Investigator Intern

Job Description

Job Description

The Palm Beach County Public Defender's Office, 15th Judicial Circuit, is a client-centered, dynamic advocacy office providing representation to people whose lives and liberty are at stake.

The office handles close to 30,000 cases per year and has approximately 200 employees including lawyers, investigators, social workers, and support staff. The main office, housing the trial and appellate divisions, is in downtown West Palm Beach and there are four branch offices in other areas of the county.

Divisions include : County Court; Felony; Mental Health; Major Crimes; Youth Defense; Appeals; and Investigative & Social Services’ Units.

Investigator interns are unpaid / volunteer and enrolled typically in school. Often interns receive course credit, or work here as part of a clinic assignment. Applicants must maintain total confidentiality, be honest, and possess integrity and demonstrate a commitment to the mission of the 15th Judicial Circuit Public Defender's Office.

The Investigators' team is comprised of a diverse group of 10 people (on average), who typically possess a bachelor's degree in criminal justice or psychology. The Investigator Intern Program provides the PD-15 with interns so that college students have an opportunity to learn and train, free of charge, in the field of criminal investigation, which exposes interns to an exciting and rewarding career path.

Our interns, if enrolled in an academic program, can receive school credit for their intern participation. PD-15's Investigators' team assigns each intern to a mentor investigator whom interns observe conducting client interviews prior to first appearances, interviewing witnesses, and tracking down leads. Interns eventually work independently to : conduct client interviews at the jail; track down information; locate and interview witnesses; review case files; and examine, diagram, and photograph crime scenes. Investigator interns learn about and use research- and legal-computer programs, participate in a security class at the jail, pass a background check, and have reliable transportation for traveling to / fr the office and to / fr the jail. Interns must also have availability on three days of the week / 24 hours a week between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Please note the following :

• Applications for Winter semester (January through May) are due by October 1
• Applications for Summer semester (May through August) are due by March 1
• Applications for Fall semester (August through December) are due June 1.
• We follow the school semesters with a Fall, Winter and Summer program.
• Students may receive academic credit.
• Interns are unpaid / volunteer.
• Prior approval from the school is necessary to receive college credit.
• Participation of two days a week is mandatory.
• 3 to 4 students per semester.

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