R. Bruce McBride - Criminal Justice Internships: Theory Into Practice

Criminal Justice Internships

Eighth Edition

Criminal Justice Internships

Theory into Practice

Eighth Edition

R. Bruce McBride

First published 2015 by Anderson Publishing

Published 2015 by Routledge

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Development Editon Ellen S. Boyne

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

McBride, R. Bruce.

Criminal justice internships : theory into practice / R. Bruce McBride. Eighth Edition.

pages cm

ISBN 978-0-323-29884-1

1. Criminal justice, Administration of-Study and teaching (Internship)United States. 2. Criminal justice, Administration of-Study and teaching (Internship) I. Title.

HV9950.M336 2015
364.97307155-dc23

2014014128

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

ISBN 978-0-323-29884-1 (pbk)

To My Family
Barbara, Robbie, Megan, and Brian

This book is directed to the criminal justice student who is undertaking an internship with a public agency or private sector organization. It is also intended to be a reference tool for professors and field supervisory personnel who instruct and supervise student intern during the experience. The objective of the book is to direct attention to professional and personal issues that occur during an internship program. This is important because the majority of criminal justice programs in the United States have designated the internship as either a requirement or a major elective.

In 1984, this project began in an effort to guide students through their internships. Finding there were few available materials on the subject, these materials were created with former co-author Gary Gordon to give specific attention to the placement process and the internship experience. What you find here is the culmination of more than 30 years of combined experience in using these materials with students.

This book is designed to be used as an introduction to the internship, as well as a course text while at the agency site. A student who is considering an internship will find several chapters helpful in conceptualizing what the experience will entail. Once in the field, a second reading will help to clarify, explain, and promote an understanding of the experience through specific assignments.

A great deal of thanks goes to the hundreds of students supervised through the years. Every semester they enhance the understanding of internships by sharing their experiences. Much appreciation needs to be given to the many internship coordinators and instructors who have used this book over the years. Their comments and views on internships in criminal justice education are important.

I would also like to thank faculty members Bill Virkler and Greg Walsh and career services director Halina Lotyczewski of Utica College for their guidance on national internship opportunities and career trends. George Curtis, who recently retired from Utica College, is also acknowledged for helping to keep tabs on the ever changing legal environment for student interns. Finally, thank you to Ellen Boyne and the staff of Elsevier (formerly LexisNexis Matthew Bender and Anderson Publishing) for continuing to support this concept and for publishing this eighth edition of Criminal Justice Internships: Theory into Practice.

R. Bruce McBride
Delmar, New York

Interactive resources can be accessed for free by registering at www.routledge.com/cw/mcbride

This book is designed to maximize the internship experience for students enrolled in criminal justice degree programs. This chapter presents the background to criminal justice internship programs and the important reasons why a student should consider interning. Upon completing the chapter, the reader should be able to review the internship program options at his or her campus in terms of program requirements, the number of credits that might be earned, and a general range of the number and types of agency sites that are available. Additionally, the main learning goals that could be derived from undertaking an internship are introduced in the areas of knowledge acquisition, knowledge application, skills development, personal development, and professional development.

An internship is a formal course undertaken in an academic program whereby the student is allowed to observe and participate in a variety of agency operations under the guidance of a field supervisor and a faculty supervisor. During this time, the student completes a number of academic and agency assignments that introduce the operations of the workplace and, when possible, show the integration of theory and practice. At the same time, an internship should assist the student in making future career choices complementary to his or her abilities.