Study Abroad Program Investigates the English & American Justice Systems
Posted on August 25, 2026
This past July, 16 criminal justice students joined the political science and criminal justice department’s inaugural Comparative Criminal Justice study abroad trip. With some of the highest attendance numbers for a study abroad program, the journey to London was nothing short of amazing for both the students and instructors. The trip was led by Dr. Katherine Meeker and Dr. Alexis Rockwell, assistant professors of political science and criminal justice.
The students learned about the historical similarities and modern differences between the English and American Justice systems. Studying in London allowed the students to see firsthand the locations, culture and philosophies that shaped two different countries with similar roots. They experienced policing, courts and corrections by taking a step back in time to understand where our American justice system began and how the two countries diverged as time and societies evolved.
On-site academic visits, lectures, guided tours and group discussions connected historical developments in England to contemporary issues in the U.S. criminal justice system. The lessons fostered critical examination of similarities and divergences between these two countries’ approaches to crime and justice.
Dr. Meeker and Dr. Rockwell will be returning to London in 2028, and they encourage participation from students interested in experiencing comparative criminal justice in the city where two of the biggest justice systems in the world originated.
Pictured, back row: Dr. Katherine Meeker, Kenzie Price, Joseph Smee, Richard Okoniewski, Abigail Kirk, Matthew Laub, Katherine Smith; second row: Payton Daw, Catarina Singleton, Emily Fuentes-Leon, Jocelyn Burns, Olivia Ramsumair, Dr. Alexis Rockwell, Adyson Bailey; front row: Carter Simon, Hayley Edwards, Jordyn McCoy, Helen Gladney.
