Criminal Profiling Internships: Launching Your Career in Behavioral Analysis

For students and recent graduates aspiring to a career in criminal profiling, internships offer invaluable hands-on experience and a crucial stepping stone into this fascinating field. These opportunities provide exposure to law enforcement, forensic psychology, and investigative techniques, laying a strong foundation for future success. An internship can be a direct pipeline to full-time employment after college.

Understanding Criminal Profiling

To become a criminal profiler, a strong foundation in psychology, law enforcement, and investigative skills is essential. Criminal profilers provide behavioral-based operational support to agencies investigating unusual and/or repetitive violent crimes, communicated threats, or matters of interest to law enforcement and fire service. Using criminal investigative analysis, profilers conduct an examination, evaluation, and interpretation of all the suspect’s actions and interactions with the victim before, during, and after the criminal act.

Types of Internships for Aspiring Criminal Profilers

Several types of internships can help prepare you for a career in criminal profiling:

Law Enforcement Agencies

Interning with law enforcement agencies provides insight into the investigative process, crime scene analysis, and criminal behavior.

FBI Internship Program: The FBI offers internships for students interested in various aspects of criminal investigations, including behavioral analysis, intelligence gathering, and research. The FBI's San Francisco division, for example, seeks applicants for its Honors Internship Program, a 10-week paid opportunity for undergraduate and graduate students. This program offers an unparalleled opportunity to work alongside FBI employees and get a head start on an exceptional career. Assignments are based on the needs of the FBI. This program recruits graduating seniors or individuals who have undergraduate, graduate, or PhD degrees to begin their careers in our hands-on, team environment.
State or Local Police: Many local and state law enforcement agencies offer internships where students can gain exposure to criminal investigations, report writing, and case analysis.

Forensic Psychology Internships

Gaining experience in forensic psychology is valuable as criminal profiling involves understanding criminal behavior.

Read also: Curriculum Overview

Forensic Mental Health Clinics: Interns may work with offenders and understand psychological evaluations, risk assessments, and behavioral patterns.
Correctional Facilities: Interning at prisons or rehabilitation centers can expose students to interviews with inmates and the psychology of criminal behavior.

Behavioral Analysis Units (BAU)

While internships with specialized units like the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit may be limited, working with agencies that focus on behavioral science or criminal analysis can give you practical exposure.

National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime (NCAVC): The NCAVC (a part of the FBI) sometimes offers educational opportunities or internships in criminal behavior analysis.

Legal Internships

Working with defense attorneys, prosecutors, or law firms that focus on criminal law can help you understand the legal aspects of crime and how evidence, criminal motives, and behavior are presented in court.

Public Defender’s Office: Interns may assist in case preparation, research on criminal history, and psychological reports for defending clients.
District Attorney’s Office: Gaining insight into how prosecutors build cases against defendants based on behavioral evidence.

Victim Advocacy or Social Services Internships

Understanding the perspective of victims and the impact of crimes on individuals is important for criminal profilers.

Victim Advocacy Programs: Interns may work with victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, or other crimes to better understand the emotional and psychological impact.
Juvenile Justice System: Working with juveniles who have committed crimes can offer insight into early criminal behavior and intervention strategies.

Research Assistantships in Psychology

Many criminal profilers have a background in psychology.

Criminal Psychology Research: Assisting in research studies on criminal behavior, profiling techniques, or recidivism rates.

Cybercrime and Intelligence Analysis Internships

Understanding how criminals operate in the cyber world can also be an asset for future criminal profilers with the rise of digital crime.

Department of Homeland Security (DHS): DHS offers internships that may focus on terrorism, cybercrime, and other national security threats.
Private Sector (Cybersecurity): Interning with companies or government contractors that work on criminal behavior in cyber environments.

Specific Internship Opportunities

Department of Forensic Sciences: College juniors, seniors, or graduate students can apply for competitive internship positions through the Department of Forensic Sciences in Washington D.C. Interns may help with administrative tasks or the streamlining of lab processes, as well as participate with research and writing. Students should be studying in a field such as criminal justice, forensic science, law, public health, or similar. The Department also offers research and joint-agency internships.
Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection: Connecticut's Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection is looking for students who are studying in areas that include criminal justice, communications, information systems and more. Interns receive research and special assignments in these non-paid positions, but are given college credit upon completion of the program.
Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers: Three internship sessions of 12 weeks are available each year to students interested in federal law enforcement careers. At least 50 percent of the internship is spent in basic and advanced training while the other 50 percent is spent advancing the objectives of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers. Students must be majoring in a field such as criminal justice, criminology or the forensic sciences and need to be a senior in college or a graduate student.
National Homeland Security STEM: The National Homeland Security STEM Summer Internship Program is available to college juniors and seniors, enabling them to work with Homeland Security professionals and researchers during the summer for up to a 10-week period. Interns are given a stipend for each week and will conduct research into Department of Homeland Security mission-relevant areas. Interns must be pursuing or have completed a degree in a field such as biochemistry, biology, forensic science, or similar, and must be able to put in 20 or more hours a week for two or more months.
Research Participation Program at the FBI: This program at the FBI facility in Quantico, Va., is available to graduates who have completed or will complete a degree in a field such as the forensic sciences, biology, chemistry, toxicology, etc., within five years of the starting date. Program appointments are for one year on a full-time basis with a monthly stipend based on academic-achievement level. Appointments can be renewed for up to four years. This program is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for early career scientists and recent graduates to participate in forensic science research at the FBI Laboratory, one of the largest and most comprehensive crime labs in the world. Program participants perform research in areas of interest to law enforcement and national security under the guidance of leading Forensic Scientists at the FBI Laboratory in Quantico, Virginia. Have health insurance coverage. Qualified applicants must apply directly to ORISE.
Indiana State Police Laboratory Division: Students can apply for a summer internship with the laboratory division of the Indiana State Police. Interns undertake an assignment project and work closely with a forensic science supervisor. The internship is available at the Indianapolis Regional Laboratory, and students may be able to apply for internships based on their biology, chemistry, or trace analysis knowledge.
Miami-Dade Public Safety Training Institute: Students interested in this internship through the Miami-Dade Police Department will find an internship program that introduces them to various aspects of police work including forensic services, homicide, robbery, special victims unit, uniform patrol, and much more. The internship is observation only, and is open to junior or seniors in college or graduate students who are majoring in criminal justice or a similar field.
Department of Energy: The Department of Energy is looking for summer interns to take on opportunities available at national laboratories countywide. Students should be pursuing degrees in areas such as chemistry, nuclear engineering, or physics. The DOE's Nuclear Forensics Undergraduate Scholarship Program includes a summer appointment involving study and research related to the nuclear forensics mission of the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office.
Sheriff's Crime Lab Hennepin County: The Sheriff's crime lab in Hennepin County, Minn., is offering summer internships to students who have completed their junior year in college and are working on a degree in biology, chemistry, the forensic sciences or a similarly-related field. Students generally need to work 20 hours a week over the length of a 10 to 12 week internship. They will gain practical experience in several forensic science disciplines while also completing an assigned research project. Internships are also available in four to 10 weeks opportunities at other times of the year.
Department of Maryland State Police: Students working on a degree in a life or physical science with a minor in forensic science can look for internship opportunities available through the Forensic Science Division of the Department of Maryland State Police. Applicants must have completed at least their sophomore year of college to be eligible to apply, and students above this level, including graduate students, can also submit applications. Summer and semester internships, all unpaid, are available to interested students.
Georgia Bureau of Investigation: Students interested in interning for the Georgia Bureau of Investigation should be pursuing a degree in criminal justice or a similar field. Students must be juniors or seniors in college or first-year graduate students to be eligible to apply. Department of Justice's High Technology Investigative Unit. The internships are open to undergraduate and graduate level students.
Westchester County Forensic Lab: The Westchester County Forensic Lab in New York provides opportunities to students pursuing a forensic science program that requires an internship for degree completion. Students in fields similar to forensic science may also be accepted. Students needing an internship for a degree must complete at least 160 hours at the forensic lab. Internships are available during the spring, summer and fall semesters as well as during a winter intersession.
Defense Forensic Science Center: The Defense Forensic Science Center provides full service forensic support to Army and DoD entities worldwide; provides training and research capabilities; serves as the executive agent for the DoD convicted offender DNA data basing program; manages the USACIDC criminalistics program; and provides forensic support to other federal agencies, when appropriate.
Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences: The Institute of Forensic Sciences in Harris County, Texas provides an internship program to photography students interested in pursuing forensic photography. Students must have passed upper-level photography courses, and introductory coursework in the fields of anatomy and criminology is also recommended.
INTERPOL: INTERPOL offers a range of internships across both policing and support services. This is a great opportunity to get work experience in an international organization and understand how international police cooperation works. Internships can be in policing services for those interested in security and crime matters, or in support services, from communications and strategic planning to human resources. To search current internships, visit the ‘Recruitment Hub’ on their recruitment platform. Applications must be made via this platform and include a cover letter with your motivation to join the INTERPOL internship programme, your interest in and assets for the specific internship you are applying for, and your expectations for this internship. To be an intern at INTERPOL, you must be enrolled in, or have graduated from, a post-secondary accredited academic institution within the past one year on the date of submission of their application; be a national of one of INTERPOL’s member countries; have attained the legal age of majority in their country of nationality; be fluent in English; and meet the requirements indicated for each specific internship opening for which they wish to apply. Most opportunities are based in Lyon, France, but there are some in other duty stations. The length varies from a minimum of six to a maximum of 11 months. As of January 1, 2025, the internship allowance is EUR 700 (prorated according to the number of days worked), and a transport subsidy of EUR 30 per month. An additional housing subsidy of EUR 170 per month will be provided to eligible interns. All costs related to the recruitment process and subsequent travel, insurance, accommodation, and living expenses must be borne by the intern. A confidentiality vetting inquiry will be carried out prior to confirming any selection, and interns must produce a certificate of non-criminal records. Interns are responsible for obtaining and financing the necessary visas and are required to be subscribed to a health insurance, covering in case of illness and death, for the entire duration of the internship.

The ATF's Criminal Profiler Role

The ATF’s criminal profilers are highly trained special agents who often have additional certification or training related to the fields of fire and explosive investigations. They work closely with their certified fire investigator and certified explosive specialist colleagues across the United States. Any personnel from law enforcement or fire service agencies may request their assistance.

The criminal profiler role is an opportunity for current ATF senior special agents with a minimum of eight years of work experience. Once selected, new profilers go through intense training focused on psychology, behavioral science principles, crime scene analysis and interpretation, forensic science and pathology. Candidates that successfully complete the initial training continue with on-the-job training, working on real cases alongside a host of law enforcement professionals including other agents, forensic psychologists, psychiatrists and medical examiners.

Profilers are required to complete the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) training which includes in-person instruction as well as on the job training. To successfully complete the BAU certification process, the criminal profiler must show proficiency in domestic and international terrorism/threats, cyber behavioral assessments, and violent crimes against children and adults. In addition, ATF’s criminal profilers regularly enhance their skills by attending courses on arson and bombing investigations.

ATF’s profilers serve as technical experts in their fields, and regularly share their research, techniques and intelligence reports with partner agencies. Criminal profilers support their colleagues in ATF’s National Response Teams by traveling across the country for high-profile cases including the Boston Marathon bombing, Austin serial bombings, and Missouri church bombings.

A Glimpse into the Internship Experience

Internships provide real-world experience and can be transformative. As one intern, Grace, noted, the work involved helping on real cases and doing real investigative work in conjunction with special agents and task force officers. Another intern, Joshua, found that the internship in white-collar crime applied directly to his business studies, working with bank statements and forensic accountants. Laura, working with the Computer Analysis Response Team (CART), processed digital evidence from various investigations, including gang investigations, violent crimes against children, and counter-terrorism.

Interns also gain a new perspective on their future career paths. Joshua, initially pre-med, discovered other career options within the Bureau that fit with his biology degree. The sense of community and the opportunity to see cases through from beginning to end are also highly rewarding aspects of the internship experience.

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