CJ 498 Criminal Justice Internship
20132014
A
S a capstone experience in the Criminal Justice Program
students may choose to complete an internship in criminal
justice.
The internship is designed to give students the
opportunity to interact with criminal justice professionals in a
work environment and to integrate theoretical knowledge with
practitioner experience. The purpose is not to provide job training, but
rather to allow students to see connections between criminal justice
theory and practice. Nonetheless, students are encouraged to develop
new skills when opportunities present themselves, clarify career goals,
and establish valuable contacts for future employment prospects and job
references. Students have completed internships in a variety of settings
including: federal, state and local law enforcement; institutional and
community-based corrections; juvenile facilities; attorney’s offices; the
courts; as well as many other justice-related organizations. Agencies
benefit greatly from the involvement of capable and reliable interns.
Prerequisites
Students need consent of the professor and to have achieved senior standing to enroll in CJ
498. The sponsoring internship agency may require a background investigation before allowing
students to start the internship.
Supervision and Grading
The student is placed with a criminal justice agency and is supervised by both an agency supervisor
and the course professor. Your professor is Harold D. Carter the best email site to reach Professor
Carter is haroldcarolyn@sbcglobal.net or 760-235-9530 via call or text. The internship is graded
“credit / no credit” and carries three units of course credit.
Course Requirements
There are several requirements for completing the internship. Importantly, the course requires a 150
hour commitment. In addition, students must:
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CJ 498 Criminal Justice Internship
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1. Register for the course by contracting the professor assigned to the internship course and
obtaining both a course schedule number and an add code during the first week of the
semester. This can be done by email.
2. Arrange by email to meet with the professor to meet and discuss the proposed internship
and possible agency sites. This must be done within the first two weeks of the semester.
3. Contact the prospective agency site and work out the internship structure and
responsibilities with the appropriate agency representative /contact.
4. Complete the Internship Application Form after meeting with the sponsoring agency.
Then, submit the form to the course professor.
5. Complete and submit three (3) brief internship reports. Each report should be from two
to three pages in length. The first report must be completed and submitted during the first
two weeks of the internship. It should describe the student’s expectations of the
internship (given what they have discussed with the internship agency representative, and
given what the student hopes to achieve during the internship). The second report should
be completed and submitted about midway through the internship. It should be a
progress report that lets the professor know what the student has been learning and doing
during the internship experience. The third and final report should (a) provide a brief
summary of what students have learned, (b) outline the strengths and weaknesses of the
internship, and (c) offer a recommendation as to whether this would be a worthwhile
experience for other SDSU criminal justice students. Reports must be submitted according
to this schedule outlined here and be written in proper English. Poorly written reports will
be returned for revision. Internship reports are made available for review to agency
supervisors.
Internship reports must be submitted in printed form, and your name, date, course
number, the semester you registered for the course, the number of the report (first,
second, or third) and your email address or phone number typed on the cover page.
Reports received without this information or that do not follow the schedule outlined
above will not be accepted.
Guidelines for the Internship
Below are listed some guidelines that will aid students and the agency in having a positive experience.
Please share them with your internship supervisor.
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1. Think of the internship as a part-time position. You are part of the staff.
2. Dress appropriately.
3. Punctuality and attendance are important. Let your supervisor know if you expect to be
late or absent. Arrange to make up missed days.
4. Know your goals ……. what you want to achieve out of the internship.
5. Obtain information about the agency prior to starting the internship if you can.
6. Most supervisors will give you an orientation on the first day. If not, ask them to do so.
Ask questions.
7. Seek ways to become exposed to different functions and departments of the agency.
8. Try to learn new skills.
9. Take some notes for your reports about the mission, structure, climate, and management
styles of the agency and personnel.
10. For future reference, keep a list of names, addresses and phone numbers of people with
whom you come in contact.
11. Keep lines of communication open with your supervisor.
12. Ask for a letter of recommendation from your supervisor at the conclusion of the
internship.
13. Remember that an internship can lead to a full time job. So, be sure to do your best.
14. Establish a schedule with your supervisor at the beginning of the internship. The course
requires a 150 hour commitment. The university does not encourage you to work more
than 15 hours per week at the internship.
15. If you have questions or problems, contact the professor coordinating the internship.
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Possible Internship Agencies
Below are listed some agencies and organizations that have provided internships for SDSU Criminal
Justice interns over the years. Contact the agency if you are interested in learning more about its
internship opportunities.
Brawley Police Department
351 Main Street
Brawley, CA Chief Michael Crankshaw
Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA)
Program
690 Broadway Suite #6
El Centro, CA
760 353-7456
(Director: Mrs. Nancie Lee Rhodes)
California Highway Patrol
2331 Highway 86
Imperial, CA
Calexico Police Department
420 E. 5th Street
Calexico, CA
(Chief Pompeyo Tabarez 760 768-2146 , or
Lt. Serrano 760 768-2140 or 2146)
Center for Family Solutions
727 W. Main Street
El Centro, CA
760 353-6922
Diane Altamirano
Judge Superior court Brawley 1-760-3363550
California Correctional Crime Victims
Coalition
PO Box 894
El Centro, CA
(Director Lisa Northam 866 357 9388 )
Dept. of Toxic Substances Control
State of California
301 Heber Avenue
Calexico, CA
(Mr. Roger Vintze 760 768 7104)
Calipatria Police Department
Main Street
Calipatria, CA
(Chief Reggie Gomez)
El Centro Police Athletic League
1100 N. 4th Street
El Centro, Executive director Ed Preciado
760 337-4577
Calipatria State Prison
Blair Road
Calipatria, CA
760 348-7000
El Centro Police Department
150 N. 11th Street
El Centro, CA Commander Aaron reel
760 352-2111
Centinela State Prison
2302 Brown Road
Imperial, CA Ken Phillips
760 337-7900
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CJ 498 Criminal Justice Internship
Federal Bureau of Investigation
9797 Aero Drive
San Diego, CA
858 565-1255
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James D. Moore
Attorney At Law
1224 W. State Street
El Centro, CA
760 352-3670
(Contact: Ms. Mara Valenzuela)
Imperial County Courts
Court Administration /Jury Services
939 West Main Street
El Centro, CA
(Mrs. Jennifer Bolin 760 482 4663)
Judge Raymond Cota
Imperial County Superior Courts
Sure Helpline Crisis Center
395 Broadway
El Centro, CA
760 352-7878
Imperial County Superior Court / H Resources
939 West Main Street
El Centro, CA
(Mrs. Cindy Tengler 760 482 4827 / Mrs.
Della Miramontes 760 482-4256)
United States Pre-Trial Services
United States District Court
Southern District of California
2003 W. Adams Avenue
El Centro, CA
760 353-9611 (or 619 557-5738 for San
Diego Office)
Imperial County Juvenile Hall
324 Applestill Road
El Centro, CA
(Officer Adele Sanchez 760 339 6217)
Imperial County Probation Department
324 Applestill Road
El Centro, CA
(Officer Gloria Munoz 760 339 6229)
Volunteers of America
Alcohol & Drug Services
1331 B Clark Road
El Centro, CA
760 353-8482
(Frances Quines 760 353 8482)
Imperial County Probation Department
Victim-Witness Assistance Program
324 Applestill Road
El Centro, CA
(Officer Pamela Littrell 760 339-6235)
Woman Haven
Domestic Violence Crisis Intervention and
Emergency Shelter
727W. Main Street
El Centro, CA
760 353- 6922
Imperial County Sheriff’s Office
324 Applestill Road
El Centro, CA
Officer Cortez (760 339-6387)
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