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A Criminal Justice major and double minor in History and Psychology, Sam Trieber ’24 is drawing on his hands-on experiences at 51���� to propel him on a path to becoming a criminal investigator. Having completed his undergraduate degree this past December, Trieber, who lives in Boston, is on track to attain his M.S. in Criminal Justice by December 2024 through RWU's 4+1 program.

Industry Experience: “I got the opportunity to work part-time at the Tiverton, R.I., police station as a Community Service Officer. We don’t have weapons or do arrests, but we do drive around police vehicles, which is pretty fun. I get to go around and talk to people to make sure they feel safe around the town. It’s been a great experience so far. Once I complete my graduate degree in December, I want to work at a local police department in a criminal investigations capacity – investigating people who have been confirmed guilty and help with finding people to keep communities safer.”

Powerful Combinations: “My two minors, History and Psychology, have allowed me to expand my understanding of Criminal Justice. I think U.S. history lends itself to criminal justice because of its heavy influence on contemporary policies. Psychology and Criminal Justice just connect. I served on a jury a few years ago in a case involving civil commitment, and it made me realize how much psychology and criminal justice intertwine in the real world.” 

Discovering His Passion: “Professor Beck Strah had us listen to podcasts for homework assignments. That is when I had the idea to use podcasts to create an empirical design research project that analyzes how inmates are doing in the current prison system. I chose four podcasts that were produced by inmates or someone who interacts with inmates. I analyzed the prison system structure by listening to them using Maslow's hierarchy of needs, and it made me see the realities of the prison systems in the U.S.”