INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

WESTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI

February, 1996

PURPOSE: The internship program allows the Probation Office an opportunity to contribute to the educational experience of students considering careers in probation or other areas of criminal justice. It will provide them an opportunity for practical experience, not normally available in the academic setting.

The internship program presents an opportunity for the probation office to exercise its commitment to the community. Involvement in the development of future leaders in the criminal justice system also casts the probation office in a favorable light.

In return for involvement in the internship program, the probation staff benefits from the continual learning experience supervising an intern entails. This is expected to enhance the professional development of probation officers.

GOAL OF THE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM: Interns will be given experience in the preparation of presentence investigations and/or the supervision of offenders. Some interns may be assigned to complete special projects.

Interns conducting presentence investigations will work with the assigned officer interviewing, obtaining records, and calculating guidelines. Interns will complete sections of presentence investigations with the ultimate goal of being able to fully, and independently, complete two or three presentence investigations and reports under the supervision of the assigned officer.

Interns involved with the supervision of offenders will work closely with the assigned officer. They will essentially share that officer’s caseload. The intern will be called upon to accompany the assigned officer on field visits, participate in offender interviews, perform various tasks related to specific offenders, keep chronological records, staff cases, complete investigations, and prepare reports for the Court. While not necessarily assigned specific cases for the entire internship, the intern will have a variety of experiences, working at various times with many of the assigned officer’s offenders.

Some interns may be specifically tasked with doing special projects, conducting various studies, or doing counseling of a specific nature. Examples of what they might be asked to do are: set up a resource center for community service, do a study on the reasons for revocation, or run a group for unemployed offenders.

Some interns may do a combination of the above. In divisional offices, for example, the intern may do some presentence investigation work and supervise some cases. Some interns may also be asked to do small projects, studies, or group counseling.

All interns will be advised, prior to their internship, of the duties that will be expected of them.

QUALIFICATIONS: Candidates for the internship program must be undergraduate seniors or post-graduate students at an accredited college or university. They must be majoring in a field of academic study, such as criminal justice, criminology, psychology, social work, sociology, human relations, or business or public administration, which provides evidence of their capacity to understand and apply the legal requirements and human relations skills involved with the position of probation officer.

The internship should be a minimum of three months in length. It is preferable that the intern be available to the probation office a minimum of 24 hours per week, during normal business hours.

All interns are expected to be without a criminal record and in sufficiently good health to be able to perform assigned duties.

PROCESS FOR APPLICATION: Area colleges and universities will be advised of the probation office’s internship program. Each semester, as the need for interns is determined, they will be contacted. They will be informed how many interns are needed and what their duties will be.

Each office will be limited to no more than two interns per semester.

Candidates for the internship program must submit a resume, a letter of recommendation from a faculty member, and a copy of the school’s requirements for the internship.

Candidates who appear to meet the district’s requirements and the office’s needs, will be interviewed. The interviewing panel will normally consist of the Chief Probation Officer, the Probation Officers who will be working with the interns, and the Supervising Probation Officers for the officers designated to work with the interns.

Following the interview, prospective interns will undergo a background investigation. This will be done by the officer designated to work with the intern, or by an officer designated by the Chief Probation Officer. The background investigation will include a minimum of:

• a police records check,
•  a transcript from the applicant’s collect or university,
• a photograph,
• proof of a valid driver’s license, and
•  proof of automobile liability insurance.

Each applicant will also be asked to sign a waiver to submit to urinalysis before acceptance into the program, and as requested during the internship.

APPOINTMENT: Once candidates have been accepted for the internship program, they will need to sign the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF GRATUITOUS SERVICE AND WAIVER form contained in the Guide to Judiciary Policies and Procedures Manual. This form is a waiver of compensation and a waiver of copyright privileges. The form is also an agreement to preserve confidential information.

Candidates must also agree to an exit interview, written evaluation and/or the submission of any papers they submit to their college or university regarding the internship program.

When the candidate has been approved for the program, and has signed the required documents, the Chief Judge will issue an order appointing the candidate as an intern to the Probation Office.

OPERATION OF THE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM: The intern will be primarily trained and supervised by the assigned officer. Other officers may volunteer to assist the assigned officer in specific aspects of the intern’s training or supervision. In the assigned officer’s absence, that officer’s Supervising Probation Officer will oversee the intern’s activities.

The Training Coordinator may be asked to assist with the intern’s orientation and/or acquire specialized training. The orientation should consist of a two-to-three day version of the orientation provided to new probation officers. On-the-job training can be supplemented by readings, tapes, videos, and free training programs.

The assigned officer will maintain a record of the intern’s hours and maintain any other records required by the college or university. The assigned officer will also review and co-sign any reports prepared by the intern.

Interns will be provided credentials that both look official and identify them as interns. They will not be issued keys or permitted access to the office after normal working hours, unless in the company of the assigned officer or his designee.

Interns will be permitted to operate GSA vehicles. They will be reimbursed for travel in their own vehicles and for incidental expenses, such as parking and telephone calls.

Interns will not be permitted to carry firearms. They may, with the approval of the Firearms Instructor or his designee, be issued, and allowed to use Cap-Stun.

Interns will not be permitted to participate in searches. They may, however, attend briefings before and after a search.

If interns do not comply with their school’s internship requirements, this internship policy or the policies of the Probation Office, a determination will be made by the Chief Probation Officer whether or not they will be allowed to continue in the program.

COMPLETION OF THE PROGRAM: Upon completing the internship program, the intern must submit to an exit interview, written evaluation of the program, and/or agree to furnish the Probation Office copies of any papers submitted to the college or university about the internship experience. This information will be used to continually improve the program and the experience of future interns.