Political Science Success Stories

Richard Crum

Major:  Political Science/Pre-Law

Internship Placement:  Department of Justice/INTERPOL, Washington, D.C.

Your internship title: International Fugitive Division-Intern

How did you find your internship?  The Washington Center introduced me to the INTERPOL office and I researched their web page, mission statement, and organization and decided that this is the office I want to do my internship in.

What are your primary responsibilities/day-to-day activities?  First thing in the morning I hand deliver the mail to the Special Agents in the office, which gives me a lot of face time for one-on-one question and answer sessions.  My primary duty for the rest of the day is to notify other INTERPOL offices in other countries that we have deported one of their citizens or they are harboring one of our fugitives. I send out what are called “Green Notices” detailing what the Fugitives are wanted for, or if they are being deported I notify them of what the subject did in our country and warn them of his criminal conduct and anticipated arrival.  While that is an on-going task, many Agents in INTERPOL use the large Intern Pool at D.O.J. to participate in their recruiting efforts for their respective agencies.  Every Agency that has an international division is represented at Interpol.  Some of the many tours and meet and greets that I have been to this summer are with the FBI, ATF, IRS, DEA, Secret Service, many Embassys, US. Marshals, and two congressional hearings. 

What is the best part of your internship?  Walking and taking the metro to and from work everyday. It is a very good feeling to work in the Federal Triangle in Washington, DC.  Many of the people, especially in the summer, are tourists and you are there to work.  When you flash your badge and walk into a magical building such as the Department of Justice, it helps jump start your mornings.  As I walk past and glance into the US. Attorney General's office during the day and then later that evening hear on the news what had transpired in that same office through out the day, it helps make my internship feel important as well. I believe that would true even if you were a janitor in the D.O.J.

What are the top two things you have learned?  
1.) Extraditing and deporting criminals internationally are both expensive and require a lot of coordination between many different agencies.  Not only are American Agencies working together, but foreign governments need to coordinate their efforts with us as well.  We have treaties with many countries, but most are not enforced.

2.) Many of the fugitives that we deport back to Central and South American countries are being deported for the 6th, 7th, or 8th time.  The crimes for which we deport them for are not often for anything less then rape, murder, child molestation, and various gang related activity.  With no account of who comes into our country, because of many gaps in the Mexican border, these criminals continue to cross back over and commit more felonies.

Would you recommend this internship to someone else?  I would recommend this internship to everyone that has a desire to understand politics and policy first hand.  Not only is it a great addition to his/her resume, but by the end of the semester you are able to grasp how all of the many Agencies, Non-profits, Lobbyist, Politicians, and the Courts all dance together to help better this country every day.  You can even add the protestors into that category.

A quote regarding your internship experience:  "The experience has been a landmark in my academic career."