Internships

As the ending experience in the minor, the required internship challenges students to apply knowledge learned in the classroom to a field experience with an organization that works with the victims and/or perpetrators of crime.

Internships should be arranged with the program director the semester before the internship will be completed:

  • Internships planned for the Fall should be arranged the preceding Spring semester and Spring internships should be arranged during the preceding Fall semester.
  • Summer internships may be available.
The following lists potential internship sites for fall and spring semester internships. Interships at other organizations may be arranged.

Internship Sites for Crime, Law and Society Minors

Charleston County Sheriff’s Office

Interns rotate through various sections of the sheriff’s department including patrol, community service, detectives, canine, marine patrol, courts, special training and recertification.  Internship can be flexible to your interests and include policing in both urban and rural areas.

Charleston Pro Bono Legal Services

This is a program of the Charleston County Bar Association in which students will learn to assist in providing legal services for civil cases.  Responsibilities in this office include screening clients, performing legal research, answering client calls and assisting clients in filling out legal forms.

Interns rotate through all departments (Booking, 911, traffic detectives, etc.) and do “ride-alongs” with police officers to learn about the different aspects of police work. 

Community & Public Safety Psychiatry Division (CPSPD), MUSC

This is a research assistant internship in forensic psychology.  There are several ongoing studies, primarily, but not exclusively, studying sex offenders. 

Community Juvenile Arbitration Program, Solicitor's Office

Students assist the director and staff with case management of juveniles involved in the arbitration program. Students receive arbitrator training and may have their own cases.  Interns communicate with all parties involved in an offense committed by a juvenile, including the juvenile offender, the offender’s parent(s), the victim of the offense and police officers working on the case. You will also help to monitor juveniles’ cases, ensuring that they meet the terms of their arbitration agreement, tour juvenile and adult correctional facilities, and  observe court trials and assist during the trial process.

Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services

Interns observe and assist agents with duties necessary to supervise offenders assigned to the Charleston County Office of Probation, Parole and Pardon services. This includes taking progress reports, entering information into the Offenders Information System, observing bond and revocation hearings and riding along on home visits.  There is also an office in Moncks Corner.

Department of Public Safety, College of Charleston

The Department of Public Safety offers opportunities to interns, providing chances to work in areas such as patrol, professional standards, courts, security technology and dispatch.  You will rotate through sections of the department. This internship is ideal for students interested learning about the intricacies and challenges of policing in a campus environment. 

Family Violence Unit, City of Charleston Police Department

This is a victim advocate internship serving families in crisis. The unit provides case management and includes a child advocate, an elder advocate, a Spanish language advocate and a mental health clinician.

Guardian ad Litem 

Internships may be available. Guardians represent the best interests of children in Family Court. Training to become a guardian must be completed before the students begins the internship. 

Homeless Justice Project at One80 Place

One80 Place provides shelter, re-housing services, and on-site civil legal aid to help individuals and families end their homelessness.

Interns assist with autopsies and assist staff in various activities. In most cases, interns can get as much hands on experience as they desire. Courses in biology are very helpful here. 

National Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center (at the Medical University of South Carolina)

NCVC is an outpatient mental health clinic for children and adults who experienced a traumatic event such as sexual assault, domestic violence, or physical assault.  Interns assist with working with victims of crime.  Respnsibilities may include transporting families for victim-related appointments, data entry in SPSS,  and observing support groups for family members of homicide victims and local child abuse community staffing.  There is also the possibility of becoming involved with research projects.  This internship requires a 3.0 GPA and a psychology major.

North Charleston Police Department

Interns rotate through all departments and do “ride-alongs” with police officers to learn about all aspects of police work.

Public Defender

This internship provides students with a background of both the criminal justice and judicial systems in Charleston County.  Interns attend trials, preliminary hearings, guilty pleas and roll calls in order to get a feel for various court procedures. In addition, students tour the Charleston County Detention Center and participate in office and jail screenings of indigent clients. They will have the opportunity to meet judges, prosecutors, attorneys and many others in the legal field.  It also may be possible to work with those involved with juveniles.

SC Department of Juvenile Justice

Interns provide assistance with both intake and probation for juvenile offenders. Interns also provide direct services to victims of juvenile crime while the offender is in the pre-adjudication, supervision, and/or commitment stage within the juvenile justice system.

Solicitor's Office

Interns will be responsible for assisting all office departments in carrying out the day to day affairs of the Solicitor's Office. This will include working with individual attorneys on the preparation of cases for trial and plea, working with the Victims' Rights department, working with Pre-Trial Intervention, working with Investigators, and working with Pending cases.

South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Service

The SC Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services offers students experience in criminal justice, social work, and law enforcement by assisting agents with the community supervision, case management, and rehabilitation of adult offenders.

There may be internships available to assist social workers in Child Protective Services.

"South Carolina Legal Services (SCLS) provides free legal services in a wide variety of civil (non-criminal) legal matters to eligible low income residents of  South Carolina. SCLS is a non-profit corporation, funded by grants from the federally funded Legal Services Corporation,  the South Carolina Bar Foundation, the South Carolina Bar, local United Ways, state court filing fees, and other federal, state and local funding." Interns assist attorneys and work directly with clients involving a number of civil cases including domestic violence.

Tri-County S.P.E.A.K.S.

Intern will be responsible for assisting PAR staff in providing supportive services to survivors of sexual assault. This may include assisting Volunteer Coordinator, Education Coordinator, and Outreach Coordinator with their duties.

U.S. Courts Federal Probation and Pretrial Academy, FLETC (Federal Law Enforcement Training Center)

Student Interns work closely with United States Probation Officers and Academy staff and have the unique opportunity to observe live training scenarios and classes in addition to assisting instructors with lesson plan updates, student records, and training delivery enhancement. 

U.S. Marshals Service

The U.S. Marshals Office in Charleston offers students an opportunity to gain firsthand exposure to federal law enforcement by assisting Deputy Marshals with fugitive investigations, federal court security, and case management administration.

Victim Services, Charleston County Sheriff

Intern will assist victim advocates and attend bond hearings, post arrest hearings, and other court hearings, assist with case management and assist in providing support services to victims.

Victim/Witness Assistance Program, Solicitor's Office

The intern will assist victim-witness advocates and attend hearings, meet with victims and witnesses, and assist in other daily responsibilities.

Information about federal  government internships is available at usajobs.gov.

For more information about the Crime, Law and Society minor and/or to arrange for the above internships, contact:

David Morris
Department of Sociology and Anthropology
88 Wentworth Street, Room 204
843-953-4485
morrisds@cofc.edu