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Where and when did you intern and what were your responsibilities?

I was an intern for the Washington County Sheriff’s Office in Marietta, Ohio. I spent most of my time working in their evidence room helping store evidence and label it. While there I was given a few projects, most of these projects consisted of me going through the entire evidence room and collecting multiple evidence items from cases that were closed. I would then collect these items and box them up so they can be destroyed. It was a timely process that took multiple months to complete, but highly enjoyable. After the items were collected and boxed up, they were taken to a site where they would be destroyed completely. All evidence items are entered into a software and labeled with a tag as soon as they enter the evidence room. This tag shows their location, tracking number, case number, and other important information. This software shows all the same information that the tag does. After items are destroyed, they have to be declared as inactive evidence items in the software. My job was to collect the evidence from its location, box it up, take it to be destroyed, and then update it’s status in the evidence software. Another smaller task would be to collect and label evidence that deputies and detectives would submit to the evidence room.

What was the best part about your internship?

The best part about my internship was getting to see exactly how law enforcement offices work. Throughout the time I spent there, I got to see numerous things that most people would never get to experience, the “behind the scenes” actions. I got to understand how they work through their cases and the investigative work that is performed. Watching deputies and detectives investigate, I picked up certain tips from them on how they do the work in their cases. Also, I got a better understanding of the evidence process. This included; how and when a deputy or detective opens a case and collects evidence, along with how they are supposed to collect it and what they collect, how they submit it into the evidence room, how it’s labeled and stored until trial and finally, how important it is to keep track of where the item is at all times, and if it’s moved that it’s location is updated. During my time I got to experience all the things that the Sheriff’s Office does and ultimately what it is all about. Overall the best part about being there was experiencing exactly how law enforcement works, along with the behind the scenes stuff I never knew happened.

How did your internship connect to your major and/or your planned career?

Interning with the Sheriff’s Office correlated directly to my planned career and major. Being a criminology major, there were multiple occasions where I used prior knowledge from my classes to help me on the job. My planned career is to go into law enforcement after graduation. Getting to intern where I did helped me get a foot in the door with law enforcement agencies. It also helped boost my resume by working with a respected Sheriff’s Office, with very helpful people. I also made multiple connections during my internship, which could potentially help me land a job post graduation. Being there also helped show me exactly how everything
works in a law enforcement department or office. With me wanting to pursue a career in law enforcement, this gave me a step ahead of the competition who might not have had the same experiences.

What advice would you give to current students considering an internship?

To current students considering an internship, be persistent and don’t just have one specific place you want to intern at. Have multiple options to fall back on in case one does not work out. Also, if the hiring or interview process isn’t going like you planned, be persistent with it. Don’t just give up because you haven’t heard from them. Call and email as much as possible.