Federal Department Internships Have Seniors Fighting Crime

Lia Quinones ’16 spends three days a week investigating criminal activities such as child exploitation, narcotics, fraud, financial investigations, national security and public safety. That’s in addition to participating in airplane, cruise and ship searches and surveillance tasks.

Quinones has landed her dream internship this semester with the Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations division.

“I have been able to see firsthand a lot of the material that we learn about in class,” said Quinones, a psychology and criminology double major with a history minor from Valrico, FL.

“Concepts about how law enforcement officers investigate are brought to life, and I can visually and logically process how and why things are done the way they are,” said Quinones, whose dream job would be a crime intelligence analyst or federal law enforcement officer for this exact department.

Matthew Hartford ’16 is spending this semester as an intern with the U.S. Marshals Service, an internship that follows up two he held last year with the Massachusetts State Parole Board and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

“I've developed a network with some of our nation’s best officers, special agents and deputy marshals, and it’s been a highlight to work cases with them that are in the local or national spotlight,” said Hartford, a criminology major with a minor in government and world affairs from Weathersfield, VT. “Another highlight is being in the action either on ride alongs or surveillances and being included, whether it was to observe it live, take notes and pictures, or even getting to ask informants questions.”

Quinones’ internship with Homeland Security isn’t her first in this field. In fact, it’s her fourth. She has served two semesters with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office Crime Analysis Unit (where she had a direct impact on policy) and as a student volunteer intern with the Diplomatic Security Service at the U.S. Embassy in Panama.

One of her most memorable experiences was meeting Secretary of State John Kerry and the president of Panama during the weekend of Juan Carlos Varela Rodríguez’s inauguration.

“I never thought I would have such an inside look at how security operations are run during important political events or have the chance to meet such incredible political figures,” said Quinones, who serves as a Student Government senator, a coordinator in the PEACE Volunteer Center and is a member of Kappa Alpha Theta. “Living in another country for a summer was also amazing. I got an internship and study abroad in one summer!”

With the U.S. Marshals, Hartford spends much of his time at the courthouse observing court security in situations like initial appearances and plea hearings, helps facilitate paperwork between the U.S. Marshals, Clerk of the Circuit Court’s office and the U.S. Attorney’s office, attends court cases and even participates in airlifts.

“Many think of airlifts like the movie Con Air,” said Hartford, who serves as Student Government vice president, is a UT Diplomat and active as a leader in Residence Life, “but even though it’s not the same, the excitement is still there for an intern working with multiple agencies to get prisoners exchanged from all over the country. “

Hartford’s ideal job would be commissioning as an intelligence officer in either the Air Force or the Navy. He said he feels his internships have made him more competitive.

“I think it is great to learn in a classroom, but you can't reinforce or learn how you'd want to change the system without seeing how it actually works,” he said. “Any one of these internships on their own is life changing and educational, but all of them combined along with my classes has reminded me why I am a criminology major and want to serve my country.”

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