Kaiya Zurfluh

Reflecting on my summer role as a criminal justice intern at the Dane County Juvenile Detention Center, I am grateful for the wonderful experience I had there. My role was mainly to serve as a mentor for the youth, and I was able to do this by assisting them with daily homework activities, engaging in conversation while playing cards and eating lunch, and especially in my efforts to get to know each of them and hear their perspectives on life. My daily routine at the juvenile detention center was to check in on each individual’s chart to see if any incident reports had occurred or if new kids had arrived, then I would attend school or group activities with the youth. Occasionally, I was able to sit in on court proceedings and Zoom custody hearings to observe how such processes worked in the juvenile court. While I greatly enjoyed learning the differences between the juvenile and adult criminal justice systems, my favorite part was definitely when I was able to connect with the youth and feel as though I was making a positive impact on their lives. I enjoyed creating conversation about future careers, hobbies, such as favorite movies, books, and sports, and overall showing each individual that I cared about their thoughts and feelings. I believe this internship was one of the greatest experiences I have had, as it allowed me to see the reality of reform that is needed in the criminal justice system, public education, and in provision of resources for those who struggle with substance abuse and mental health issues and disorders. My goal was to be a positive influence on the youth, and yet nothing could have prepared me for the positive mark they left on my life.