Corrections Program Aide
Open to Upper-level Undergraduate Students

Location: Challenge Incarceration Program, Willow River, MN

Challenge Incarceration Program (CIP) is a Minimum-security boot camp style program.  It is an early-release program for non-violent drug and property offenders in the state of Minnesota.  This specialized program incorporates a wide variety of components, which include cognitive skills classes, education, chemical dependency groups, transitional programming, squad meetings, physical training, and work crews.  The CIP program houses a total of 80 offenders, which include 72 males and 8 females.  The program has 3 separate phases, each lasting a minimum of 6 months; a boot camp phase and 2 intensive community supervision phases.

Internship Description: This position will gain experience in a wide range of areas in a specialized correctional program (Phase I).  This position will interact with staff and offenders within the daily operations of the facility, security, and classroom programming. The intern will gain skills and experience in teaching cognitive skill or critical thinking classes to offenders. Assist in teaching pre-release and transitions classes to offenders. Participate in providing assistance to offenders in education classes. Assist in co-facilitating chemical dependency groups. Conduct offender squad meetings, applying interpersonal communication and conflict resolution skills. Gain exposure to a wide range of case management services, including report writing, progress reviews, file management, family issues, release planning, and behavioral problems. Gain experience in assisting with security duties, barrack inspections, and offender supervision.

Supervision: Interns will be assigned to a Program Supervisor and rotate among Case Managers, Chemical Dependency Counselors, Teachers, and/or Correctional Officers. 

Requirements:  The intern must be currently enrolled in an accredited college or university in a program which offers course credit for internships. Applicants should have completed significant coursework in the one or more of the following areas: Criminal Justice, Sociology, Social Work, Corrections, Psychology, Communications, Education, Chemical Dependency, or closely related field. Specific Job duties would be geared toward the person’s skill areas.

Length of Internship:    At least One Semester (Minimum 200 hours).

Application priority deadline date: 
April 1 for Summer session
August 1 for fall session
November 1 for winter session

Note:  This internship is unpaid

Applications will be accepted after these dates until positions are filled