The Berks County Juvenile Probation Internship Program is designed to provide a “hands-on” learning experience for students working towards a bachelor’s or master’s degree in the fields of criminal justice or social services.  Participants will be exposed to many different aspects of the juvenile justice system including but not limited to, utilization of evidence-based practices, interactions with various law enforcement agencies, counseling agencies, and corrections professionals, observation of the court system, current technologies, and the core competencies involved in with working with offenders.

The Berks County Juvenile Probation Department is an arm of the 23rd Judicial District of Pennsylvania.  At any given time, on average, the Juvenile Probation Department supervises approximately 450 juveniles countywide. The Department is responsible to hold offenders accountable by monitoring and enforcing Court orders, as well as elicit positive offender behavior change, through the use of evidence-based practices.

Probation officers work with offenders by performing risk assessments, targeting criminogenic (crime-producing) needs and coordinating/delivering services designed to lower their risk to recidivate.  The department works closely with a wide variety of agencies and providers in an effort to accomplish this goal.  A probation officer must possess and utilize many skills including: Motivational Interviewing techniques, a comprehension of cognitive behavioral therapy, the ability to develop a professional alliance with youth under supervision and their families, a thorough understanding of the organizational culture of the juvenile court, juvenile law, and use of force training (including firearms, oleoresin capsicum spray, handcuffing/restraints, etc.). A prospective intern should click the link: Getting started with a Berks County JPO Internship. The information contained in the link lists the eligibility and document requirements.  For your convenience, a link to the County of Berks Employment Application is provided, as it is one of the required documents.  Please list the position applied for on the application as "Unpaid Intern".

Intern candidates will apply to the Berks County Juvenile Probation Office by completing the required documents/clearances and submitting them to Deputy Chief Probation Officer, Barbara Dancy.  Candidates that meet the requirements will be reviewed, and prospective interns will be interviewed.  The department will accept two interns each semester and two in the summer. 

If there are any questions, please contact Deputy Chief Probation Officer, Barbara Dancy.