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Emma
Student
Elk River, Minnesota
5
Questions
Asked
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What kind of internships would help me to become a criminal profiler?
I am a high school student and my dream job is to be an FBI profiler. I understand this is an incredibly hard career to get into. I am wondering what kind of internships or job shadows I could get into right now as a high school student to further propel my career choice. Ideally, so that I will have some experience, no matter how little, once I get out of college.
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2 answers
Joe L.
Program Manager
79
Answers
Houston, Texas
Updated
Joe’s Answer
To become a criminal profiler, you'll need a strong foundation in psychology, law enforcement, and investigative skills. Internships that provide hands-on experience in these areas can be highly beneficial. Here are some types of internships that would help you prepare for a career in criminal profiling:
1. Law Enforcement Agencies:
Interning with local police departments, federal law enforcement agencies (such as the FBI), or state agencies can provide insight into the investigative process, crime scene analysis, and criminal behavior.
FBI Internship Program: The FBI offers internships for students interested in various aspects of criminal investigations, including behavioral analysis, intelligence gathering, and research.
State or Local Police: Many local and state law enforcement agencies offer internships where you can gain exposure to criminal investigations, report writing, and case analysis.
2. Forensic Psychology Internships:
As criminal profiling involves understanding criminal behavior, gaining experience in forensic psychology is valuable. Internships in forensic or clinical settings can help you develop insights into the psychological motivations behind crimes.
Forensic Mental Health Clinics: You may work with offenders and understand psychological evaluations, risk assessments, and behavioral patterns.
Correctional Facilities: Interning at prisons or rehabilitation centers can expose you to interviews with inmates and the psychology of criminal behavior.
3. Behavioral Analysis Units (BAU):
While internships with specialized units like the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit may be limited, working with agencies that focus on behavioral science or criminal analysis can give you practical exposure.
National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime (NCAVC): The NCAVC (a part of the FBI) sometimes offers educational opportunities or internships in criminal behavior analysis.
4. Legal Internships:
Working with defense attorneys, prosecutors, or law firms that focus on criminal law can help you understand the legal aspects of crime and how evidence, criminal motives, and behavior are presented in court.
Public Defender’s Office: You may assist in case preparation, research on criminal history, and psychological reports for defending clients.
District Attorney’s Office: Gaining insight into how prosecutors build cases against defendants based on behavioral evidence.
5. Victim Advocacy or Social Services Internships:
Understanding the perspective of victims and the impact of crimes on individuals is important for criminal profilers. These internships allow you to work with victims of crime, which can help you develop empathy and a better understanding of criminal psychology.
Victim Advocacy Programs: You may work with victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, or other crimes to better understand the emotional and psychological impact.
Juvenile Justice System: Working with juveniles who have committed crimes can offer insight into early criminal behavior and intervention strategies.
6. Research Assistantships in Psychology:
Many criminal profilers have a background in psychology. Working as a research assistant in a psychology department or lab that focuses on criminal behavior, forensic psychology, or violent crimes can help you develop analytical skills.
Criminal Psychology Research: Assisting in research studies on criminal behavior, profiling techniques, or recidivism rates.
7. Cybercrime and Intelligence Analysis Internships:
With the rise of digital crime, understanding how criminals operate in the cyber world can also be an asset for future criminal profilers. Internships focusing on cybercrime, intelligence analysis, or counterterrorism can be useful.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS): DHS offers internships that may focus on terrorism, cybercrime, and other national security threats.
Private Sector (Cybersecurity): Interning with companies or government contractors that work on criminal behavior in cyber environments.
8. Criminal Profiling Organizations:
There are organizations and consultants who specialize in criminal profiling and offer internships or mentorships.
American Investigative Society of Cold Cases (AISOCC): Although rare, some cold case organizations may offer internships that allow you to work on profiling unsolved cases.
Key Skills to Focus On During Internships:
Behavioral Analysis: Understanding the motivations behind criminal acts.
Investigative Techniques: Working with law enforcement on investigations.
Communication Skills: Writing reports, conducting interviews, and interacting with various criminal justice professionals.
Psychological Assessment: Gaining knowledge in assessing mental states and behaviors.
These internships can help you develop the knowledge and practical experience necessary for a career in criminal profiling.
1. Law Enforcement Agencies:
Interning with local police departments, federal law enforcement agencies (such as the FBI), or state agencies can provide insight into the investigative process, crime scene analysis, and criminal behavior.
FBI Internship Program: The FBI offers internships for students interested in various aspects of criminal investigations, including behavioral analysis, intelligence gathering, and research.
State or Local Police: Many local and state law enforcement agencies offer internships where you can gain exposure to criminal investigations, report writing, and case analysis.
2. Forensic Psychology Internships:
As criminal profiling involves understanding criminal behavior, gaining experience in forensic psychology is valuable. Internships in forensic or clinical settings can help you develop insights into the psychological motivations behind crimes.
Forensic Mental Health Clinics: You may work with offenders and understand psychological evaluations, risk assessments, and behavioral patterns.
Correctional Facilities: Interning at prisons or rehabilitation centers can expose you to interviews with inmates and the psychology of criminal behavior.
3. Behavioral Analysis Units (BAU):
While internships with specialized units like the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit may be limited, working with agencies that focus on behavioral science or criminal analysis can give you practical exposure.
National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime (NCAVC): The NCAVC (a part of the FBI) sometimes offers educational opportunities or internships in criminal behavior analysis.
4. Legal Internships:
Working with defense attorneys, prosecutors, or law firms that focus on criminal law can help you understand the legal aspects of crime and how evidence, criminal motives, and behavior are presented in court.
Public Defender’s Office: You may assist in case preparation, research on criminal history, and psychological reports for defending clients.
District Attorney’s Office: Gaining insight into how prosecutors build cases against defendants based on behavioral evidence.
5. Victim Advocacy or Social Services Internships:
Understanding the perspective of victims and the impact of crimes on individuals is important for criminal profilers. These internships allow you to work with victims of crime, which can help you develop empathy and a better understanding of criminal psychology.
Victim Advocacy Programs: You may work with victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, or other crimes to better understand the emotional and psychological impact.
Juvenile Justice System: Working with juveniles who have committed crimes can offer insight into early criminal behavior and intervention strategies.
6. Research Assistantships in Psychology:
Many criminal profilers have a background in psychology. Working as a research assistant in a psychology department or lab that focuses on criminal behavior, forensic psychology, or violent crimes can help you develop analytical skills.
Criminal Psychology Research: Assisting in research studies on criminal behavior, profiling techniques, or recidivism rates.
7. Cybercrime and Intelligence Analysis Internships:
With the rise of digital crime, understanding how criminals operate in the cyber world can also be an asset for future criminal profilers. Internships focusing on cybercrime, intelligence analysis, or counterterrorism can be useful.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS): DHS offers internships that may focus on terrorism, cybercrime, and other national security threats.
Private Sector (Cybersecurity): Interning with companies or government contractors that work on criminal behavior in cyber environments.
8. Criminal Profiling Organizations:
There are organizations and consultants who specialize in criminal profiling and offer internships or mentorships.
American Investigative Society of Cold Cases (AISOCC): Although rare, some cold case organizations may offer internships that allow you to work on profiling unsolved cases.
Key Skills to Focus On During Internships:
Behavioral Analysis: Understanding the motivations behind criminal acts.
Investigative Techniques: Working with law enforcement on investigations.
Communication Skills: Writing reports, conducting interviews, and interacting with various criminal justice professionals.
Psychological Assessment: Gaining knowledge in assessing mental states and behaviors.
These internships can help you develop the knowledge and practical experience necessary for a career in criminal profiling.
Ava O’Hara
School psychologist
9
Answers
Buffalo, New York
Updated
Ava’s Answer
The FBI provides a sought-after internship known as the Honors Internship Program. I would strongly suggest exploring this opportunity. It carries a high level of prestige and could serve as an excellent stepping stone into the profession.