Bridging Theory and Practice: A Review of the Benefits and Challenges of Criminal Justice Internships

This literature review explores the role of internships within criminal justice agencies in criminology and criminal justice education, focusing on their effectiveness in bridging academic learning and professional practice. Drawing on 37 publications across multiple countries, the review synthesizes empirical and theoretical insights into criminal justice internship design, implementation and outcomes. The findings highlight that criminal justice internships support the development of critical work-ready competencies including communication, ethical reasoning and problem solving, while also enhancing student confidence, professional identity and career preparedness. Challenges to the success of criminal justice internships were also identified, including unequal access to placements as well as exposure to vicarious trauma and unethical and unprofessional conduct. The review calls for future research to adopt longitudinal designs, incorporate diverse stakeholder perspectives and critically examine intersectional experiences to strengthen the evidence base for internship effectiveness in criminal justice education.