Course-based applied research projects led by students in the Bachelor of Criminal Justice program will not only make them more employable within public safety but further cement Lethbridge Polytechnic's community and industry connections.
Zane Johnson and Const. Mike Darby
Nearly 60 fourth-year students are tackling a variety of research projects for the first time since the bachelor's degree program was established at the polytechnic in the fall of 2023. Student Zane Johnson sees the benefits of applied research in his chosen career path as a parole or probation officer.
"On the parole side of things, you're dealing with a lot of programming to help the individual," he says. "Through research, you can see what has and hasn't worked for others, so you're not just throwing a dart at a board and saying, hey, this program probably works. Let's have you try it.'"
Johnson's research project is titled "Boomers to Zoomers, generational variances in perceptions of police legitimacy." After reviewing existing data, he solicited perceptions from the appropriate demographics on whether police exercise their power in alignment with public interests. The students presented their research proposals to peers in the fall semester and will share their finished work at the Criminal Justice Student Research Symposium on March 29.
Research skills are more important than ever in the public safety sector, with a shift to agencies hiring those who can make evidence-based decisions, says Dr. Kirsten Fantazir, a Criminal Justice instructor.
"There is a need to be able to problem solve with a systematic approach - and that's really all research is - instead of implementing so many different initiatives and never evaluating them," she says. There is also a growing demand in public safety for those who can review literature to seek insight and guidance on current challenges, issues, and opportunities, and also for those who can solve real-world problems with innovative solutions.
Students learn the fundamentals of research in Lethbridge Polytechnic's Criminal Justice degree program. They've been matched with a volunteer project mentor in their final year, the majority of whom are community- and industry-based partners who are alumni, collaborators with the polytechnic's Centre for Public Safety Applied Research (CPSAR), or public safety professionals looking to give back.
The intention is not to provide the students with academic research insight, as instructors and other supports at the polytechnic share such expertise with them. Instead, the project mentors provide valuable insights through their practical industry experience.
Johnson has been paired with a recruiting officer with the Lethbridge Police Service. Const. Mike Darby (Criminal Justice - Policing 2000) was not only happy to give back to the institution that helped him land a job upon graduation, but he also realizes how helpful it would have been to have had a mentor back when he was a student.
"I didn't have any family in law enforcement or anyone else I knew, and I was flying blind when it came to a lot of things," Darby says. "Back then, the Internet wasn't even really a thing yet, and researching and finding information - correct information - was challenging. I had multiple applications before I was hired, and I failed exams. It would have been nice to have someone encourage you to think big picture, and not so in-the-moment."
The mentorship aspect of the Bachelor of Criminal Justice research project and the expertise mentors can provide is in step with the polytechnic's desire for deliberate community connections, says Brad Taylor, associate dean, Centre for Justice and Human Services.
"I think just having those relationships are important, so that we're aware of changes that are ongoing within the industry," he says, adding community input assists the institution in providing dynamic, responsive programming and improving the student experience. "We're providing an opportunity for the student to not only work on a project of interest to them but also make industry connections."
To learn more about programs offered in Lethbridge Polytechnic's Centre for Justice and Human Services, prospective students are invited to come to campus on March 15 for Winter Open House, or visit lethpolytech.ca/difference.
