Cassandre Dion-Larivière

Law, Crime and Psychology: Beyond “CSI”

Cassandre studied Pure and Applied Science in Cegep, with the idea that she might one day apply to medical school, but an academic counsellor suggested that she might enjoy taking a psychology class. “I took the plunge,” Cassandre says, “and not only signed up for a class, I switched over to the Psychology program and loved the experience.”

Her decision to continue her psychology studies at Bishop’s was influenced by the small class sizes and the chance to pursue her education in English, as well as the program’s criminology minor. Cassandre’s project, a week-long program in Prague, combines her interests in psychology and criminal law. “I love true crime podcasts that are less about the sensational and more focused on the legal process and the criminal justice system,” she says. “I had the opportunity to visit the Criminal Court in Sherbrooke, and I’m interested to hear from international scholars what the system is like in other countries.”

After an exchange in Australia last year saw her connecting with students from varied backgrounds and cultures, learning from her peers is one of the things Cassandre is most excited about leading up to her time in Prague. “I’m eager to network with participants from other countries and hear about what led them to pursue their interests in psychology and criminology. I’m especially interested to learn more about the intersectionality between law and psychology, and to see how the criminal justice process works in real life – it’s so much more than what we see on television.”

For Cassandre, the B.E.S.T. Project Fund application process was invaluable in helping her narrow down her career goals. “As I organized my thoughts and worked on my application, I began to realize that forensic psychology is the specialization I really want to pursue. Applying for B.E.S.T. helped me concretize my goals, and I’m more motivated than ever to apply to graduate school to continue my studies in the field,” she concludes.