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Internships

Are you a motivated student eager to gain hands-on experience in your field of study? The Pretrial Services Agency (PSA) Internship Programs provide a unique opportunity to gain valuable professional experience while pursuing your academic goals. 

Internship opportunities are available on a full-time or part-time basis for students majoring in:

  • Criminal justice
  • Law
  • Social work  
  • Sociology
  • Political science
  • Psychology
  • Counseling
  • Forensic toxicology

At times, internship opportunities are available for students majoring in:

  • Human resources
  • Information technology
  • Finance
  • Facilities management
  • Legal Services
  • Public Relations
  • Statistics
  • Training and Development (or related fields)

Pathways Program

Through the federal Pathways Program, PSA offers two paid internship opportunities intended to provide substantive, hands-on work experience for students enrolled in undergraduate or graduate programs. As a Pathways Intern, you will gain knowledge and skills in various criminal justice, law enforcement, and support services fields aligned with PSA’s mission and vision, and access to career growth opportunities that will allow you leverage your full potential. 

The Pathways Program consists of the Student Paid and Recent Graduates Programs. 

"The internship I completed at PSA was the start of a life-changing experience. I never expected it would turn into a career that has lasted 29 years." - Special Assistant Antoinette Williams

Eligibility for Student Paid Internship Program

To be eligible for the Internship Program, you must have been accepted for enrollment or be enrolled and seeking a degree (diploma, degree, certificate, etc.) in a qualifying educational institution on a full or half-time basis. Interns must be at least 16 years of age. Due to the nature of the work at PSA, some program offices require students to be at least 18 years of age. Pathways participants are required to be in good academic standing and have a minimum of a 2.0 or equivalent GPA and maintain a minimum of a 2.0 GPA to maintain employment.

PSA requires that interns must:

  • Be at least 18 years of age
  • Be a student who is enrolled not less than half-time in a trade school, technical or vocational institute, junior college, college, university, or comparable recognized educational institution
  • Be in good academic standing with the educational institution in which he/she is enrolled
  • Have permission from the educational institution that the applicant is attending to volunteer his/her services
  • Be able to prove either U.S. citizenship or legal residency in the United States

Eligibility for Recent Graduates Program

To be eligible for the Pathways Recent Graduates Program:  

•    You must be a U.S. Citizen, must have graduated within the previous two years, completed a qualifying associate, bachelors, masters, professional, doctorate, vocational or technical degree or certificate from a qualifying educational institution.

OR

•    Individuals without formal college degrees who have completed “qualifying career or technical education programs” such as the Registered Apprenticeship Programs, Job Corps, AmeriCorps, and Peace Corps.  

Selection for internship positions is based solely on merit without regard to race, color, religion, age, gender, national origin, political affiliation, disability, sexual orientation, or other non-merit-based factors.

How to Apply

The application package must include:

  • A completed PSA Internship Program Application (Click here for application) for undergraduate students or practicum students
  • A resume
  • Proof of current academic enrollment (e.g. an official or unofficial transcript sent from your educational institution’s Registrar’s Office via email)
  • Recent Graduates must submit a copy of your college transcripts for verification of the educational requirements

Application submission schedule:

  • Fall Semester – July 15th  
  • Spring Semester– October 15th
  • Summer Semester – March 15th

Submit application package e-mail to: PSA.Internship@psa.gov

Traditional Program

Application submission schedule:

  • Fall Semester – July 15th  
  • Spring Semester– October 15th
  • Summer Semester – March 15th

If you have questions, contact PSA.internship@psa.gov.  

"My internship experience challenged me and afforded me the opportunity to showcase and actively develop my skills and abilities," - Geraldine Decembre, Senior Management and Program Analyst