For information on internships placements, contact Dr. Hensley.
- OVERVIEW
- WHAT IS AN INTERNSHIP
- WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT FROM US?
- QUALIFICATIONS/REQUIREMENTS
- PLACEMENT PROCEDURES
- OBJECTIVES FOR INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
- UNIVERSITY/AGENCY/STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES
- GUIDELINES FOR STUDENT INTERNS
OVERVIEW
Academic institutions have always been criticized for being ivory towers instilling in students theories without the benefit of practical applications. One way of addressing this charge is by the initiation of student internships and student volunteer work in settings outside university walls.
The academic field of criminal justice has always been sensitive to the necessity of integrating theory and practice. Being a relatively new academic discipline, criminal justice has evolved through the : utilization of information from other fields of study as diverse as geography and child development, and has developed a body of knowledge that is unique to its field. Through this process, the practical application has always remained paramount. This is further illustrated by the emphasis that academic instructors have, as a requisite to teaching, "practical" experience with the criminal justice system. From this orientation, emphasis on student involvement within the criminal justice system is a logical outcome.
The benefits to the student in obtaining practical experience within criminal justice are widely known and accepted. Some benefits are the following: receiving on-site job experience; learning the complexities and routines of specific jobs; gaining insight into oneself and the agency; and integrating the theory learned through academic course work with the realities of the agency.
The benefits to the criminal justice agencies are as varied as the benefits to the student although not as often publicized. The agency obtains additional manpower, albeit limited; has the possibility of observing the student and therefore can screen the student for possible job placement; and has someone asking the important question "Why?". In fact, most agencies commenting on student placement find the "why's" both challenging and educational in reexamining their internal policies and procedures.
There is another area of benefit from student involvement in criminal justice agencies that is rarely discussed or acknowledged: the benefits to the community. The community benefits in that students are a resource that do not tax an already straining public budget. The community benefits from the personal contacts the students have with. clients. The community benefits from the willingness of the criminal justice agencies to open their agencies to students. The community benefits from having graduated students choosing to enter the criminal justice field aware of its specific problems and limitations. Within our region student involvement in the criminal justice field is extensive. Law enforcement, court and correctional agencies have all willingly been involved with students. A bridge -- a human bridge, the student -- has been established between the academic institution and criminal justice agencies and the community.
WHAT IS AN INTERNSHIP?
The student, usually a senior at UTC, is Placed in a correctional, law enforcement, court; or related agency for one full semester under adequate supervision of the agency. Although the intern is a registered student at UTC and receives college credit for this program, the intern serves under the authority of the agency and must abide by the general rules and regulations of the agency that provides the internship.
Ideally, at the termination of the internship, the student should have acquired a basic, working knowledge of the entire .spectrum of''. functions performed by the agency, with a concentrated work experience in some activity in the student's special area of interest. The following are only two examples, with variations, depending on the specific agency and its resources.
- Law Enforcement Agencies:
- Short intervals in: Records, Communication, Complaints, Patrol, Juvenile, and Special Squads (Vice, Burglary, Auto Theft, Crime Lab, and Traffic) with a more extended period of time in Patrol, Special Squad or as an assistant to a Supervisor or Administrator. To round-out the student's experience, the intern should' become acquainted with other community service agencies which complement the law enforcement agency services such as the. Juvenile Court, Parole and Probation Agencies, Court Systems, Mental Health Clinics and Medical Services, and Social Welfare Agencies.
- Correction Agencies:
- Short intervals in: Records, Custody, Intake, Release, Industry, Teaching, Training, Classification, with a more extended period of time in the student's special area of interest such as Classification, Counseling, Physical Education, or as an assistant to a Supervisor or Administrator. To round-out the student's experience, the intern should become acquainted with other areas which complement the correctional agency's services such as Parole and Probation, Therapeutic Services, and other rehabilitative and treatment programs (e.g. Work, Educational, and Restitution Release programs).
Placement of a student in only a narrow segment within the agency for the entire internship would be detrimental to the educational philosophy of the program. Neither the student nor the agency would profit from this experience. Therefore, we want the internship period to provide a broad exposure to the work of the entire agency while giving an opportunity for more intensive exposure in a limited area.
WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT FROM US?
The Internship Program attempts to produce a student who, after completion of undergraduate course work and internship, should become an effective employee in a correctional, law enforcement, court or related agency.
QUALIFICATIONS
Before a student is approved for internship, we attempt to assure that the student has the following qualifications and will meet the following requirements:- Academic: The student must have maintained an overall 2.0 Grade Point Average (GPA). The university requires a 2.0 GPA to obtain a bachelor's degree. Generally, students must have taken and passed the core program area before the internship.
- integration of theory and practice of the intern's specific experience is required at the termination of the placement. During the latter part of the internship we request that the agency's internship supervisor evaluate the student's performance. The student receives up to 9 semester hours credit. A form is Sent to the agency for assistance in its evaluations.
- The intern is required to adhere to the general rules and regulations of the agency and UTC. We expect that the intern will be a credit to this department and the agency.
PLACEMENT PROCEDURES
Student applications are prepared by each student and filed with the Director of the Internship program no later than three months prior to the semester in which the student plans to enroll in an internship course.- On the application form, the student has an opportunity to state an area of interest. This reference is taken into consideration in deciding the internship assignment.
- Agencies are asked to submit an agency plan for field instruction experiences.
- Decisions of placement are the responsibility of the Director of the Internship Program. The student's interest, educational needs and personal circumstances, as well as availability of placement resources, influence the selection of placement agency. Then the student and the agency are notified of the decision for placement in writing, and the student is given a time period in which to contact the agency for an interview.
- Placement is confirmed after the student and the designated agency personnel have met. The appropriate person in the agency will complete the University form, notify the University of acceptance or rejection of the student, and other specifics related to the placement agency. The student will sign an Internship Placement Acceptance Agreement after the interview.
The student is expected to begin work at the designated agency at the start of the semester, usually the first day of classes. The student, unless there is a special problem, will remain at the same agency until the completion of the required number of hours.
OBJECTIVES FOR INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
The objectives of the Internship Program are to provide opportunities for students to:- Become involved in the roles and functions of criminal justice agencies and through this involvement become effective in the criminal justice system.
- To develop an understanding of a particular criminal justice setting.
- To develop an understanding of the worker's role in rendering services in a specific agency setting.
- To develop attitudes toward the supervisory relation-ship which will facilitate professional growth.
- To demonstrate the ability to work with a supervisor and recognize constraints and weaknesses as they affect the student's ability to work within the agency setting.
- Acquire knowledge and develop basic skills of criminal justice intervention through the rendering of services.
- To acquire beginning skills in the use of techniques of working in one-to-one and group relationships.
- To develop beginning skills in using resources to help facilitate role performance.
- To increase skills in effective communication demonstrated through speech and writing.
- Integrate theoretical learning and practice experiences.
- To accurately assess situations based on analysis of factors involved.
- To apply knowledge of agencies and services to a particular situation.
UNIVERSITY/AGENCY/STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES
The University Is Responsible For:
- Sharing with agencies information regarding the overall curriculum, the objectives, and the content of the Criminal Justice Internship Program.
- Maintaining continuous communication with the agency supervisor to ensure maximum integration of class and field learning.
- Designating faculty members who will act as communication or liaison persons between the University and the appropriate agency. This designated liaison person should:
- Help interpret internship program policies to the assigned agencies;
- Report any concerns regarding a student to the Director of the Internship Program;
- Report general discussions, innovations, and problems of the internship placement to the Director of the Internship Program; and
- Evaluate and recommend grades for students and submit these to the Director of the Internship Program.
- Giving instructions regarding the student's responsibilities in class and in the field.
- Providing data about the student to the agency regarding matters such as University calendar and evaluation.
The Agency Is Responsible For:
- Providing the student with a brief orientation that will help, to establish some connections with the agency, the community, and the population served.
- Developing opportunities for the student to engage in meaningful experiences that foster learning and are in line with the objectives of the internship program.
- Designating staff member(s) to act as student supervisor(s) and allocating time to the staff member(s) for supervision of students.
- Submitting a written evaluation of the student at the time designated by the Director of the Internship Program.
- Informing the school of any problems that the student is experiencing in the internship program.
- Sharing with the University, in keeping with agency policies, those records and other materials which will reflect the student's learning.
The Students Are Responsible For:
- Working out their assignments and work schedules with the agency supervisor.
- Informing the agency if they have to miss any expected assignments.
- Preparing any written reports required by the agency.
- Preparing a weekly log that should include a summary for each day, emphasizing the students' impressions and reactions to their experiences. This description need not be lengthy but should be meaningful. The log will be submitted to the Director of the Internship Program weekly. Journal information may also be helpful in completing the final concept paper.
- Preparing a concept paper that integrates the theory behind the criminal justice agency with the actual implementation of that theory (i.e., the Practice of the agency). This paper, therefore, is integrative in nature and should afford the student an opportunity to analyze the agency in relation to stated goals and objectives.
This concept paper should be submitted to the Director of the Internship Program two weeks prior to the completion of the internship.
GUIDELINES FOR STUDENT INTERNS
The following information is provided to aid in the management of your internship experience in Criminal Justice. Please make every effort to maintain close contact with the Director of the Internship Program and share with this person your concerns and problems as they arise. Individual supervisory conferences should be frequent with the Director of the Internship Program.- Dress appropriately according to the nature of the agency setting. (Check with your agency supervisor if in doubt.)
- Be prompt for work. Abide by the hours and regulations governing the professional staff of the agency.
- Notify the agency if unable to report for work. Plans for making up an absence must be made with the agency supervisor.
- Holidays: If agency holidays do not coincide with University holidays, agency holidays will be observed.
- Participate fully in activities planned specifically for interns and in activities indicated as optional which appear relevant to your interests and/or work.
- Use initiative and creativity in your work but do not take advantage of a situation in the agency to "do your own thing" without regard to agency policy or operating procedures.
- Do not undertake independent projects or engage, in practices potentially damaging either to the agency or to the University.
