Criminology testimonials

As a final-year criminology student, my practicum placement at the Vancouver Police Museum and Archives was an amazing opportunity to get work experience in the criminal justice industry. Being able to complete hands-on work creating educational programs at the museum to help young adults learn and apply investigational forensics to a police investigation not only helped me learn the concepts and applications of forensics in a way that a classroom setting is unable to replicate, but has also helped to develop strong communication, cooperation and organizational skills. Additionally, this placement developed my ability to take the initiative on projects assigned to me and to apply abstract ideas and create an original project through them.

This placement was an incredible opportunity to build vital and relevant workplace skills, offered several opportunities to network with other regions of the criminal justice industry, and helped me focus in on career options that I am excited to pursue after graduation.

Hello, my name is Faiza. I enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts in Criminology (Honours) program at Douglas College with a concentration in Legal Studies, knowing I wanted to pursue law school. My long-term career goal is to work as a humanitarian lawyer for the United Nations. As a starting point, I aspire to enter the legal profession as either a corporate or criminal defense lawyer.

I completed my practicum at RTG Law Group, a Vancouver-based firm specializing in criminal defense and family law. While the majority of my work was completed remotely, I also attended Provincial Courts in Vancouver, Surrey, and New Westminster.

My responsibilities included legal research, drafting case summaries, reviewing disclosure materials, conducting client intake interviews, and corresponding with court registries. I also assisted with administrative duties and supported court preparation. A highlight of my experience was witnessing the behind-the-scenes of trial preparation and interacting directly with clients. This placement allowed me to strengthen essential skills such as legal analysis, organization, professional communication, and emotional resilience.

Most significantly, the practicum affirmed my interest in criminal defense and helped me recognize that, while important, family law is not the right fit for me. This experience provided meaningful insight and solidified my commitment to a future in criminal law.

When I first began my studies at Douglas College, I didn’t fully understand what corrections entailed. However, it has always been my goal, and my practicum placement with Correctional Service Canada (CSC) gave me invaluable insight into the realities of the field. With a concentration in community and institutional practice and a minor in psychology, I’ve come to understand that corrections is often viewed through a lens of punishment, yet my experience highlighted the importance of rehabilitation, risk assessment, and program facilitation in shaping an inmate’s future.

Over the course of 101 hours, I was primarily based at Pacific Institution/Regional Treatment Centre, a medium-security facility, and had the opportunity to tour institutions of varying security levels. My main role was to observe and assist in facilitating a Integrated Correctional Program Model (ICPM) program for male offenders. Before the program began, we conducted interviews to determine inmate eligibility and provided them with an overview of what to expect.

My supervisor John Gresham emphasized a well-rounded experience, which included shadowing psychologists, correctional officers, social workers, and parole officers. We attended various programs across institutions in the Pacific Region to see what’s available to inmates throughout their rehabilitation. We also had the opportunity to observe the Emergency Response Team (ERT) training and witness various crisis negotiation drills outside of the institution. I attended parole hearings and learned about the decision-making process, which ultimately piqued my interest the most.

This placement confirmed my passion for corrections and solidified my goal of pursuing a career in the field.

Throughout my time at Douglas College I developed an interest in public safety and a long-term goal of working with the Canada Border Services Agency. For my practicum, I wanted hands-on experience that would strengthen my communication, observation, and decision-making skills in a real-world setting. Dr. Reid helped me out a lot and set me up with the Surrey Crime Prevention Society (SCPS) to provide exactly that. Throughout my placement, I took part in the Citizens Community Safety Watch program, where we patrolled various districts of Surrey looking for stolen cars or people in medical distress. I got to participate in various traffic safety “pop-ups” in partnership with ICBC and the Surrey Police Service and also worked with elementary school students educating them on things like what makes a car attractive to thieves. Overall, my placement helped me learn the importance of visibility, presence, and education in preventive safety work and helped bridge the gap between academic theory and real-world application. The practicum gave me valuable experience working in non-enforcement roles that still have a direct impact on public safety, and I believe I accomplished my goal of strengthening the skills I was wanted to work on.