Internship Location: Remote
Organization Type: State Government
Policy Areas: Criminal justice, crime victims’ rights, legal system
I had the opportunity of being a Public Policy Intern for the Wisconsin Department of Justice, specifically the Office of Crime Victims Services. My work surrounded victims rights in Wisconsin by understanding problems they face in the legal system and ensuring proper resources are provided by the state. In my internship, I experienced the flow of various projects in real-time from defining the policy issue, collecting current information, conducting further research, and offering solutions. It was valuable to experience how policy work can unravel and go through the process of collaborating with others towards a common goal. Throughout my internship, I found my coursework through La Follette prepared me well to analyze public policy issues. I was able to view the problem through multiple different lenses and consider all stakeholders when addressing an issue, no matter what the topic was. Furthermore, I was able to showcase strong research and writing skills surrounding public policy which I used frequently. I had the opportunity to work on building various datasets which I then analyzed and summarized in written reports. I felt well prepared for the work I conducted but was further able to apply the analytical skills from class to real projects and gain a better understanding of the policy process first-hand. This experience allowed me to foster critical skills for policy analysis and visualize what a career in policy may entail in the future, as well as introduce me to a field I am passionate about.