Observing court proceedings. Responding to calls with police officers. Collecting crime-scene evidence. Meeting with probation clients.
These are just a few of the activities four criminal justice majors experienced this summer during their internships at police and sheriff departments, probation and court facilities, and public defender offices. Below, read about what they enjoyed most about their internships, the advice they received from seasoned professionals, and the careers they plan to pursue with their criminal justice degrees.
Abbie Felton (’27 criminal justice, minors in political science and human development and family studies)
Internship
Polk County Sheriff’s Department in Des Moines, Iowa
What were your primary job responsibilities?
“I shadowed deputies, detectives, corrections officers, and communication staff to gain insight into law enforcement operations. I observed daily law enforcement procedures, including patrol activities, investigations, and correctional facility operations. I also communicated with the sheriff’s office personnel and community members.”
What was your favorite part of your internship experience?
“My favorite part was talking to all the deputies and corrections officers about their work, pros and cons. They gave me lots of advice I will forever remember. They also provided me with guidance for post-graduation, tips and tricks, and the differences between sheriff and city departments.”
What are your future plans?
“My future goal is to apply to the Polk County Sheriff’s Department and work as a deputy and stay in the Des Moines area.”
Klaudia Florek (’26 criminal justice, minor in psychology)
Internship
Mount Prospect Police Department in Mount Prospect, Illinois
What were your primary job responsibilities?
“My responsibilities mainly included observing the officers I worked with and learning about their daily duties. I spent a lot of time riding in a police vehicle, responding to calls, and observing different types of traffic stops. I also had the opportunity to go to court twice with an officer and learn more about what that part of police work looks like. In addition, I spent time with the investigations team, where I learned about their responsibilities and how they handle different cases. I also had the opportunity to practice collecting evidence and observe how officers document information at different scenes. Overall, my main responsibility was to observe, learn, ask questions, and gain real-world experience in the criminal justice field.”
How well did your criminal justice major prepare you for this internship?
“I think my criminal justice major prepared me well for this internship because I already had a basic understanding of how the criminal justice system works. My classes taught me about police procedures, laws, evidence, and the different roles of police officers. Because of this, I was able to better understand what the officers were doing and why they followed certain procedures. The internship also helped me connect what I learned in class to real situations.”
What are your future plans?
“After graduation, one of my main goals is to obtain an Evidence Technician Certificate because collecting and processing evidence is something I am very interested in. I would also like to join the police department and pursue a career in law enforcement. My goal is to eventually work in crime scene investigation (CSI) because I am very interested in crime scenes, evidence collection, and understanding how evidence can help solve a case. I also plan to earn a master’s degree in forensic psychology.”
Kristin Wankat (’26 criminal justice, minors in psychology and ethics)
Internship
DuPage County Probation and Court Services in Wheaton, Illinois
What were your primary job responsibilities?
“My title was probation intern and I worked in the Sex Offenses Unit. As a probation intern, I worked alongside probation officers and assisted with the supervision of individuals on probation. My responsibilities included observing and participating in client meetings, attending home visits, reviewing case information, and learning about court and probation procedures. As I gained experience, I was given the opportunity to conduct client meetings. I also attended team meetings and gained hands-on experience with case management, documentation, and the day-to-day responsibilities of probation officers.”
What was your favorite part of your internship experience?
“My favorite part of the internship was getting hands-on experience and seeing what probation officers do on a daily basis. I especially enjoyed sitting in on meetings with clients and going on home visits because it allowed me to see how probation works outside of what I had learned in the classroom. As I became more comfortable, I was also given the opportunity to take a more active role in meetings, which helped me build my communication and professional skills.”
What are your future plans?
“My future plan is to attend law school after graduating from Iowa State University and earn my Juris Doctor (JD). My goal is to become an attorney and pursue a career in either criminal defense or family law. I hope to use the knowledge and experience I have gained through my criminal justice major and internship to help prepare me for a successful career in the legal field.”
Eliza Weber (’27 criminal justice, minor in Spanish)
Internship
Office of the Iowa State Public Defender in Nevada, Iowa
What were your primary job responsibilities?
“I did a lot of office work, which included listening to interviews, reading through and looking for key details in reports, reading the investigative documents from the cases, as well as getting to observe court proceedings.”
How well did your criminal justice major prepare you for this internship?
“The criminal justice program gave me a great basis of knowledge for me to call on in this internship. Being able to notice certain things, such as procedures used by law enforcement or discrepancies in documentation, allowed me to dig deeper into the courtroom proceedings and ask more specific questions since I already knew the basic information.”
What are your future plans?
“I plan to go into law enforcement after I graduate with the hopes of either becoming a K9 handler or being part of a specialized investigative unit.”