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Local Government Internship Opportunities

From time to time organizations contact Dr. Curtis with a request to send intern applicants. The organizations listed below are interested in placing an intern. Note that you should call to make an appointment, and show up dressed well, with a copy of a resume in hand. I also have a limited number of opportunites in the Chicago Area.   You should contact me before you finalize arrangements just to be sure that the internship is appropriate.

Peoria Area

Congressman Ray LaHood

Congressman Ray LaHood's (18th District, Illinois) has requested that interested students submit applications for an internship
in his Peoria Office.  Openings are anticipated for both Fall and Spring semesters and for the summer as well.  This is an exciting
opportunity for students to learn first hand how a member of Congress conducts their business.  Responsibilities would include
interacting with constituents in a wide variety of contexts, including taking and responding to constituent inputs, assisting
constituents with problems, and other projects that the Congressman would direct.  Applications can be obtained from Dr.
Curtis, or from Rick Smith in the Smith Career CenterDont' let this opportunity pass you by!

The contact person in Congressman LaHood's office is:

Carol Merna, Caseworker Director/Projects
U. S. Congressman Ray LaHoods' Office
Federal Courthouse
100 NE Monroe, Room 100
Peoria,  IL  61602
e-mail:  carol.merna@mail.house.gov
(309) 671-7027
Fax (309) 671-7309  

Peoria County Clerk’s Office

There are internship opportunities in the elections division for qualified college students.  Interns in the Clerk’s office will receive inside experience in local election administration, get hands on training with new voting equipment, and participate in voter registration while becoming familiar with Illinois Election laws.  The elections division is flexible with hours and willing to work with students in order to receive course credit if applicable.  This internship experience will facilitate excellent networking opportunities and provide an introduction into the professional arena. 

For more information or to apply for this satisfying summer internship contact Peoria County Clerk Election Administrator, Tom Bride at (309) 672-4885 or tbride@peoriacounty.org. The County Clerk’s office hours are Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

 

The Nature Conservancy

The Nature Conservancy’s Illinois Field Office seeks an intern for its Government Relations and Land Protection programs to assist with research and administrative tasks.  As a member of the Conservation Programs team, the intern will be given the opportunity to research pertinent legislation and compile information on conservation-related public policy. The intern will also assist in organizing and maintaining the Land Protection files, creating reference material, and conducting research on protection opportunities.  In addition to the everyday workload of the program, great efforts are made towards educating interns about the organization as a whole through meetings, lectures, and other events. 

The office is located at:  301 SW Adams Street, Suite 1007, Peoria, IL 61602.  You can find out more information about the organization at www.nature.org/illinois.

Please email cover letter, resume, and three professional references to:
Kevin Bennett at:  kbennett@tnc.org  (please include "Internship” in the subject line)

Peoria County Administration

Contact Karen Hammer at 672-6056, County Courthouse, room 401

Duties would likely include work on budgets as well as some general office assistance. Ability to work in the morning desired.
 

Peoria County Juvenile Court Services

Contact Ramona Mack at 672-6080.

Duties include assisting probation officers in field work, home interviews, and office appointments, gathering data on probationers and general office work. Interested student should mail a resume and letter of interest to:

Peoria County Courthouse, Room 424
324 Main St.

Peoria,  IL  61602

Peoria County Department of Planning and Zoning

Matthew G. Wahl, CFM

Director

Peoria County Planning and Zoning Department

324 Main Street - Room 301

Peoria, Illinois 61602

Phone: (309) 672-6915

Direct: (309) 495-4618

FAX: (309) 672-6075

Email: mwahl@peoriacounty.org

This is an unpaid internship, but the opportunities for experience are very good.  Interns would likely attend meetings, do library and field research, assist in data entry and maintenance of database programs, and assist in report writing.  Prospective interns should have basic computer skills, with knowledge of Microsoft Access a plus.  This is a high visibility office, intimately involved in a wide variety of development projects and enforcement activities.  Students would most certainly gain valuable experience.

Peoria County Personnel Office

Contact Karen Hammer, Dept. of Personnel at 672-6947

The personnel office handles personnel matters for the entire county. Interns will be expected to handle a variety of tasks. Students with some exposure to public management or personnel management will likely be given preference.

Peoria City Department of Labor Relations

Contact Joseph Smith, Labor Relations, 494-8577

Mr. Smith's Office handles labor relations matters for the City. As such, students with an interest or background in public administration or industrial organizational psychology would find the office a good place to gain experience. Good computer skills are a must. You will need to be able to handle wordperfect and lotus.
 

Peoria City - Department of Inspections

An intern is needed to assist the management analyst in a variety of tasks pertaining to the Rental Registration and Inspection Program including:  preparing court documents, researching performance measures, budget analysis and other office clerical duties.  Candidates should have a background in public administration or political science and have the ability to work with Microsoft Word and Excel. This is an excellent opportunity for students interested in the law as well as public administration to gain valuable experience in an applied setting.

The Inspections Department is made up of three divisions: Building Inspection, Code Enforcement, and the Peoria Animal Welfare Shelter (PAWS).

For more information please contact:

Rhonda Larsen
Management Analyst
City of Peoria - Inspections Dept
Phone: 309.494.8631
rlarsen@ci.peoria.il.us

Peoria Police Department

The City of Peoria Police Department has a regular and formalized internship program.  A detailed application is required that should be sent through the Department of Political Science -- which is available online (www.peoriapd.com/encourage.html).

For more information, please contact:

Officer D. Fuchs

Internship Program Coordinator

Peoria Police Department

600 S. W. Adams

Peoria, IL 61602

 

Or contact the Community Service unit at (309)494-8246

 

Tazewell County Probation and Court Services

Tazewell County Probation and Court Services performs a wide variety of functions including supervision of adult and juvenile probationers, pre-sentence investigations and intensive pretrial supervision..  This is a great opportunity to see the system up close and personal.  Contact David Mills at 309 477-2281.  Be prepared to submit a resume and to participate in an interview.  Juniors and Seniors are preferred.

Tazewell County Deferred Prosecution

The Tazewell County Deferred Prosecution division of the States Attorney's Office is accepting applications looking for interns.  This program offers an alternative to prosecution for certain individuals deemed to be good risks for rehabilitation and includes intensive supervision of the participants.  For more information, contact Gary Gonigam at 477-2294.  Of necessity, interns will need a car to get to the work site in Pekin.
 

Chicago Area

DuPage County Probation and Court Services

DuPage County Probation and Court Services offer an excellent internship opportunity for students.  Summer work might include working with adults or juvenile probationers, or might involve working at the secure locked juvenile facility there.  A job description is available.  For more information, contact:

 

Steven Wolfe
Intern/Volunteer Coordinator
Probation and Court Services
18th Judicial Circuit - DuPage County

steven.wolfe.@dupageco.org

(630)407-8416

http://www.dupageco.org/probation/generic.cfm?doc_id=692

Cook County Adult Probation Department

The Cook County Adult Probation Department is soliciting qualified students to participate in their internship program.  Qualified students will have a 2.5 GPA, completed 2 years of their undergraduate education, knowledge of probation concepts, and good communication skills, both verbal and written.  Interested students should prepare a cover letter, resume', letter of recommendation, official transcript and a writing sample at least 8 weeks prior to the start of the term.

For more information, contact the Department’s Training Division at (312) 603-0262 or see http://www.cookcountycourt.org/services/programs/adult-probation/other.html#4.                                   

Cook County State's Attorney

The Cook County State's Attorney Office has informed me that they are willing to take interns in their Victim-Witness Assistance Program. These internships are "hands-on" and intense.  The Program provides services in fifteen different offices throughout Cook County. For more information, contact:

Ms. Karen McKenna, Deputy Director
Victim-Witness Assistance Program
Cook County State
's Attorney

2650 South California Avenue
Chicago,  IL  60608

(773) 869 7200

For information about other internship opportunities, contact:  

Director of Personnel
Cook County State's Attorney
Richard J. Daley Center
50 W. Washington, Room 304
Chicago, IL 60602
(312) 443-3030


 For information about a highly competitive internship in criminal investigation, contact:
 

Supervisor of Staff Services
2650 S. California
Chicago, IL 60608
(773) 890-6357