Hastings College student T’Nae Young has always been fascinated by criminal psychology, from her love of crime shows as a child to her internship at District 10 Probation in Hastings, where she has found herself putting juvenile delinquents back on the right path.
Young, a senior criminology and psychology double major from the Bahamas, applied for the position thanks to an email sent to sociology students, and received her notice of acceptance in March.
The internship has kept Young on her toes, as she does everything from shadowing probation officers to reviewing case files to assisting with juvenile investigations. She talks to everyone involved with the process — guardians, therapists, school officials and the kids themselves.
“Kids don’t commit crimes just because they want to, or to prove they can,” Young said. “There’s always an influence, like trauma in or out of the home.”
The opportunity has boosted the skills she’ll take into her future career, as these cases require a delicate approach that balances both structure and empathy.
Young’s big heart has been an asset during her internship. She is able to connect with youth on their level, instead of speaking down to them or further demeaning them.
“It has been amazing to see kids finishing their probation sentence, how excited they get, and the complete 180 in their personality,” Young said.
The biggest challenge has been diving into each new investigation. When the case file is in her hands for the first time, Young said her heart feels heavy.
“Kids are humans, too,” Young said.
Young also expressed her gratitude to Hastings College for how prepared she felt going into her internship. She already knew a lot of the background information, the terminology and processes being used and how to connect with the juveniles she works with.
“Coming into college, I was shy,” Young said, “but going into senior year, I know how to talk to people, I’m curious and not afraid to ask questions.”
Young has taken this internship as a stepping stone.
Being a probation officer intern has pushed her to expand how she sees people as a whole, allowing her to develop the skills she will need to investigate the minds of criminals and teach them to heal in her future as a forensic psychologist.