Student Internship Program

Purpose

The purpose of our Internship Program is to provide a practical learning experience within the Criminal Justice System that benefits both the student and the Court Services Department. The internship program provides the student the opportunity to learn the policies and procedures of the department and the Juvenile and Criminal Courts.

Goals

The Internship Program shall provide a comprehensive understanding of the Probation and Court Services Departments of Illinois and specifically of the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit.  All training efforts shall be directed at helping the student develop the appropriate technical and social skills necessary to function effectively as a probation officer.

The following is a list of goals for the student to work to accomplish during the internship program:

• To gain a complete understanding of the Juvenile and Criminal Court process.
• To become familiar with the Illinois Juvenile Probation Assessment and Supervision System and Illinois Adult Investigation and Supervision System.
• To learn to conduct oneself in a professional manner.
• To become familiar with and utilize community resources.
• To learn to conduct interviews with clients in a professional manner and prepare case notes documenting such interviews.
• To become familiar with and learn to prepare court documents such as Social History Investigations and Pre-Sentence Investigations.
• To achieve professional growth and development through interaction with supervisory staff, probation officers, and the working community.
• To understand the difference between various management and casework delivery styles.

Eligibility

It is the responsibility of the student to contact the Court Services Department to arrange for an initial interview with the Director and Supervisors.  The Director and Supervisors will determine if the prospective intern is appropriate for the department's program after the interview is conducted and once references have been verified.

In order for a student to be eligible for an internship with Henry County Court Services, the following criteria must be met:

• The student must be a junior or senior standing in a recognized Bachelor's degree or graduate program.
• The student must be enrolled in law enforcement, social service, or a related field of study.
• The student should have a minimum GPA of 2.25 overall and a 2.50 GPA in their major.
• The student needs to be referred by the school internship coordinator at least 60 days prior to the start of the semester.  A full-time internship, 35 to 40 hours per week, is required.
• The department will complete a criminal background check on the student prior to accepting him/her for the internship program.
• The student will be required to sign all required documents in the acceptance packet or provide similar documents from the school.

If you are interested in completing your internship with Henry County Court Services, please contact the Director to verify if the department is accepting intern applications for the Fall or Spring semesters. The Henry County Court Services Department has proven to be a popular choice for student internships. We only accept one intern per semester so contact your internship coordinator early.