CONNECTICUT JUDICIAL BRANCH

AGENCY:         CT JUDICIAL BRANCH

Volunteer/Intern Program

2 Riverview Square

99 East River Drive, 7^th Floor

East Hartford, CT 06108

INTERNSHIP CONTACT:  Rosanne Purtill, 860-282-6581, rosanne.purtill@jud.state.ct.us

PLEASE NOTE:  All interns with the Judicial Department MUST be registered with Ms. Purtill, regardless of how the internship is secured.  Please contact her for an interview to ensure that you are on the list of interns.

AGENCY FUNCTION:  The department includes placements in the following areas:  Adult Probation, Family Division, Juvenile Matters, Public Defender, State's Attorney, and other court positions depending on location. These placements are beneficial to students interested in criminal justice and legal systems.  

INTERN ACTIVITIES:

1. ADULT PROBATION: The two primary responsibilities of probation officers are supervision and investigation of offenders. Interns assist in all phases of a probation officer's job-- interviewing clients, compiling records, contacting community resource agencies, covering court, conducting field visits and contacting victims are among the most common work assignments.

2. PUBLIC DEFENDER:  The Division of Public Defender Services is responsible for the defense of criminal and juvenile delinquency matters in the Superior Court. Interns assist attorneys with preparation and trial, including interviewing applicants for public defender service and public defender clients, locating and interviewing witnesses, investigation, research and organization of evidence. Also, development of social service referrals and treatment in lieu of pre-trial incarceration or sentences to jail.

Other placements exist in the STATE'S ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, COMMUNITY COURT, CIVIL COURT, and with agency administrators.

3. JUVENILE COURT:  The Juvenile Court is a sub-agency of the Family Division. It exercises exclusive jurisdiction over all proceedings concerning delinquent minor children in Connecticut.  Interns assist with various functions:  PROBATION INTERN works with a juvenile probation officer on supervision cases, develops court-ordered case studies on juvenile offenders and monitors court activities.  DETENTION INTERN works with incarcerated juvenile offenders under the supervision of the detention supervisor, counsels and interacts with juveniles on a continuing basis, conducts group and individual recreational activities, tutors. STATE’S ATTORNEY’S INTERN assists the staff in the review and investigation of delinquency cases, prepares for detention hearings, interviews witnesses, covers plea, trial and detention hearings, some legal research and drafting motions.  For ANY JUVENILE PLACEMENT: call Rosanne Purtill at 860-282-6581.

PLEASE APPLY FOR THESE INTERNSHIPS AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE, DUE TO HIGH DEMAND.  Interns for Public Defender and State's Attorney placements should be available to work in the mornings.

STUDENTS SHOULD BE AWARE THAT A CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK WILL BE CONDUCTED PRIOR TO PLACEMENT.  ALL JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT INTERNS MUST COMPLETE A ONE-DAY PRE-PLACEMENT TRAINING PROGRAM PROVIDED BY THE DEPARTMENT.

HOURS PER WEEK:  8 minimum, 2 full days preferred.  Summer internships available; schedules  negotiable

INTERNSHIP AVAILABLE:  FALL:  Yes;   SPRING:  Yes;   SUMMER:  Yes

STIPEND:  Reimburse transportation & parking expenses