Criminal Justice research projects offer students real-life experience

By Lethbridge Herald on February 19, 2025.

Herald photo by Alexandra Noad - Zane Johnson, a fourth year criminal justice student at Lethbridge Polytechnic, is working on a research project looking at how police are viewed by different generations.

Alexandra Noad – LETHBRIDGE HERALD – Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Many Lethbridge Polytechnic programs offer real-life experiences to prepare students for the work force.

In the Bachelor of Criminal Justice program students are engaged in a research project working alongside mentors in the field.

Zane Johnson, a fourth year Criminal Justice student, has been working on his research project looking at perceptions of policing based on generations.

Johnson says his research project was inspired by his fascination of how people view police and wanted to explore it in more depth.

“I was fascinated with the police and how perceptions of how the police do their job are not great.”

While Johnson hasn’t yet delved into his research, he says he was surprised at the variety of generations he was able to contact.

“I did get a lot more millennial and Gen X respondents, which kind of shocked me because I mostly know Gen Z people.”

Instructor Kirsten Fantazir says the students spend two years mapping out their projects and then work with a mentor.

“What they’re trying to do is look at a real-life problem that they potentially could solve, or look into, through research.”

She adds that experiences like this are what sets the polytechnic apart from other programs.

“It makes it real, it’s different than sitting in a classroom or studying journal articles, it’s the issues and the topics they’re looking at are something very actionable and current.

Brad Taylor, associate dean for the Centre of Justice and Human Services, says experiences such as capstone projects provide students with skills and connections to help them in the future.

“It really helps to tie in with our imperatives in terms of creating deliberate community connections, exceptional student experiences and adapting to dynamic responsive programs.”

He adds these connections and experiences will set the students up for success, whether they choose to advance their education or go directly into the workforce after graduation.

“These research projects, although they’re on a smaller scale, help (students) work through those critical thinking skills, build those communication skills, connect with the industry, create those experiences, they start to create that foundation for starting to move forward and build on,” says Taylor. “So, if they wanted to go to law school, if they want to move into master’s programs, it helps them build those skill sets, even for moving into industry as well, it’s helping to create better employees moving forward.”

Johnson says his experience at the polytechnic has helped him tremendously as he spent the first two years learning hands on practical work and the last two years learning more theory.

“The transition to the book work was like I just learned how to do the hands-on stuff, and now it’s looking more into the intellectual, thought-provoking stuff.”

Johnson has been working on his research project with Mike Darby, the recruitment officer for the Lethbridge Police Service, and says he has really enjoyed having him as a mentor.

“It has been really nice to be able to have somebody to talk with and bounce off ideas.”

Taylor says its experiences like this that make Lethbridge Polytechnic graduates stand out in the work force.

“The more students we have engaging with industry, the better industry is to adapt to whatever they need moving forward and it helps us adapt in our programs, so we’re always going to be able to provide the best graduates out there.”