First and second generation criminal justice scholars are distinguished in two ways. First, the emergence of generalist criminal justice scholarship has been associated with the second generation. Second, criminal justice scholars have transformed a multidisciplinary problem area into a singular academic field. As the science of criminal justice has evolved and new paradigms have been created, one force behind the changes has been the application of new scientific methods and technology. Currently, to look at the colloquial lexicon of criminal justice is to see strong evidence of a separate and distinct academic field with identifiable boundaries. Several research works, particularly criminology textbooks, are cited to demonstrate the science, theory, and action focus of criminal justice. 21 references, 1 endnote, and 1 table