Teeven is passionate about what she sees as necessary reforms to the U.S. incarceration system. “People in jail are seen only as criminals—we don’t see the social factors that contributed to them becoming offenders. Many of them are victims of mental illness or physical or sexual abuse. Many turn to drugs. Our society needs to focus on social reforms to prevent these outcomes.”

A criminal justice class in New Zealand during her junior year semester abroad sharpened her focus. “The class really hooked me,” Teeven said. “New Zealand has a strong reputation for criminal justice. Our (U.S.) system was mostly held up as a model of what not to do. As the only American in class, it was  interesting hearing this perspective and how baffling the other students found our system.”

Teeven developed an interest in the role drug addiction, particularly opioids, play in our prison system. She researched this problem during a recent internship with the Burlington City Police Department. Teeven worked under one of the police chief’s assistants doing social media for the department. She frequently did “ridealongs,” travelling in patrol cars as officers answered calls.

“Because there is so much mistrust, my role was to humanize police—show through their daily activities that these are people who have a challenging job and who are trying to do the right thing.”

She attended meetings that brought together politicians, social workers and law enforcement agents working to identify strategies to address opioid addiction. She also sat in on treatment court meetings, where people with addictions were periodically evaluated for progress in a 5-step abstinence program.

Teeven understands what they are up against—most addicts come from impoverished backgrounds. But there many bright moments that suggested promise.

“I witnessed a graduation ceremony where people completing the program got recognized. In one case a judge came forward and gave big hug to one of the participants who had really struggled, but persevered. It showed me people in the system really do care.”