Emily Beck
Master of Criminology and Criminal Justice student
Her previous experience of working in the justice system inspired her to enrol in postgraduate study, says Emily Beck who came to AUT as an international student from South Carolina, USA, to study a Master of Criminology and Criminal Justice, supported by a Fulbright Scholarship.
“Between completing my undergraduate psychology degree at the College of Charleston and beginning my master’s degree at AUT, I spent years working in the justice system in the United States, first in juvenile probation for the Department of Juvenile Justice and then in young offender parole for the Department of Corrections. During this time, I witnessed firsthand the ongoing institutionalisation and marginalisation of communities facing enormous structural barriers. The clear need for evidence-based systemic change has driven my continued interest in this area.”
New Zealand’s reputation for its progressive youth justice practices made it the ideal destination to advance her knowledge in this field, and Emily soon found herself at AUT.
“It seemed like the ideal place for postgraduate study in this area. I’ve enjoyed the critical lens AUT’s criminology department adopts as it has enabled me to understand how neocolonialism and sustained systemic racism are drivers behind the disproportionate representation of Indigenous communities in every step of Aotearoa New Zealand’s justice system.
“The programme delves deeply into Indigenous methodologies and perspectives and has encouraged me to think critically about my own positionality and ways of knowing. My understanding of crime and punishment, and criminological research has been exponentially expanded. I’d highly recommend this degree to others because of the wonderful academic staff and the discussion-based format, which allows students to actively engage with the material. These interactions build confidence to prepare students for real-world interactions where they’ll need to discuss and present their own work.”
Investigating youth justice
For her master’s degree research, Emily is focusing on the experiences of youth justice residents in Aotearoa New Zealand, under the supervision of Dr Laumua Tunufa’i.
“In Aotearoa, youth justice residences are a commonly used intervention to address serious youth offending, intended as an alternative to traditional incarceration and an opportunity to meaningfully engage youth to encourage their desistence. Despite youth justice being a heavily researched topic, scholarship on effective programming in youth justice residences remains lacking.
“My research involves conducting qualitative semi-structured interviews with youth justice residents and staff to learn about their perspectives on youth justice residences as effective interventions and gather their thoughts on the cultural adaptations that have been made within the youth justice space. My research aims to address current gaps in the academic literature and highlight youth voices.”
Expecting to complete her degree later this year, she already has a good idea how she sees her future.
“After I complete my master’s degree, I hope to work for a justice reform organisation to help change the shape of our criminal justice system. Those facing the devastating impacts of our current response to crime deserve a fair and equitable system that works for them, prioritising decarceration and holistic wrap-around support rather than punishment and retribution.”
Advice for other students
Emily – who is proud of being awarded the 2023 Graduate Essay Prize from the Sociological Association of Aotearoa New Zealand – has some great advice for other students.
“My advice is to find something that you’re passionate about and pursue it. Postgraduate study isn’t easy but when you are looking into something that you love and that really interests you, it’s easy to get excited about it and stay engaged.”
Believe in yourself, she adds.
“Be confident in yourself and proud of your work – you’re more competent and capable than you know and, no matter what your background is, you have an important and unique perspective to contribute.”
