Internships

The Council on Criminal Justice (CCJ) is committed to cultivating the next generation of leaders for the criminal justice field. Through its internship program, CCJ offers undergraduate students and other qualified individuals the opportunity to play a key supporting role in advancing the Council’s mission.

Through a range of activities, interns gain experience in supporting the day-to-day operations of a nonpartisan think tank and invitational membership organization. Internships typically run for 10 to 15 weeks, corresponding to academic semesters and the summer term. CCJ can work with candidates to set a schedule that aligns with their academic calendars.

My internship with the Council on Criminal Justice was vital in shaping my understanding of criminal justice and healthcare policy. Listening to bipartisan policy discussions and working on projects that involved interpreting and synthesizing recent scholarship clarified how data-driven analysis can help shape reform across ideological divides.

My internship at the Council on Criminal Justice prepared me for a career in the criminal justice field. I was part of an amazing team, contributed to reports on various criminal justice issues, and participated in discussions with national leaders. This experience gave me the confidence to pursue a career in the criminal justice field, and the skills to excel in it.

Interning at CCJ was an extremely significant first step in my professional career. As a public health student working for the organization during the COVID pandemic, I learned just how extensively criminal justice intersects with other fields. I applied much of what I learned during my summer with CCJ to several college electives, which I took to deepen my passion for criminal justice and strengthen my development as a public health student and professional.

Program Benefits

Mentorship and Networking: Interns report to the intern coordinator, meeting regularly to discuss daily assignments, and work closely with senior staff, checking in weekly to discuss project progress as well as professional goals. Interns are afforded opportunities to engage regularly with all CCJ staff and network with CCJ members and other criminal justice leaders.
Team and Task Force Meetings: Interns participate in weekly staff meetings and smaller team meetings according to their roles. They are also invited to join standing calls with CCJ’s research and policy teams and listen to task force deliberations and other internal meetings.
Research and Writing Assignments: Interns are asked to produce at least one major work product during their time at CCJ, such as a blog post, research literature review, or short presentation. Interns receive ongoing, substantive feedback on their work from senior staff.
Letter of Reference: Upon satisfactory completion of the internship, interns receive a letter of reference from their intern supervisor and a member of CCJ staff.

How to Apply

CCJ recruits interns as needed and as funding allows. All internship opportunities will be posted on the Council’s career portal. If the Council plans to hire an intern for a given semester, applications will be open and visible on the career portal a few months prior to the internship start date.

Interning at CCJ was an unforgettable experience that gave me firsthand exposure to the dynamic and impactful conversations shaping criminal justice policy at the national level. I worked directly on a wide range of projects, including task forces and commissions, social media campaigns, and membership engagement, allowing me to build numerous useful skills. As an intern, I also had the privilege of working alongside caring and knowledgeable mentors who provided me invaluable career guidance. 

My internship with CCJ deeply shaped my interest in public policy and gave me a firm foundation for working in the nonprofit and philanthropy world. Although my career ultimately went in a different direction, the experience sparked a lasting interest in staying connected to philanthropy in some way, no matter what I do. Through my work at CCJ, I came to see how justice reform is intimately tied to local politics and learned the importance of staying engaged with government. Most of all, I gained strong research skills, and I left the internship grateful for a team that welcomed me into meetings, taught me the ropes, and exposed me to a wide range of projects.