From Bishop Burton to ‘The Rock’: Students explore infamous Alcatraz prison

Policing and Uniformed Services students from Bishop Burton College have visited the world’s most infamous prison to bring learning to life and inspire their future careers.

Seventeen students, including three Criminology with Psychology degree students from University Centre Bishop Burton, travelled to San Francisco for six days.

They visited Alcatraz, the former maximum-security prison located on Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay, and had an audio tour to learn more about prison life, prisoners who were held there, and the history behind “The Rock”, as the island became known.

They also learnt more about crime scene investigation, legislation, criminological theory and how space and place can impact crime, and crime mapping to analyse and understand data and statistics around predicting crime in a specific area.

Aside from their studies, the students visited the famous Golden Gate Bridge and enjoyed a ghost tour, as well as exploring the local area.

It was the first time the college had organised an international Criminology trip specifically tailored for Criminology, Policing and Uniformed Services students.

Chloe Atkins, Curriculum Lead for Policing and Forensic Science at Bishop Burton College, chose the destination and spent a year planning the trip for the Level 3 and degree students.

She said: “I picked San Francisco because back in the 1970s and 80s, it wouldn’t have been a safe place to visit as crime there was among the worst in the world.

“We wanted to get a feel for what it was like and how sentencing and punishment worked from that era, and we looked at how that has helped to shape how the police manage crime in the USA and in the UK. 

“It hasn’t been a working prison for a long time but it allowed us to go back in history and explore solitary confinement, looking at what might have been going through the mind of a prisoner once they were on Alcatraz Island.

“There are hot spots in San Francisco linked to organised crime, which the students are studying, and there were some really good areas to explore.”

Chloe said the trip also aligned with many of the college’s values and taught life lessons including enjoyment, students learning to manage their money, demonstrating respect for each other and travel skills.

Plans are underway for the self-funded trip to go ahead again next year, with new and existing students being given the chance to embrace the opportunity.

Chloe said: “We always try to provide our students with opportunities beyond the classroom. At college, that could be taking them to the police headquarters and engaging with officers, or public order riot training.

“But to take them to the other side of the world and let them see what they’ve learnt in real time was very rewarding as a teacher, and they got so much out of it.

“I delivered a crime scene investigation lesson on the beach with Alcatraz in the background. I had markers and evidence set up, and I noticed an increase in engagement from the students. It was definitely a highlight of my career to date.”

Bishop Burton College student Jasmine Conkerton, 17, is studying Level 3 Policing and the trip to San Francisco was her first trip abroad.

She said: “I was nervous but it was a really exciting trip and I pushed myself out of my comfort zone.

“It brought what we’ve learnt at college to life and helped me to prepare for what we’ll learn next year, including crime scene investigation.

“I’m honoured to have been given this opportunity and I’m hoping to go next year. It has inspired me to travel more and possibly move to America in the future.”

Fellow student Jack Burdett, 17, who is studying Level 3 Uniformed Public Services, said: “I’ve wanted to visit San Francisco since I was a child and it was a great experience.

“I learnt a lot about why Alcatraz was built, why it closed and the prisoners that were imprisoned there. The trip has 100 per cent inspired me to be more open to other opportunities the college may offer me.”