在伦敦学习

CLASS students travel abroad to experience the differences and similarities in the British 和你.S. 司法系统 

2017年3月, a group of 24 criminology students from the 365滚球官网 and Washington State University traveled to London to learn more about the British criminal justice system and its relation to the structure in the United States. 

“陪审团的使用, imperatives of due process and concepts of civil liberties are borrowed from English traditions. 然而,, there are important differences in how crime is handled,布莱恩·沃尔夫说, associate professor in the Department of 社会学 and 人类学. “例如, Britain does not utilize mass incarceration for nonviolent offenses the way Americans do — instead opting for reform and diversion oriented approaches.” 

在为期一周的旅行中, 一行人参观了新苏格兰场, 凶杀调查组, 裁判官法庭及刑事法庭, 海洋警察, and the London Coroner and Medical Examiner’s Office. 

In one of the more noteworthy experiences, students heard oral arguments in a case before the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom.

“My experience at the Supreme Court wasn't what I expected due to the significant difference between the U.S. 和你.K. 最高法院,凯拉·马克兰说, a junior double majoring in psychology and sociology, 重点是犯罪学. “美国最高法院.K. 主要用作上诉法院吗, and there are no cases that are placed directly into the Supreme Court like in the United States. I loved to watch the way in which everyone was civil toward each other and everything proceeded in an exceptionally peaceful manner.”

Gaining insight into the British process of law making, the last day included an exclusive tour of the British Houses of Parliament. 

“The tour gave us a lot of information, 尤其是对英国历史的研究, which I think was the best part of the trip,马克兰说. “I learned how the criminal 司法系统 of England and America influenced and were influenced by each other, which further emphasized how closely related the histories of our countries are.”

The group also took in other famous London destinations.

“威斯敏斯特教堂, the Tower of London and the House of Parliament - I had always read about these places in our history books, and to be standing in them made it a surreal experience,奥特加说, a senior studying political science and sociology 重点是犯罪学.

This is the third joint trip organized by Wolfe and WSU professor Melanie-Angela Neuilly. Past trips took students to London in 2015 and the Netherlands in 2016. 

“Trips like this one give students a chance to explore a different 司法系统,” Wolfe said. “学生 gain an important cross-cultural perspective that makes their knowledge of crime and justice distinct.”