The year 2017 represents the 25th anniversary of the International Association of Forensic Nurses, a truly significant milestone in the history of the association. In 1992, 72 registered nurses-primarily sexual assault nurse examiners-who gathered in Minneapolis, took a bold step and formed the International Association of Forensic Nurses. They could have simply formed the American Association of Forensic Nurses or, given their common interests, the American Association of Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners, but they had a broader global goal for the role of nurses working at the interface of health care and the law. They envisioned a dynamic specialty where nurses applied concepts, strategies, and interventions to victims of violent crime and perpetrators of criminal acts. They saw forensic nurses embracing a diversity of professional roles in addition to sexual assault nurse examiners, such as death investigators, correctional nurse specialists, forensic psychiatric nurses, legal nurse consultants, forensic clinical nurse specialists, forensic geriatric specialists, and so forth. It wasn't long before forensic nursing emerged as healthcare's response to violence and trauma. Today, the International Association of Forensic Nurses, a member-based organization, consists of more than 3,700 members who practice and support forensic nursing in 24 countries throughout the world (International Association of Forensic Nurses, n.d.).

I first learned about the International Association of Forensic Nurses when I read a guest editorial written by Virginia Lynch in 1993 entitled "Forensic Aspects of Health Care: New Roles, New Responsibilities" (Lynch, 1993). Although I had practiced as a forensic psychiatric nurse, I was struck by the diversity of forensic nursing education and practice as featured in the special issue of the Journal of Psychosocial Nursing & Mental Health Services. I found the idea of nurses working with both victims and perpetrators under the umbrella of the same organization intriguing. I read with great interest of the forensic nurses who were embracing new roles and responsibilities as legal nurse consultants, hostage negotiators, "battered women" specialists (interesting how language has changed), forensic psychiatric nurses, and those exploring the concept of false allegation in the context of rape. I was so moved by this special issue of the journal, and in particular, the articulation of the forensic nursing role in addressing the needs of both victims and perpetrators, through primary, secondary, and tertiary intervention strategies, that I was inspired to write a Letter to the Editor (Peternelj-Taylor, 1994) to share my own experiences. Moreover, at that time, I believed nurses working in these expanded roles were in search of an identity. For me, being a member of the International Association of Forensic Nurses helped me overcome the identity crisis that I sometimes experienced as a registered nurse practicing in a nontraditional role, in an unconventional milieu.

Forensic nurses and interprofessional colleagues from around the globe will meet in Toronto, Ontario, October 11-14, 2017, for the Association's 25th Annual International Conference on Forensic Nursing Science and Practice. Anniversaries are a cause for celebration; commemorating the 25th anniversary represents a significant achievement in the history of the International Association of Forensic Nurses. The Association as we know it today represents the collective efforts, dreams, and aspirations of members who, not unlike the founding members, continue to believe in the mission of the International Association of Forensic Nurses-"to provide leadership in forensic nursing practice by developing, promoting, and disseminating information internationally about forensic nursing science."

Honoring the 25th anniversary provides us with the opportunity to not only embrace our achievements as we reflect on where we have been but also acknowledge the contributions of all members-nurses and interprofessional colleagues-who have over the years showed collaborative leadership in practice, research, education, administration, and policy development in relation to healthcare's response to violence and trauma. Although the future is always an unknown entity, complete with inherent uncertainties, I believe, that as a member-based organization, the International Association of Forensic Nurses is well positioned to welcome future challenges and champion new and yet unforeseen roles for forensic nurses in the pursuit of a world without violence. I am proud to be a member of this esteemed organization, and yet, I can't help but wonder what the next 25 years will bring. As you contemplate the future of forensic nursing and the International Association of Forensic Nurses, in this special anniversary year, why not consider mentoring a new forensic nurse, explore a new role for forensic nursing, or write an article for the Journal of Forensic Nursing. The organization, after all, is only as strong as its members.

The founding members envisioned an organization whose mandate was to care for both victims and perpetrators of violence. The diversity of the specialty is alive and well in the pages of this issue of the Journal of Forensic Nursing. From my perspective, the future of the International Association of Forensic Nurses is bright.

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