Department of Corrections Intern - Multiple Fields - College

Come and take the first step in a future with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania! The Department of Corrections (DOC) is opening our Summer 2026 Internship Program to bright and motivated college students. This summer will give you the opportunity to excel in the fields of corrections, criminal justice, and government administration. The field of corrections is multidisciplinary and deploys the expertise and services of individuals from a wide range of professions. Interns will engage in meaningful, high-impact public service that fosters significant professional growth, providing a platform to refine career objectives through hands-on experience and strategic networking.

As a DOC Summer Intern, you will work directly with department personnel and leadership across the corrections system to complete a variety of projects and assignments. Your work will promote our mission to reduce recidivism and reintegrate offenders back into the community. During your internship, you have opportunity to work and learn in the following possible areas:

• Health Care Services: Tracking Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT), managing audit reviews, and monitoring medical assistance processes.
• Reentry Coordination: Coordinating and updating all audits while assisting the committees with service lot contract renewals. This area may involve supporting multiple projects within the Office of Reentry and the Executive Assistant.
• Central Services, Parole Field Services: Assisting with Body Worn Camera deployment, assisting with data entry with the new equipment program, and performing other office tasks.
• Administration: Supporting the Director of Administration with Business Office process audits. This will include reviewing policies and ensuring clear and direct directions are provided, assisting with the rollout of the new Inmate Tablets contract, assisting with collecting documentation for IT-related contracts, and helping develop and build Small Diverse Business (SDB) procurements.
• Planning, Research, & Statistics: Supporting research and communications efforts by assisting with website updates, drafting and formatting evaluation summaries, and helping develop research dissemination strategies. The intern would also help create and maintain lists of departmental and subject matter experts to support collaboration and information sharing.
• Psychology: Identifying continuing education topics for Psychology staff and Certified Peer Specialists (CPS). This involves analyzing data to inform psychological practice in DOC. The intern will attend meetings in relation to sex offender programming, delivery of CPS services, or others as interested.
• Facility Security & Special Operations: Participating in policy writing, security technology research and testing, staffing review, and data analysis.
• Secretary's Office: Working on special projects in the Secretary's office, Press & Communications, and the Office of Policy and Legislative Affairs.
• Equal Employment Opportunity: Conducting intake inquiries for possible discrimination allegations, as well as creating a training handbook.
• Treatment Services: Focusing on the Substance Abuse area, this intern will help to create programs, perform audits, and review substance use disorder wait lists.
• Investigations and Intelligence: Assisting in gathering intelligence by listening to inmate phone calls, assisting investigators with cases, and working on other related special projects.

Work Schedule and Additional Information:

• This is a paid internship for Summer 2026.
• Work hours are 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday - Friday, with a 30-minute lunch. Your availability will determine your work schedule.
• Telework: You will not have the option to telework in this position.
• You will receive further communication regarding this position via email. Check your email, including spam/junk folders, for these notices.

QUALIFICATIONS

Internship Requirements:

• You must be enrolled full-time or part-time in an accredited college or university.
• You must be 18 years of age or older.

• You must be able to perform essential job functions.

Legal Requirement:

• You must pass a background investigation and meet Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) compliance requirements.

• You must attach a resume to your application for review by the hiring manager. However, the information contained therein will not be considered for the purposes of determining your eligibility for the position. Information to support your eligibility for the position must be provided on the application (i.e., relevant, detailed experience/education).
• If you are claiming education in your answers to the supplemental application questions, you must attach a copy of your college transcripts for your claim to be accepted toward meeting the minimum requirements. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable.
• Your application must be submitted by the posting closing date. Late applications and other required materials will not be accepted.
• Failure to comply with the above application requirements may eliminate you from consideration for this position.

Veterans:

• Pennsylvania law (51 Pa. C.S. *7103) provides employment preference for qualified veterans for appointment to many state and local government jobs. To learn more about employment preferences for veterans, go to www.pa.gov/agencies/employment/how-to-apply.html and click on Veterans.

Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS):

• 711 (hearing and speech disabilities or other individuals).

If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodations due to a disability, please discuss your request for accommodations with the interviewer in advance of your interview date.

The Commonwealth is an equal employment opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse workforce. The Commonwealth values inclusion as we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most qualified people to serve the citizens of Pennsylvania. The Commonwealth does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, union membership, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, AIDS or HIV status, disability, or any other categories protected by applicable federal or state law. All diverse candidates are encouraged to apply.