How to hire a criminal justice internship

How to hire a criminal justice internship, step by step

Here's a step-by-step criminal justice internship hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a criminal justice internship job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new criminal justice internship
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The criminal justice internship hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A criminal justice internship's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, criminal justice interns from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   The following list breaks down different types of criminal justice interns and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Criminal Justice Internship	Description	Hourly rate
   Criminal Justice Internship	Information clerks perform routine clerical duties such as maintaining records, collecting data, and providing information to customers.	$11-19
   Deputy Clerk	A deputy clerk is responsible for performing administrative duties in a court setting, sorting and filing legal documents, and preparing a comprehensive report for court procedures. Deputy clerks also organize a record of jury information, court personnel, and other representatives... Show more	$12-24
   Docket Clerk	A docket clerk schedules court sessions, legal hearings, and all proceedings related to the judiciary branch of the government. Whether at courthouses or law firms, they are the frontline when questions related to court sessions, court appeals, and even on the communication of judges and parties involved in the case... Show more	$12-32

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Criminal Justice
   • Legal Research
   • Pre-Trial Conferences
   • Court Procedures
   • Intake Interviews
   • Subpoenas
   • Child Abuse
   • Law Enforcement Agencies
   • Social Justice
   • Court Hearings
   • Crime Scenes
   • Court Proceedings
   • Criminal Cases
   • Background Checks

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Receive multiple letters of commendation for effective investigations that lead to successful prosecutions.
   • Create PowerPoint presentation with charts, and graphs.
   • Direct DEA undercover narcotic enforcement operations.
   • Gather reliable information to include into an academic PowerPoint.
   • Maintain qualification on require firearms and other intermediate weapons.
   • Contribute to trial preparation, including drafting subpoenas and transcriptions.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your criminal justice internship job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A criminal justice internship can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, criminal justice interns' average salary in alabama is 51% less than in washington.
   • Seniority. Entry-level criminal justice interns 44% less than senior-level criminal justice interns.
   • Certifications. A criminal justice internship with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a criminal justice internship's salary.

   Average criminal justice internship salary

   $14.92hourly

   $31,029 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level criminal justice internship salary

   $23,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 11, 2025

4. Writing a criminal justice internship job description

   A criminal justice internship job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a criminal justice internship job description:

   Criminal justice internship job description example

   Applications for the 2023 Ohio Department of Natural Resources Summer Internship Program are currently being accepted for positions statewide and from students of Law Enforcement/Criminal Justice disciplines.
   
   The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) offers some of the most diverse career opportunities in state government. Opportunities expand well beyond parks and recreation. The team of biologists, geologists, naturalist, forestry, wildlife and fisheries employees, just to name a few, helps the department fulfill its responsibility to manage and protect some of Ohio's most critical resources - forests, rivers, breath-taking natural areas, shorelines and islands, astounding geologic formations, wildlife, oil, gas, minerals and water resources.
   About the ODNR Summer Internship
   
   Through the ODNR Summer Internship Program, interns will:
   
   * Gain a comprehensive knowledge of what the Department does and why.
   * Have access to unique professional development and training opportunities.
   * Play a role in ensuring a balance between wise use and protection of Ohio's natural resources for the benefit of all.
   
   An ODNR internship offers:
   
   * Hands-on, practical experience
   * Flexible hours
   * The option to gain school credit
   * A safe, inclusive, respectful workplace
   
   ODNR Core Values:
   
   * Do The Right Thing, The Right Way
   * Promote Science-Based Stewardship
   * If It's Worth Doing, It's Worth Doing Now
   * Strive for Excellence in Customer Service
   * Commit to Great Communication
   
   Candidates meeting the following criteria are eligible to apply:
   
   * Enrolled as a part-time or full-time student, in a Law Enforcement/Criminal Justice major, at an accredited college, university, or community college which offers or leads to an associate, bachelor, or graduate degree.
   
   * Good academic standing (2.5 GPA or higher)
   
   * Applicants will be required to submit a resume and writing sample with their application. (A writing sample can be a research paper or writing assignment from a previous job or class and is, generally, one to two pages in length. The topic of the writing sample is up to the applicant but should be relevant to the internship to which the applicant is seeking)

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right criminal justice internship for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your criminal justice internship job on Zippia to find and recruit criminal justice internship candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with criminal justice internship candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new criminal justice internship

   Once you have selected a candidate for the criminal justice internship position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new criminal justice internship. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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