Criminal Justice Internships

Agency

Typical Activity

Law Enforcement

Nebraska State Patrol

Interns are assigned to a division such as Criminal Identification, Criminal Investigations, Research & Planning, Drug Investigations, Carrier Enforcement, Traffic, Training Academy K-9, Sex Offender Registry, Criminal Investigative Analysis, etc. Opportunity for ride-along with troopers.

NOTE: Additional application form and resume is required. Interns will be contacted by the criminal justice internship coordinator when position descriptions and State Patrol application forms are available. The State Patrol will review applications and make final selections.

Lincoln Police Department

Interns are assigned to a division such as Forgery, Technical Investigations, Youth Aid, Community Service, Records, Criminal Investigations, Liquor & Vice Inspections, etc. and work on special projects including telephone surveys for collecting citizen feedback of police performance. Opportunity for ride-along with officers.

NOTE: Additional application form required. Interns will be contacted by the criminal justice internship coordinator to complete the LPD application. The Lincoln Police Department will review applications and make final selections.

U.S. Marshal's Office

Interns are typically involved in transporting prisoners, office work, executing miscellaneous Federal District Court orders and attending court proceedings.

NOTE: Check with the criminal justice internship coordinator well in advance if interested. Very early application is required because of extensive background check so apply to the criminal justice coordinator 6-8 months prior to the semester you wish to be considered.

UNL Police

Assist with special projects and have an opportunity for ride along.

Lancaster County Sheriff

Work on warrants, special projects, ride-along with deputies, etc. Note: Additional application form required.

Fire Marshall
(Investigation Division)

Accompany investigators to fire investigations, assisting in obtaining search warrants, prevention education.

The Secret Service (Omaha)

Accompany special agents and learn various aspects of the position including protection and counterfeit investigation. Assist special agents.

Note: Very early application is required because of extensive background check so apply to the criminal justice coordinator 6-8 months prior to the semester you wish to be considered.

Corrections

Diagnostic and Evaluation Center (DOC)

Work with professional staff interviewing and compiling information on newly arrived legal offenders, assessing their needs to result in written reports and placement within the correctional system. Possible paid internship.

Lancaster County Corrections

Interns are typically involved in booking, transport, control center activities, assisting the work release coordinator, etc.

Lincoln Correctional Center

Typically assist unit case worker in coordination and observation of inmate activities, providing basic needs to inmates, inspections, disciplinary hearings. Possible paid internship.

NOTE: Interns receive training during the first few weeks.

Nebraska Department of Correctional Services

Work on special projects.

Nebraska State Penitentiary

Interns will assist in maintaining security, supervise inmates, assist in caseload functions, assist with inmate orientation to housing unit. Another opportunity may be possible with the Emergency Preparedness Program. Possible paid internship.

Community Corrections/Probation/Parole

Adult Drug Courts

Interns are involved in assisting supervision officers with intensive supervision, drug testing, sitting in on drug court sessions, some data collection and work on computer.

Diversion Services

Assist counselors with risk/needs assessments and monitoring clients in the pre-trial diversion program.

Lancaster County Community Corrections

The internship exposes interns to the daily operations of the county court system and community corrections programming including screening, community service and pretrial diversion services.

Nebraska State Parole (Adult)

Interns are involved in revocation investigations, Parole Board hearings, interviewing parolees and some home visits.

Nebraska State Probation (Adults)

Interns are typically involved in interviewing defendants for PSI reports, supervision of probationers and will observe revocation proceedings.

NOTE: Additional application form required.

Nebraska State Probation (Juvenile)

Interns are typically involved in interviewing juvenile defendants, observation of court proceedings and supervision of juvenile probationers.

United States Pretrial Services

Interns are involved in interviewing defendants, background investigations, pretrial services reports, attending court proceedings, observing supervision meetings.

United States Probation (Adult)

Interns are typically involved in interviewing federal defendants, assist with reports, observation of court.

Courts and Legal System

Advocates for Justice

Work with Nebraska Senators to review and revise murder Conviction laws and to encourage the legislature to address the Court's responses to appeals related to using new DNA evidence that becomes available by enacting law that would encourage a less stringent use of the current law, with the goal that individuals will have their day in court with the results of DNA testing to be a part of the evidence.

Civil Clinic (thru UNL Law School)

Assist with investigative work and legal preparation for misdemeanor cases in the Lancaster County Attorney’s Office.

Gage County Attorney

Assist attorneys with cases and attend court hearings.

Lancaster County Attorney (Juvenile Division)

Assist attorneys with background work in prosecution of cases. Placement will be with the Chief Deputy of the Juvenile Division.

Lancaster County Public Defender

Interns work with the investigator to provide information to attorneys. They will interview witnesses, write reports and may attend court. At times, they may assist with court hearing docket call, filing motions, letters, etc. and witness interviews.

Legislative Judiciary Committee

Interns are involved in research related to proposed bills.

Nebraska Attorney General's Office (Civil Division)

Interns are typically given legal research assignments regarding civil litigation and inmate disputes, and assist attorneys in case preparation.

Nebraska Attorney General's Office (Consumer Protection Division)

Interns handle consumer fraud complaints. Act as a neutral mediator between consumers and businesses, and educate consumers.

Nebraska Attorney General's Office (Criminal Division)

Interns are typically given legal research assignments and assist attorneys in case preparation.

Nebraska Civil Liberties Union

Interns are typically involved in responding to calls for assistance, and in aiding attorneys in legal research on cases.

Nebraska Legal Services

Assist attorneys with preparation of civil and juvenile cases. Legal research as requested by attorneys and may attend court.

Nebraska State Court Administrator

Interns are typically involved in court management research projects. Past projects have included court workload reviews, sentencing guidelines, citizen's handbook on courts, and retention of judges.

Victim Assistance

Child Advocacy Center

Assist child advocates with various duties related to their cases such as making case related phone calls, paperwork, special projects, Court School, preparing team agendas and assisting with computer database.

Friendship Home

Shelter for abused women and children. Interns work as womens' advocate or childrens' advocate. Some involvement with support groups.

Note: Includes 20 hours of training.

Voices of Hope

(Formerly Rape/Spouse Abuse Crisis Center). Working on crisis phone line giving information to victims on resources available. May work on special research projects.

NOTE: Requires initial training.

Victim-Witness Unit Lincoln Police Deptartment

Contacting victims and witnesses regarding police and court actions, education on criminal justice processes, accompanying victims to court.

Youth and Juvenile Services

Cedar's Youth Services

Work in programming with youth in residential treatment, juvenile diversion services, teen court or the Freeway Station (a short-term placement for troubled youth - home setting).

Note: Additional application form required.

Nebraska Department of Health & Human Services

Interns have a variety of areas to choose from including protective services which involves investigations of child neglect and abuse. Assist Juvenile Service Officers in the supervision of juveniles who have become state wards. Visitations at schools, group homes, correctional facilities a and court hearings.

Note: Additional application form required.

Integrated Care Coordinated Unit (Region V Systems)

Interns assist care coordinators working with a small caseload of juveniles with an intensive family centered focus. May include working with juvenile evaluations and attending court hearings.

Nebraska Department of Juvenile Services

Work on data collection, research projects, coordination of programs.

Other

CenterPointe

Work with adult or youth whose drug/alcohol problems require residential services or work in Drug Crisis Center which provides 24-hour Crisis Line counseling for people with drug/alcohol related problems. NOTE: Includes training.

Nebraska HHS Welfare Fraud Investigations

Interns are involved with assisting investigators with cases. Accompany field investigators.

International Criminal Justice

Students would be working for three entities, namely two Institutes of the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Program, and Contact Center, Inc (a U.S.-based non-profit NGO working in the field of international crime prevention and criminal justice).

The work would involve some of the following:

• Pick a nation and identify all the available links (websites, etc.) it has in criminal justice (e.g. Ministry of Justice, Police, Judiciary, Corrections).
• Identify the existing international conventions, protocols, standards, etc. pertaining to criminal justice and catalogue which nations have signed and/or ratified each instrument. This would include regional organizational agreements such as the European Prison Rules. An example can be seen at: http://ispac-italy.org/cpspew.php
• Identify and summarize the criminal justice system, laws and procedures of nations in a short, quick-reference format. This information will be included in the country profiles mentioned above.
• Review chapters, lesson plans and support material for an on-line text book on International Criminal Justice in Post-conflict nations.

Lincoln Council on Alcoholism and Drugs

Work on education and research projects.

MAAD Court Monitoring Program

Interns will attend court to monitor DWI cases in Lancaster County.

Museum Security

Learn all aspects of museum security, electronic security system and access control, work with the public enforcing policies while maintaining good public relations, assist in providing security services, assist on special project.

Nebraska Crime Commission

Interns are typically assigned a project that involves some data collection and analysis and report writing. Usually contact with various correctional (Jail Standards) and law enforcement agencies.

Nebraska Department of Insurance (Fraud Division)

Interns are involved with case file review, contacting insurance companies and complainants, gathering questions and accompanying investigator on interviews. Research for anti-fraud presentations.