
Forensic Evaluations Unit Internship
Goals for this internship include exploring career interests, bridging theory/knowledge to applied practice, developing professional skills, and building a professional network.
Please be aware, this is an unpaid internship in which we offer hands-on, real-world experiences. Goals for this internship include exploring career interests, bridging theory/knowledge to applied practice, developing professional skills, and building a professional network. The Forensic Evaluations Unit is uniquely positioned - embedded - within Mecklenburg County Criminal Justice Services (CJS). As such, there are potential opportunities for our interns to collaborate with other CJS units and gain insight into the various roles within county government systems.

Important Information
1. The Forensic Evaluation Unit internship is onsite, in-person. We are located at 715 E. 4th Street in Charlotte, North Carolina (“uptown Charlotte”).
2. The internship is UNPAID and there is no stipend available for interns, including for housing. Parking passes are available.
3. Prior to your first day of onboarding, you must complete a background check, drug test, and fingerprinting.
Forensic Evaluations Unit
The Forensic Evaluations Unit (FEU) conducts court-ordered psychological evaluations and diversionary screenings to criminal justice-involved individuals across all levels of the Mecklenburg County judicial system. The Forensics Evaluations Unit is comprised of a diverse, multidisciplinary team, consisting of psychologists, licensed clinical social workers, and licensed mental health clinicians. FEU works collaboratively with clinicians in other justice-involved agencies (e.g., Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office and CMPD) and health agencies (e.g., public health and managed care organizations) to serve individuals with severe and persistent mental illness.
Types of evaluations:
Adult and Juvenile Competency to Proceed in Trial, Parent Capacity/Psychological Evaluations, and other court ordered mental/behavioral health evaluations.
Forensic Evaluations Unit Internship Details
- Bridge theoretical clinical/psychological knowledge with practical legal and ethical standards.
- Develop competencies in conducting assessments, understanding legal contexts, psychometrics (psychological testing), and professional report writing.
- Gain supervised experience in conducting forensic evaluations.
- Increase proficiency with specialized forensic assessment instruments and psychological tests.
- Develop skills to write objective, comprehensive forensic reports and communicate findings effectively.
- Multidisciplinary collaboration with other professions within Criminal Justice Services, community partners, the court system, and detention center.
- Understand the unique ethical challenges in forensic settings, such as navigating between ethical guidelines and legal requirements, informed consent/notification, and maintaining objectivity.
- Supervision - individual, onsite
- Shadow court liaison/s
- Sit in on court sessions
- Accompany evaluators/clinicians to Mecklenburg Detention Center
- Access to Detention Center is contingent upon background check and completion of trainings
- Observe and assist clinicians with tasks during the evaluation process
- Participate in team meetings
- Completion of two (2) or more assigned evaluations
- Research and data – past interns have been involved in research projects (e.g., domestic violence)
Typically, internship begins in August and concludes in May.
We are relatively flexible about schedules and have built the internship around school schedules. Interns set their own schedule with the expectation that the required* hours be distributed across the internship timeframe. Our office is open Monday to Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00pm. All County holidays are observed and will need to be factored into the completion of required internship hours.
*Please consult your program for specific number of required internship hours.
Email us at: [email protected]