Internships

The Shelby County Sheriff's Office believes in higher education, and proudly supports local colleges and educational facilities. We host unpaid internships to college students who are currently enrolled and needing credit as part of their required curriculum. Submission of an application does not guarantee an internship position. If you are interested in Law Enforcement but do not qualify for an internship, please visit our Ride Along Page and Citizen Sheriff's Academy Page for other ways to get involved.

Submitting an Application

To apply for an internship, please complete the Internship Packet (PDF), which includes two forms authorizing a background check. Please note that one of these forms must be notarized. You must also include a letter from your professor or instructor on school letterhead sponsoring the internship. Please mail your completed packet to the Shelby County Sheriff's Office, Attn: Outreach Unit, PO POX 1095, Columbiana, AL 35051. You can also scan and email your completed application to outreach@shelbyso.com.

The Application Process

Once your application is received and reviewed, it will be processed by deputies assigned to our Outreach Unit. This will include a criminal history check and background investigation. Please note the Disqualifiers on page 1 of the application. If we have openings and your application passes these checks, you will be contacted for an in-person interview. After successfully completing the interview, your application will be sent to our command staff for a final approval. If approved at this step, you will be contacted to complete a drug screening at no cost to you. Finally, after the results of the drug screening are received without any findings, you will be contacted regarding a start date.

Internship Layout

Our internship program is designed to give each student a full experience of the Shelby County Sheriff's Office. To accomplish this, the time spent in the internship will be divided up into four sections:

• Administrative Division
• Corrections Division
• Criminal Investigations Division
• Patrol Division

Students will spend roughly equal time with each division, gaining knowledge about the different aspects of Law Enforcement and the different roles of a Deputy Sheriff. We offer a flexible schedule to allow students to still attend classes and work at other employers during the internship. The length of the internship is also flexible and dependent upon the hour/credit requirement from the sponsoring college.

Additional Questions

If you have additional questions about internship opportunities at the Shelby County Sheriff's Office, you may contact us by sending an email to outreach@shelbyso.com, or by using the contact information to the right.