What Are the Different Types of Criminal Justice Internships?

Criminal justice internships can include opportunities with nonprofit organizations that have an interest in criminal justice topics, law enforcement agencies and other government agencies that play a role in the criminal justice system. The requirements for interns can depend on the program, but interns usually must be college students and might need at least two years of educational experience. Department offices can be a good resource for information on criminal justice internships, as can professors and other staff members in the department who might be able to connect students with internships of interest.

Numerous nonprofit organizations work on criminal justice topics, including policy reform, assisting prisoners and monitoring the system for abuses and discrimination. Interns who think they might want to work in such fields after graduation could consider criminal justice internships with community organizations. These internships are often unpaid, but not always, and some come with benefits such as housing and food vouchers. Interns who have concerns about supporting themselves during internships can apply for grants.

Law enforcement agencies also offer criminal justice internships. Interns might have an opportunity to participate in investigations, ride along with officers and work in a crime lab. These internships often require a background check, because interns might work with sensitive material and might be allowed into secure environments. People who are considering careers in law enforcement are good candidates for this type of internships.

Government agencies beyond law enforcement can be another source of internship opportunities. Interns at these agencies might work on policy reform, assistance to law enforcement agencies, investigations and other issues. Some agencies offer employment to successful interns, and a good internship can pave the way to a government career, if the intern finds the work enjoyable and wants to pursue it.

Some criminal justice internships take place over the summer months and might provide full-time work. Others are part-time and occur during the school year. Students can adjust their hours to mesh with their class schedules or might opt to take a semester off to focus on an internship. Some opportunities also offer chances to attend conferences and other professional networking opportunities. These can help students establish connections that they can use in the pursuit of jobs after graduation.

Applicants for criminal justice internships might find some to be very competitive. It can help to have relevant extracurricular experience as well as glowing recommendations from professors or mentors. Students might need to travel for interviews and should consider this when they decide where to apply.