SOU Criminology & Criminal Justice class visits historic UK sites
A group of Criminology & Criminal Justice students from SOU spent their spring break on an immersive academic journey to Nottingham, London and other locations in the United Kingdom, delving deep into the UK’s rich legal and criminal justice history. The students in Alison Burke’s CCJ 389 class visited two prisons, a British courtroom and even the area of Jack the Ripper’s crimes.
Students in the fall term 2024 class immersed themselves during classroom sessions in the United Kingdom’s criminal justice history, then concluded their studies with the spring break study abroad trip.
The visit began in Nottingham, where students explored the city’s original prison, gaining firsthand insight into historical penal conditions. A highlight of the visit was a dynamic session at Nottingham Trent University with Phil Rudkin of the Centre of International Law. Students had the unique opportunity to engage in meaningful dialogue alongside three police constables and a dozen NTU students, comparing international perspectives on policing, law, justice and education.
The journey carried on with a memorable guided tour of Shrewsbury Prison, a decommissioned Victorian-era facility that offered a haunting glimpse into life behind bars. After exploring the historic cells and corridors, students put their wits to the test in a prison-themed escape room — but despite their best efforts (and their professor’s), no one managed to break free.
In London, the group stepped into the grandeur of the Royal Courts of Justice, where students brought a real court case to life in an original courtroom, complete with robed and wigged judges presiding. The hands-on legal simulation offered a rare and memorable glimpse into the inner workings of the British legal system.
The journey concluded with a chilling Jack the Ripper walking tour through the darkened streets of Whitechapel, tracing the path of one of history’s most infamous unsolved crime sprees.
The impactful experience blended historical exploration with modern legal insight, allowing students to engage critically and creatively with issues of justice, law and public safety across some of the UK’s most iconic locations.
Students in next year’s CCJ 389 sequence will study and visit Ireland, and all majors are welcome. Contact CCJ professor Alison Burke at burkea@sou.edu for more information.
