This experience is designed for senior undergraduate students completing their capstone internship requirement in a criminal justice undergraduate program at Salem State Univesity in Salem, Massachusetts. They are ready to apply their academic knowledge in real-world settings. Learners have a foundational understanding of law enforcement, court procedures, and correctional systems, and are eager to engage in practical projects that enhance their problem-solving and analytical skills. By collaborating with industry professionals, students can contribute to meaningful projects that address current challenges within criminal justice agencies.

While compensation is not required for participation, some partners may choose to offer a stipend or honorarium to support student involvement. To help us better understand the range of opportunities available, we ask whether you are open to providing compensation—though this is entirely optional and will not impact your ability to participate.

The required activities for learners to receive course credit include satisfactory ratings on supervisor's midterm and final evaluation forms (supplied by the Salem State University (SSU) internship course instructor; as well as students' completion of the required course assignments. These may include written statements of their internship goals and learning objectives, weekly journal submissions highlighting their most important on-site experiences, an interview with their field supervisor or other company personnel and a final paper analyzing their internship experiences in the context of earlier academic coursework at SSU.

Deliverables are negotiable and will seek to align the needs of the learners and the organization. 

Some final project deliverables might include: 

• A comprehensive analysis reports on specific criminal justice issues
• A development of procedural manuals or guidelines for agency operations
• Data collection and analysis for ongoing agency projects
• A community outreach program proposals
• Evaluation and recommendations for policy improvements