Criminal Justice Internships

Qualification Criteria

Student must meet all of the following criteria:

1. Students must declare the On-Campus Criminal Justice major or be an MS-CCJ enrolled student. 
2. Students must have a GPA of 2.75 or higher or 3.0 for graduate students
3. Students must have completed all lower division required Criminal Justice courses. Graduate students must have completed all required courses.  All students must have at least two complete semesters of classes completed on UTEP campus.
4. This is a one or two semester internship program depending on the agency (3 hours of credit each semester) - students must need two upper division CJ electives to be eligible. Graduate students must have Free electives available.
5. Students must submit an application prior to meeting with the Internship Coordinator.  Once the application is reviewed, a meeting will be scheduled if the student meets the minimum qualification criteria. During this meeting, the student will be able to investigate the nature of the internship and ask questions relative to the work experience of the internship.
6. Students must submit an application to the internship coordinator, Dr. Stacie Ordonez at:  saordonez@utep.edu  for Spring internships between October 1^st and November 1^st, or Fall Internship from April 1^st to May 1^st.   

Once a Student has become Eligible for an Internship:

• The Internship Coordinator will then inform the student if they have been approved for an internship.
• Additional paperwork may be required by particular agencies. All agencies will require a completed agency application which will be provided depending on eligibility and background check. Extensive background check and any preliminary additional agency requirements may be required.
• Agency availability is limited and are offered on a first serve basis within the needs of the agency.
• Agencies will make the final determination of acceptance for an internship.
• Once accepted for an internship by the agency, agency acceptance documents must be submitted to the Internship Coordinator. Students will be provided with final documentation which must be submitted to have the registration hold removed.

Students MUST be a CJ major undergraduate student or a MS-CCJ graduate student.  Students CANNOT be employees or already working for the agency in which they are trying to intern with.  If you are an INSS minor or an  MS- INSS graduate student, see the list of qualifications for our Intelligence and National Security Internships.     

Benefits

1. Up to 6 upper level elective credits in CJ (3 for each semester) for undergraduates. 3 credits for graduate students.
2. Acquire experience in the field
3. Opportunity to make contacts in agency of interest

Internship Application

Internship application 

(Email a complete application to Internship Coordinator. Incomplete applications will not be accepted )

Agencies

All agencies will require a completed application and background check. Extensive background check and any preliminary additional agency requirements may be required.

Law Enforcement

• U.S. Marshals
• Immigration & Customs Enforcement/HSI
• El Paso Police Department
• El Paso County Sheriff's Office
• UTEP Police Department

Criminal Courts

• U.S. Attorney's Office
• Public Defenders Office
• Local Private Criminal Defense Attorney

Adult Community-Based Corrections

• U.S. Federal Probation
• El Paso Veteran's Treatment Court
• West Texas Community Supervision (Adult Probation)
• Texas District Parole
• Dismas Charities (Male Federal Halfway House)

Juvenile Justice

• El Paso Juvenile Probation Department
• Family & Child Protective Services (CPS)

Crime Victims

• Center Against Sexual and Family Violence

International Justice Issues

• U.S. Department of State (Global issues: human trafficking, terrorism)