The Victim Services Division focuses on providing crisis intervention services to victims of crime, at the time of the incident, and also provides advocacy services within the courtroom for victims who are involved, as a victim, in the criminal justice system. Our agency educates victims on beneficial resources within Pima County and centralizes its services around supporting and empowering victims of crime.
Internship Available
- Summer
- Fall
- Spring
Deadlines
Applicants are required to commit, for at least 1 year and attend either a spring or fall crisis intervention training prior to being accepted as an intern. Please contact us 6 months prior to your intended internship start date.
Internship Description: Unpaid
Interns will provide crisis intervention services and offer resources, including information about victim rights, to victims of crime and other community members of Pima County on scene or in the courtroom setting. Interns will also observe law enforcement out in the field, shadow and assist staff advocates in the court system, assist during crisis intervention trainings, and complete phone call surveys to clients served by the Victim Services Division of the Pima County Attorney’s Office.
Purpose of the internship
Interns will provide crisis intervention services and offer resources, including information about victim rights, to victims of crime and other community members of Pima County on scene or in the courtroom setting. Interns will also observe law enforcement out in the field, shadow and assist staff advocates in the court system, assist during crisis intervention trainings, and complete phone call surveys to clients served by the Victim Services Division of the Pima County Attorney’s Office. This hands-on internship is a great way to get experience within the criminal justice field, advocacy, and law enforcement while assisting and empowering victims of crime. Interns will learn:
- Basic crisis intervention skills, including specific communication skills and how to work with victims of various crime types (homicide, domestic violence, sexual assault, child trauma, robbery, etc)
- Victim rights and how to work with others through a criminal justice lens
Duties
Interns will provide crisis intervention services and offer resources, including information about victim rights, to victims of crime and other community members of Pima County on scene or in the courtroom setting. Interns will also observe law enforcement out in the field, shadow and assist staff advocates in the court system, assist during crisis intervention trainings, and complete phone call surveys to clients served by the Victim Services Division of the Pima County Attorney’s Office.
Expected Outcomes
Interns will be experienced in dealing with crisis situations and will have a working knowledge of how to respond effectively. They will be well versed in community resources and equipped with tools to assist victims of crime in Pima County. Victims will be informed of community resources available to them in order to be able to better cope with crisis situations. Victims will be empowered by being provided with choices and supported if they continue through the criminal justice system.
Expectations
- Accumulation of necessary hours for desired internship, as recorded and monitored by the intern
- Continuous work on the crisis unit
- At least 2 hours/week completing survey calls
- Attend and assist during 4 basic training classes
- If Crisis Inter: shadow 1x/month in the court system (minimum of 2 hours each); If Court Intern: shadow 1x/month on a Crisis shift (minimum 5 hours each)
- Shadow AOD at least 2x during your internship (minimum of 2 hours each)
- Participate in at least 1 ride-a-long (minimum of 5 hours) with your choice of law enforcement agency
- Open communication and flexibility
Benefits
Building professional relationships with agencies in Pima County including law enforcement and staff within the Pima County Attorney’s Office. Strengthened communication and crisis intervention skills, 65+ hours of crisis intervention training with certificates provided, and opportunities to assist and respond to mass casualty/national disasters/large scale crises incidents. Interns will also be notified of free or low-cost training opportunities.
Agency minimum qualifications
Required Time Commitment: Minimum 20 hours per month or as deemed necessary to earn designated internship credit through the educational institution.
Required Training: Intern must be a current volunteer victim advocate with completion of the basic and advanced crisis intervention training and must have passed 90-day probation.
Required Skills: Competence with the ABC model of crisis intervention, passing of PCSO/TPD radio codes and boundaries test, interest in victimology and crisis intervention, polite and professional interaction
Additional Helpful Skills: Knowledge of cultural differences, mentoring, and familiarity with local resources. Additional languages are also a plus!
Agency preferred qualifications
Must be at least 18 years old and be able to pass a criminal background check. All training will be provided.
How to apply
To apply for the VS internship, call or email Tami Sanchez at (520) 724-5534: tami.sanchez@pcao.pima.gov or VsVolunteers@pcao.pima.gov. All individuals interested in volunteering/interning with the Victim Services Division are required to attend a 2 hour information session held in August and January of each year.