DELHI _ An intern program at the Delaware County Sheriff's Department has helped students from SUNY Delhi and SUNY Oneonta determine the direction they want their careers to take.
Gloria Dori, 49, of West Fulton, is a criminal justice student at the State University College at Oneonta, and
Brent Wallace, 21, of Delhi, is in the program at the State University College of Technology at Delhi.
Dori and Wallace have been interning under the guidance of Capt. James Little, who is
the director of training at the sheriff's department and is a
faculty member at SUNY Oneonta.
Dori and Wallace have been exposed to every aspect of the criminal justice system in Delaware County, ranging from observing the dispatchers to spending time working with prisoners in the jail. Both will be graduating this year.
Dori said the opportunity to personally experience many of the various positions has helped her decide that she wants to work in the preventive side of the system, working with people to keep them out of trouble rather than dealing with them after they have broken the law.
"I sent all day with a probation officer dealing with sex offenders and I know now that is something I can't do," Dori said.
Wallace said he went into criminal justice because he was interested becoming a police officer and his time at the sheriff's department has increased his desire to pursue becoming a deputy.
"The meaning of being an intern is getting a taste of everything so you can finally understand what can serve you better," Dori said. "I didn't even know about some of the possibilities that are available." Dori and Wallace will each receive three credits for their time interning at the Delaware County Public Safety Facility. They were required to spend a minimum of 120 hours shadowing personnel from corrections, probation, Social Services and the court system.
Wallace said he completed much of the officer training course and spent time at the shooting range.
Dori said she never anticipated that corrections might interest her, but after spending several hours among the inmates and interviewing people who were being processed into the jail she found it fascinating.
"When I went into the jail I froze at first and then I realized they were just people who have made mistakes," Dori said.
Small said he began working at the Delaware County facility in September 2007 and has completed getting the police academy reaccredited so he is now concentrating on the internship program.
"This internship program is one of the best because of the variety of exposure the students get," Small said. "They see the whole gamut." Patricia Breakey can be reached at 746-2894 or at stardelhi@stny.rr.com.
