocío Sánchez del Vas

submission deadline 31 May 2026 | Viewed by 1094 | Submission Open

Keywords: AI-driven disinformation; media literacy and civic education; platform governance; journalism autonomy; and public accountability; political communication; political polarization

Community Engagement in Education: Diverse Stakeholders Share Their Roles in Educational Policy and Practice

edited by Catherine Hands

submission deadline 31 May 2026 | Viewed by 768 | Submission Open

Keywords: community involvement; community engagement in education; school-community relations; social context; educational reform; K-12 education; higher education; educational partnerships; collaboration

Ethical Challenges in the Intersection of AI, Digital Technology, and Society

edited by

José-Luis Fernández-Fernández

and

Esperanza Hernández-Cuadra

submission deadline 31 May 2026 | Viewed by 654 | Submission Open

Keywords: digital ethics; ethics of artificial intelligence; algorithmic governance; technology and society

Revisiting School Violence: Safety for Children in Schools

edited by

Guadalupe Francia

submission deadline 1 Jun 2026 | 8 articles | Viewed by 33752 | Submission Open

Keywords: school violence; physical violence; psychological violence; gender-based violence; bullying; cyberbullying; children in armed conflicts; child protection; anti-bullying strategies; children’ s rights

(This special issue belongs to the Section Childhood and Youth Studies)

Romantic Relationships and Mental Health Outcomes During Adolescence and Young Adulthood

edited by Byron Miller and Kathryn Tillman

submission deadline 1 Jun 2026 | Viewed by 297 | Submission Open

Keywords: adolescents; young adults; youth; romantic relationships; dating; marriage; cohabitation; sexual activity; mental health; lifecourse

(This special issue belongs to the Section Childhood and Youth Studies)

Carceral Death: Failures, Crises, and Punishments

edited by Justin Donald Strong

submission deadline 15 Jun 2026 | 5 articles | Viewed by 11317 | Submission Open

Keywords: prison mortality; incarceration and health; social suffering; critical prison studies

(This special issue belongs to the Section Crime and Justice)

The Role of Support in Mitigating the Impact of Family Imprisonment on Children and Families

edited by

Victoria L. Cooper

and

Stephanie J. Bennett

submission deadline 15 Jun 2026 | 4 articles | Viewed by 2854 | Submission Open

Keywords: children of criminalized individuals; development; familial imprisonment; families; intersectionality; marginalization; need-based support; stigma; silence; voice; wellbeing

(This special issue belongs to the Section Crime and Justice)

The Civic Potential of Love: Solidarity in Action and the Making of the Social

edited by

Silvia Cataldi

William A. Calvo-Quiros

and

Angélica De Sena

submission deadline 15 Jun 2026 | Viewed by 587 | Submission Open

Keywords: social love; civic engagement; solidarity; prosocial behavior; collective care; public sociology

From Precarious Work to Decent Work

edited by

Norbert Ebert

, Hangyoung Lee and Harry Blatterer

submission deadline 30 Jun 2026 | 7 articles | Viewed by 17719 | Submission Open

Keywords: precarious work; decent work; employment; sociology of work; social inequality

(This special issue belongs to the Section Work, Employment and the Labor Market)

Understanding the Influence of Alternative Political Media

edited by Hélder Prior

submission deadline 30 Jun 2026 | 5 articles | Viewed by 5234 | Submission Open

Keywords: alternative media; journalism; political communication; public sphere; social media; disinformation; polarization; populism; democracy

Eco-Social Policies and Work in the Poly-Crisis: Sustainable Welfare in a Conflicting Ecological Transition

edited by

Barbara Da Roit

Matteo Villa

and

Elisa Matutini

submission deadline 30 Jun 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 3514 | Submission Open

Keywords: Eco-social policies; eco-social work; sustainability; ecological change; social inequalities

(This special issue belongs to the Section Social Policy and Welfare)

Cybercrime and Digital Victimization

edited by

Hai Thanh Luong

, Simon Mackenzie and Daniel Silverstone

submission deadline 30 Jun 2026 | Viewed by 2616 | Submission Open

Keywords: identity theft; romance fraud; pig-butchering scams; online sexual threats; ransomware; cyberbullying; online harassment; phishing attacks; incident response; cybercrime legislation

(This special issue belongs to the Section Crime and Justice)

Sexual Violence in University Settings

edited by

Gracia González-Gijón

Andrés Soriano-Díaz

Claudia Chiarolanza

and

Nazaret Martínez-Heredia

submission deadline 30 Jun 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1902 | Submission Open

Keywords: sexual violence; acquaintance rape; prevalence; consent; restorative justice; reparation for harm; university women; sexual assault; offender accountability

Research on Prisons and Ageing

edited by Julie N. Brancale

submission deadline 30 Jun 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1421 | Submission Open

Keywords: prisons; ageing; older inmates; prison healthcare; prison management; prison victimization; re-entry; correctional officers

(This special issue belongs to the Section Crime and Justice)

Civic Education in the Digital Age

edited by

Jordi Castellví

and Antoni Santisteban-Fernández

submission deadline 30 Jun 2026 | Viewed by 1010 | Submission Open

Keywords: artificial Intelligence in Schools; civic and citizenship education; competences for democratic culture; critical thinking against misinformation; digital citizenship among young people; online hate speech; social justice education; students’ counter-narratives; youth polarization

Educational Innovation and Child Participation in Early Childhood Education

edited by Ana Castro Zubizarreta and

Roberto Sanz Ponce

submission deadline 30 Jun 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 930 | Submission Open

Keywords: educational innovation; early childhood education; child participation; educational quality; educational improvement; teacher training; childhood; educational experiences

(This special issue belongs to the Section Childhood and Youth Studies)

Improving the Competence and Professional Identity of Social Work Students

edited by Einav Segev

submission deadline 30 Jun 2026 | Viewed by 885 | Submission Open

Keywords: professional identity; competence development; social work education; identity formation interventions; formative experiences; reflective practice; role integration; curriculum innovation

Comparative Perspectives on Law Enforcement Decision-Making Processes and Their Complexities

edited by Ray Bull, Matt Long and Monika Baylis

submission deadline 30 Jun 2026 | Viewed by 536 | Submission Open

Keywords: comparative criminology and policing; law enforcement decision-making processes; discretion; ethical issues/methodological approaches in international criminal justice research; comparative criminological reflexivity; complexities of researching discretion; policing models; protecting the rights of the (alleged) victims; witnesses or offenders; confirmation bias; abuse of power; miscarriages of justice

(This special issue belongs to the Section Crime and Justice)

The Impact of Legal and Extralegal Factors on Judicial Decision Making

edited by Carly Hilinski-Rosick and

Tina Freiburger

submission deadline 30 Jun 2026 | Viewed by 476 | Submission Open

Keywords: pretrial detention; bail; sentencing; extralegal variables; legal variables; sentencing disparity

(This special issue belongs to the Section Crime and Justice)

Exploring the Intersection of Social Policy and Social Innovation

edited by

Alcides Almeida Monteiro

and

Tuur Ghys

submission deadline 30 Jun 2026 | Viewed by 434 | Submission Open

Keywords: social innovation; social policy; social problems

(This special issue belongs to the Section Social Policy and Welfare)

Breaking the Silence: Gender Violence in Sports

edited by

Melody Huslage

submission deadline 30 Jun 2026 | Viewed by 325 | Submission Open

Keywords: power-based violence; gender-based violence; sports; athletics; gender; trans athletes

(This special issue belongs to the Section Gender Studies)

Contemporary Organised Crime: Challenges and Issues

edited by Robert Mclean and

R. V. Gundur

submission deadline 30 Jun 2026 | Viewed by 287 | Submission Open

Keywords: organized crime; drug supply; trafficking; online crimes; fraud; money laundering; international county lines; exploitation; victimization

(This special issue belongs to the Section Crime and Justice)

Advancing the Social Dimensions of Sustainability Frameworks and Indicators for Resilient Organizations and Communities

edited by

Gabriele Giorgi

Stefano Ruggieri

and

Rubinia Celeste Bonfanti

submission deadline 30 Jun 2026 | Viewed by 222 | Submission Open

Keywords: social sustainability; organizational resilience; psychological safety; employee well-being; technostress; hybrid work; gamification; artificial intelligence in organizations; ethical leadership

Zones of Violence: Mediating Gender, Power, and Place

edited by

Krista Mcqueeney

submission deadline 20 Jul 2026 | 3 articles | Viewed by 4615 | Submission Open

Keywords: gender-based violence; intersectionality; spatial logics of violence; private/public spheres; victimhood narratives; power and place; media representation; criminalization of gendered bodies; abolitionist feminism; state violence; carceral feminism; survivor resistance; queer and trans experiences of violence; anti-trafficking discourse; moral panic

(This special issue belongs to the Section Gender Studies)

Social Innovation: Local Solutions to Global Challenges

edited by

Rocco Frondizi

submission deadline 31 Jul 2026 | 6 articles | Viewed by 20060 | Submission Open

Keywords: social innovation; social entrepreneurship; social finance; cross-sector collaboration; collaborative governance

(This special issue belongs to the Section Contemporary Politics and Society)

Sexual Violence in the Media: Exploring the Role of Journalism in Reflecting, Mediating and (de)Constructing Perceptions and Imageries of Sexual Violence

edited by Sofia José Santos and

Júlia Garraio

submission deadline 31 Jul 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 3873 | Submission Open

Keywords: sexual violence; media; rape; intersectionality; journalism; representations; audiences

The Role of Caregiving for Older Family Members in Communities

edited by Vincent W.P. Lee

submission deadline 31 Jul 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 2996 | Submission Open

Keywords: informal caregivers; family caregiving; ageing society; mental health; physical health; social care; caregiver-friendly environments

(This special issue belongs to the Section Family Studies)

Social Work Education in the Context of Globalization: Perceptions, Challenges and Innovations

edited by Denise MacDermott

submission deadline 31 Jul 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 2591 | Submission Open

Keywords: sustainable social work practices; social justice; social work in disasters; social work education; social work field education; student– faculty pedagogic partnerships; new technologies and professional development; supervision; inter professional learning; international social work

(This special issue belongs to the Section Social Policy and Welfare)

Emerging Trends in Family and Marriage Behaviors and Values

edited by

Xiaoling Shu

submission deadline 31 Jul 2026 | Viewed by 1548 | Submission Open

Keywords: family; marriage; intimacy; emerging trends

(This special issue belongs to the Section Family Studies)

Inclusion and Integration Issues Among Forced and Voluntary Migrants in Social Work

edited by

Kati Turtiainen

and Eveliina Heino

submission deadline 31 Jul 2026 | Viewed by 402 | Submission Open

Keywords: forced migration; voluntary migration; refugee; social work; integration; inclusion

(This special issue belongs to the Section International Migration)

Parenthood in the Contemporary Foster Care System

edited by

Lieselot De Wilde

submission deadline 31 Jul 2026 | Viewed by 364 | Submission Open

Keywords: shared parenthood; foster care systems; child welfare; parent– child relationship; kinship care; multi-parent families; parental responsibility; children’ s rights; family diversity

(This special issue belongs to the Section Family Studies)

Media, Crime and Public Attitudes

edited by

Lauren Wright

submission deadline 1 Aug 2026 | Viewed by 196 | Submission Open

Keywords: crime; media; social media; public attitudes; crime myths; public perception

(This special issue belongs to the Section Crime and Justice)

Restorative/Transformative Justice Responses to Intimate Partner Violence

edited by Mavis Morton and

Laura MacDiarmid

submission deadline 10 Aug 2026 | Viewed by 646 | Submission Open

Keywords: gender based violence; restorative justice; transformative justice; intimate partner violence; alternative justice; intersectionality; critical feminist

(This special issue belongs to the Section Crime and Justice)

Credibility and Public Belief in the Contemporary Digital Information Environment

edited by

Xiaowen Xu

submission deadline 15 Aug 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1257 | Submission Open

Keywords: information credibility; digital communication; belief formation; misinformation and disinformation; media trust; public opinion; institutional legitimacy; media literacy; digital publics; behavioral response

Reimagining Higher Education Through Design Justice and Inclusive Practices

edited by Erin Boyce, Katrina Little, Matthew Drake and

Rebecca Cottrell

submission deadline 15 Aug 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 746 | Submission Open

Keywords: equity; justice; inclusivity; curriculum development; decolonizing practices; mentoring; tutoring; community-based practices; belonging; degree attainment

Beyond Arrival: Policies and Practices of Refugee and Immigrant Integration

edited by

Secil Erdogan Ertorer

and

Esra Ari

submission deadline 30 Aug 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 1251 | Submission Open

Keywords: migration; refugees; immigrants; integration; resettlement; inclusion; belonging; social cohesion; migration policy

(This special issue belongs to the Section International Migration)

Break the Chains: Global Efforts in Eradication and Prevention of Human Trafficking

edited by Cathryn Lavery

submission deadline 31 Aug 2026 | 3 articles | Viewed by 14828 | Submission Open

Keywords: human trafficking; sexploitation; slavery; labor trafficking; drug trafficking; mules; terrorism; asylum; task forces; global health; illegal servitude; wildlife trafficking

(This special issue belongs to the Section Crime and Justice)

Belonging and Engagement of Students in Higher Education

edited by

Mi-Young An

submission deadline 31 Aug 2026 | 6 articles | Viewed by 8439 | Submission Open

Keywords: student belonging; student engagement; academic success; retention rates institutional culture; peer relationships; faculty support

International Perspectives on Secure Childcare

edited by Caroline Andow, Rachel Dunn, Stefan Kleipoedszus, Nicola Wake, Raymond Arthur and Adeela ahmed Shafi

submission deadline 31 Aug 2026 | 4 articles | Viewed by 8276 | Submission Open

Keywords: secure care; secure alternatives; deprivation of liberty; residential childcare; vulnerable children voice of the child

(This special issue belongs to the Section Childhood and Youth Studies)

Gender Equity in K-12 Education, Academia and Higher Education: A Global Perspective

edited by

James Etim

submission deadline 31 Aug 2026 | 3 articles | Viewed by 4209 | Submission Open

Keywords: gender; equity; education; disparities; global perspectives

(This special issue belongs to the Section Gender Studies)

The Coming Decade: European Perspectives on Evolving Physical Health Challenges in Prisons

edited by

Miranda Davies

and

Oscar O'Mara

submission deadline 31 Aug 2026 | Viewed by 849 | Submission Open

Keywords: prison; incarceration; inequality; prisoner health; physical health

Education Innovation and Change Leadership in an Emerging Artificial Intelligence Society

edited by Eugene G. Kowch

submission deadline 31 Aug 2026 | Viewed by 502 | Submission Open

Keywords: artificial intelligence; digital transformation; leadership development; organizational change; social innovation; higher education innovation; education innovation; educational change

Exploring the Dynamics of Interracial Couples and Families

edited by Gita Seshadri

submission deadline 31 Aug 2026 | Viewed by 495 | Submission Open

Keywords: individual; couple; and relational well-being; mental health; intersectionality; parenting; immigration; race; culture; faith; couple and family identity development; social support; stigma and discrimination; power and privilege; navigating difference

(This special issue belongs to the Section Family Studies)

Power, Partnership, and Parenthood: A Gender Lens on Male Involvement in Maternal and Child Health

edited by