Internship Insights:
Views From a Criminal Justice Student
by Sylvia M. L. Bardol

 

MCC, Chicago, Illinois		      I am a transfer student from France who is studying criminal justice and psychology at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). When I came to the United States three years ago, I had no professional contacts. Yet I knew that my future career would depend on the practical experience I would acquire before I graduated. *

     The concept of an internship was familiar to me. The French education standards require that students acquire practical experience in their field of study. This requirement is one of the conditions under which students can successfully complete a degree. Some high school curricula also emphasize the importance of work experience. In most cases, schools are matched with corporate or governmental sponsors.

     I, however, found out about various internship programs by joining a student organization specializing in criminal justice. The organization invited guests speakers who spoke to specific professions within the field.

The Metropolitan Correctional Center

     I began my internship at the Metropolitan Correctional Center of Chicago, Illinois, last spring. The Center has 262 employees, and it houses 650 inmates, of all levels of classification and security, for short-term confinement. Approximately 60 percent of the inmates have been sentenced on drug charges. The Center appropriates $2.79 per inmate per day for food.

     The Center observes the rules and standards established by the Federal Bureau of Prisons and the Department of Justice. One component of the Bureau's policy is to develop and encourage supportive relationships among the community and the inmates. Hiring student interns supports the Bureau's initiative by introducing scholars to the types of work available within their chosen profession, and by familiarizing scholars with the Center's programs philosophy.

     I was first assigned to the legal department. With the personal guidance of the attorney, I developed a clear understanding of how legal issues influence the day-to-day correctional operations.

     In August 1994, I spent several days in the psychology department. I had the opportunity to observe mental health staff conduct court ordered evaluations.

     Since the end of August 1994, I have been assigned to the General Unit. This unit houses inmates who are serving short sentences. It also accommodates inmates transferred to Chicago enabling them to be closer to their release destination. In this way, the Center facilitates their reintegration back to the community.

     Next, I became knowledgeable about inmate Progress Reports. The Progress Report evaluates the needs, behavior, and participation of inmates. It provides corrections officials with valuable information regarding the inmate's readiness for release, parole, or transfer.

     Because of this assignment, I am given many opportunities to interact with staff and inmates. This exposure has allowed me to become acquainted with the challenges and the rewards of the correctional environment. As a neophyte, I discovered a world in which the main actors are the inmates and their correctional officers. An inmate is a reluctant client who, if given the opportunity, would choose not to be incarcerated.

     At the Center, I also learned that correctional officers adapt to an environment which is always unpredictable. When officers are referred to as "guards," it demonstrates how little the general public knows about the challenges of their function. Inmate supervision goes far beyond the opening and closing of metal doors. The correctional officers I encountered at the Center oftentimes perform the informal roles of counselors, referral agents, and peace keepers. They strive to achieve a balance between strict custodial agendas, and socialization goals.

Internships: A Valuable Asset for University Students and for Employers

     Being a student does not have to be restricted to classroom education. Even though professors are unusually good in their field, their knowledge can not substitute for the insight and exposure gained through practical experience. There are many ways in which you can bring your classroom theories to life. You can join professional organizations which conduct lectures and seminars; you can participate in ongoing research in your university; or you can take part in an internship.

     When students arrive on the job market with experience in their field, they have something special to offer. They require less training than employees who lack previous work experience, they are familiar with the way their professional peers interact, they can be given more responsibilities from the beginning, and their professional goals are more focused. In addition, students who arrive on the job market with previous experience are more likely to be hired at a higher grade.

     Today, working in teams is an important aspect of the job market. Your decisions as an employee affects your co-workers, your clients, and your organization. As a student, you have the latitude to choose your co-workers. In the workplace, you might not have this flexibility. Therefore, you could become employed and begin working with co-workers who do not share your work philosophy. As an intern, however, you will have an opportunity to develop meaningful relationships. The main objective of an internship is to acquire experience and more understanding about one's chosen profession. There are myriad options available to a criminal justice student. Whether your goal is to practice law, do some type of police work, or pursue research an internship will provide you with practical knowledge which will serve to shape your successful career plan.

     You will also interact with individuals who have made similar choices in the past. If you remain in an internship for a year or more, for instance, your employer will have an opportunity to know you better. An added benefit then is that your employer may provide you with guidance about your career decision process.

Foreign Students Can Get Involved as Well

     As an international student, you are eligible for employment as an intern. The Foreign Student Affairs Of fice in your university  will assist you with the documents required for employment. You must meet the following conditions:
 

     Curricular Practical Training, i.e., internships, provide students with invaluable experience and insight about one's chosen profession. My experience continues to be rewarding and I recommend this program to others.

Sylvia Bardol may be contacted in care of Dr. Jess Maghan, IACO, Box 53, 1333 S. Wabash, Chicago, Illinois 60605.


       

Syvia Bardol with Warden Raymond Holt (left) and Executive Assistant Clarence Cranford
 


*  I am grateful for the internship guidance received at the University of Illinois at Chicago and the Metropolitan Correctional Center. Special thanks are due Jess Maghan, director of the Center for Research in Law and Justice; Gordon Misner, professor of Criminal Justice; Raymond Holt, warden; and Clarence Cranford, Jr., executive assistant. I am also grateful for helpful on-the-job suggestions of Terry Collins, attorney; and Tony McWhorter, case manager. All errors of interpretation and fact are, of course, my own.