Job Description
Yankton County Sheriff’s Office Internship
Position Objective:
The Yankton County Sheriff’s Office is seeking motivated and responsible individuals to participate in its Law Enforcement Internship Program. This internship provides students with hands-on exposure to the operations of a county sheriff’s office, including the Jail, Patrol, Investigation, Courtroom, Transport, Civil Process, Warrant, 24-7 Program Divisions. Interns will gain valuable experience in the criminal justice field while observing and assisting sworn and civilian personnel.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must meet the following minimum qualifications:
- Must be 18 years of age or older
- Must be a law-abiding citizen
- Must successfully pass a background check
- Must be actively attending an approved high school, college, university, or vocational/technical school
- Must have a valid driver’s license
- Must pass drug screening
- Must demonstrate professionalism, reliability, and the ability to follow instructions and confidentiality requirements
Internship Duties and Learning Opportunities:
Interns may rotate through or observe the following divisions:
Yankton County Jail
- Observe daily jail operations and inmate management
- Assist with administrative and support tasks as appropriate
- Learn about detention procedures, safety protocols, and inmate services
Patrol Division
- Ride along with deputies (as permitted)
- Observe traffic enforcement, calls for service, and community policing efforts
- Learn report writing procedures and patrol operations
Investigation Division
- Observe investigative processes and case management
- Assist with administrative support related to investigations
- Learn about evidence handling, interviews, and investigative documentation
Courtroom Security
- Observe court proceedings
- Observe screening procedures
Transports Division
- Observe inmate transports
Civil Division
- Observe civil process within the Sheriff’s Office
- Conduct phone calls to help locate individuals with civil papers, protection orders, and other required documentation.
Warrant Division
- Observe the warrant division process
- Learn about the warrant process
24-7 Division
- Observe the 24-7 program
- Learn about the 24-7 program
Note: *****Interns will not perform sworn law enforcement duties.*****
Schedule
- Internship hours and duration will be coordinated based on the intern’s school requirements and the needs of the Sheriff’s Office.
- Flexible scheduling may be available.
Compensation
- This internship may be paid or unpaid, depending on funding, program structure, and academic requirements.
Benefits of the Internship
- Real-world exposure to law enforcement operations
- Career exploration in criminal justice and public safety
- Opportunity to gain experience for academic credit (if approved by the school)
This job specification should not be construed to imply that these requirements are the exclusive duties of the position. Incumbents may be required to follow any other instructions, and to perform any other related duties, as may be required.