Santa Cruz Probation Internship Program

Winter 2026/Spring 2027 Internship Opportunity – Santa Cruz County Probation Department

Gain hands-on experience with the Santa Cruz County Probation Department through our Internship Program. Interns will have the opportunity to support staff, work with justice-involved individuals, and collaborate with partner agencies in one of our core divisions: Adult, Pretrial, Juvenile, or Juvenile Hall. We are also seeking a content creator to assist our social media team.

This opportunity is open to individuals 18 and older with an interest in criminal justice, social work, communications, or related fields.

Requirements

  • 18+ years old
  • Minimum 3-month commitment (8–10 hours per week). Longer commitment is preferred.
  • Unpaid internship (we do not offer paid internship positions)
  • Orientation, in-person interview, background check, fingerprinting, and receiving clearance required
  • Ability to be placed at any Probation Department office

 

Please note Internship placements may be located in Santa Cruz, Watsonville, Aptos, or Felton, and interns may be assigned to any of these offices.

Mandatory Orientation (Required to Move Forward)

Attendance at the orientation is mandatory to continue in the internship process. There are no alternative dates available.

Orientation Details
Date: Tuesday, November 17, 2026
Time: 1:30PM-3:30PM
Please arrive by 1:20PM, as we will begin promptly at 1:30PM.

Location:
County Building
500 Westridge
Watsonville, CA

 

Please bring a copy of your resume or email an electronic copy.

We will answer questions during orientation. If you wish to move forward, applications will be provided at that time.

 

Next Steps

After orientation, the next steps include:

  • In-person interview
  • Background check
  • Fingerprinting
  • Receiving clearance

 

The goal is for selected interns to begin in December.

 

RSVP Required

To attend orientation, please email Belle Perez to RSVP and include:

  • Full name
  • Phone number
  • Email address

 

Contact:
Belle Perez
Belle.Perez@santacruzcountyca.gov