A Passion for Criminal Justice Policy Leads Noah Turner to Master’s Program at the London School of Economics
Noah Turner’s passion for criminal justice policy is taking him to London, England.
The soon to be St. Thomas graduate has been accepted to the Master of Science in Criminal Justice Policy program at the London School of Economics—a program that brings policy analysis from criminology, sociology, law, and psychology to subjects like crime, social order, and criminal justice institutions.
Turner, who studied Criminology and Human Rights, said the wide-ranging course offerings at ߲ݴý allowed him to discover his interest in criminal justice policy and provided a well-rounded foundation for graduate studies.
“Having the opportunity to study both Criminology and Human Rights gave me an incredibly unique undergraduate education and experience,” he said.
“I’ve been able to take courses in cultural criminology, criminal justice studies, law and society, child and youth policy, and police and security. Combined with Human Rights courses that allowed me to contemplate the close connection between criminal justice operations and human rights, I’ve gained a working knowledge of the complex factors that drive the development of social, public, and criminal justice policies.”
Outside the classroom, Turner put theory into practice through involvement in the ߲ݴý Students’ Union, the ߲ݴý Human Rights Club, Frontier College, and the Fredericton Constituency Youth Council. He also attended the Harvard Model United Nations, participated in Moot Court, and shadowed lawyers addressing human rights violations on a Global Brigades mission in Panama.
These experiences, coupled with in-class learning, inspired Turner to focus on using his knowledge to help others.
“The biggest lesson I learned at ߲ݴý is the importance of making a positive impact on society,” he said. “Many of my professors have exemplified how your education can be used to advocate for evidence-based policy and I hope to follow in their footsteps.”
The opportunity to work closely with professors is one of the things Turner enjoyed most about studying at St. Thomas.
“I’ll miss the close relationships I’ve formed with professors like Dr. Dawne Clarke, Dr. Karla O’Regan, and Dr. Amanda DiPaolo. They were always willing to schedule meetings to help me with my studies and plan for my future,” he said. “This close-knit academic community allowed me to truly grow as a student and as a person.”
After he completes his program at the London School of Economics, Turner hopes to pursue a doctorate degree. His long-term goal is to work in the public sector so he can use his education to influence the development of criminal justice policy.
“There continues to be systemic injustices in the criminal justice system, and I’m hoping to help create remedies for these issues.”