2019 recipient of the Audrey J. Harris Summer Internship Award
Interned with the Wisconsin Department of Justice – Division of Criminal Investigation – Internet Crimes Against Children task force
I am a senior at UW-Madison graduating in May 2020 with degrees in Psychology and Legal Studies and a certificate in Criminal Justice. I am also a student-athlete on the Women’s Basketball team. Following graduation, I hope to pursue a career in criminal investigations at the state or federal level.
This summer, I interned at the Wisconsin Department of Justice – Division of Criminal Investigation with their Internet Crimes Against Children task force (WI DOJ – DCI, ICAC). In this position, I was exposed to what a career in law enforcement looks like on multiple levels from local police departments to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. While working with the ICAC task force, I have been given the opportunity to help collect evidence on a search warrant, attend an autopsy, observe firearm training, and listen to interviews of suspects just to name a few things. The DCI special agents have been so eager to teach and include me on their cases and it has been so much fun learning from them. I would come to basketball practice each day and all of my teammates would ask me if I had any exciting cases going on or if I did anything fun. My response was always filled with joy and excitement as I enthused about my amazing experiences.
I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to intern at DCI and experience and learn under some of the best special agents in Wisconsin. From this experience, I now have a much clearer idea of what I want to do in law enforcement and I have a better understanding of the criminal justice system as a whole. I can truly say that this internship has changed my life.
I am grateful to have been one of the recipients of the Audrey J. Harris Award and I am so honored to have had the opportunities this award gave me this summer. Without internships facilitated through the Criminal Justice Program here at UW-Madison, I don’t know if I would have the clarity I do today about my passion for criminal investigations. Thank you to the family of Audrey J. Harris for your investment in this invaluable experience – one that has changed my life forever.