The Must-Listen Podcasts for Criminal Justice Students

Podcasts can be a valuable resource for criminal justice students because they offer a convenient and easily accessible way to stay informed about developments in the field and to hear from experts in the field about their experiences and insights.

According to estimates, by the end of 2022, there will be around 424 million podcast listeners worldwide. And among young adults (especially millennials), it's even more popular—so podcasts are becoming a way for people to learn about and stay current on topics that interest them.

For students pursuing a criminal justice degree, podcasts can be especially valuable because they offer new topics to learn about, find interesting perspectives on current events, gain insight into the lives of others, and hear from experts in their respective fields.

In fact, many universities now offer podcasts as part of their online curricula, and they're a valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn more about the criminal justice system.

Benefits of Listening to Criminal Justice Podcasts

Here are a few specific ways in which podcasts can be beneficial for criminal justice students:

1. Educational content: Many podcasts feature discussions of current events, research, and other topics related to criminal justice. These can be a great way for students to learn about new developments and ideas in the field.
2. Expert insights: Many podcasts feature interviews with experts in the criminal justice field, including academics, policymakers, and practitioners. These conversations can provide valuable insights and perspectives that can help students better understand the complexities of the field.
3. Professional development: Some podcasts are specifically geared towards helping criminal justice professionals stay up-to-date on best practices and improve their skills. These can be valuable resources for students looking to gain an edge as they enter the workforce.
4. Networking opportunities: Listening to podcasts can help students connect with others in the field and learn about potential job or internship opportunities.

If you’re interested in criminal justice but aren’t sure where to start with podcasts, here are our top 5 picks for must-listen podcasts for criminal justice students:

The Top 5 Podcasts for Criminal Justice Students

Serial

Serial podcast is a nonfiction story podcast that tells one story over the course of an entire episode. Each episode focuses on a different aspect of the story and includes interviews with people involved in the case.

The host, Sarah Koenig, investigates whether there was an injustice done to the defendant by exploring evidence from both sides of the crime. This podcast can be useful for students interested in criminal law because it highlights many aspects of how investigations are conducted and how evidence is used to determine guilt or innocence.

In the Dark

In the Dark is a podcast by APM Reports, with host Madeleine Baran and a team of reporters. Serial investigative journalism will answer questions about what happened to Morris Johnson nearly 30 years ago—and why no one was held accountable for it until now.

Each season of the podcast covers a different case, delving into the facts and circumstances surrounding the crime as well as the challenges and flaws in the investigation and prosecution of the case.

The podcast can be useful for students interested in criminal law because it highlights many aspects of how investigations are conducted and how evidence is used to determine guilt or innocence.

Sword and Scale

This podcast is a true crime podcast that delves into the most horrific crimes imaginable. With nearly 1 million downloads and growing every day, Sword & Scale covers all manner of criminal activity—murder, child abuse, and serial killers. Hosted by Mike Boudet with an eclectic mix of sound design that brings you into the story like never before

The podcast is a great resource for students interested in criminal justice because it explores the psychology of criminals as well as the challenges and flaws in the investigation and prosecution of the case. Each episode dives deep into one crime with interviews from investigators, lawyers, and family members of victims—anyone who has been touched by this terrible event.

Up and Vanished

Up and Vanished is a podcast that explores the disappearance of a high school teacher and beauty queen, Tara Grinstead. The case has been one of Georgia’s most notorious cold cases for over a decade, but recently new evidence has surfaced, and the GBI has reopened its investigation into her disappearance.

This podcast is great for students interested in criminal justice because it explores how to investigate a cold case and the importance of evidence. The episodes are short and to the point, making it easy to listen on your commute or while doing chores around the house.

Dirty John

Dirty John is a podcast about the true crime story of John Michael Meehan, hosted by Christopher Goffard, a reporter for the Los Angeles Times. The podcast traces John Meehan’s rise to power and explores his relationship with Debra Newell, a middle-aged woman who was looking for love online. The podcast deals with themes of abuse—both emotional and physical—as well as the behaviors of those being abused.

The episodes are long but well worth it because they are full of interesting facts about human psychology and relationships. This is a great podcast for anyone who wants to learn more about relationships and how they can be affected by abuse. The episodes explore the psychology of those involved in an abusive relationship, which makes them especially interesting if you want to understand what goes on inside their heads.

Conclusion

The podcasts I have listed above are all worth listening to. As a criminal justice student, it's important to stay informed about the latest developments in the field and to learn from experts in the industry. And what better way to do that than by tuning into some of the top podcasts out there? From true crime investigations to discussions of current events, these must-listen podcasts offer a wealth of information and insights for anyone interested in criminal justice. So why not give them a listen and take your knowledge to the next level?