Amelia Jibben ‘25, of Sioux Falls, is a criminal justice and anthropology double major with a concentration in forensics. Jibben interned with the South Dakota State Penitentiary over the summer where she was able to get hands-on experience in the prison system. There, her job duties included listening to inmates' complaints and doing her best to help them — making sure they were in the proper cells and compensated for their jobs, etc. Jibben, the vice president of the anthropology club who also works in the archaeology lab, hopes to someday work with the federal government to help our criminal justice system.
Q: Where or how did you hear about Augustana?
A: My dad works at Augustana and my grandma attended this school.
Q: What is/are the reason(s) you chose to come to Augustana?
A: I toured many colleges but the people at Augustana were the most welcoming. I fell in love with the work ethic of the staff and the small community here on campus.
Q: How did you get the internship? Did anyone help you?
A: Sanna Strenge from the Student Success Center helped me prepare for my interview for this position. She was really helpful in giving me the confidence I needed for the interview. To get this internship, I applied on the State of South Dakota website.
Q: What do you like most about your internship?
A: I got great hands-on experience and was able to really immerse myself in the prison system. Since I went through the full three weeks of training beforehand, I was able to walk around and complete tasks without anyone holding my hand. Having that freedom and having my supervisors trust me was amazing. I felt like I was needed.
Q: What do you hope to learn/gain from the internship?
A: My goal was to get a better understanding of the corrections side of the criminal justice system and I think that goal was achieved. I was able to see how inmates in South Dakota live; I got to see their troubles and what they look forward to. For anyone working in the criminal justice system, I think it's important to know what prison is really like, because it is not just a place to get away for a while, it's hard and will change people.
Q: Why is experiential learning so important to you in your future endeavors?
A: I can read about prisons all day. I can read the policies and what the expectations are, but I can’t get a feel for people's emotions. I was able to see inmates cry and get beat up. I was able to see their panic, but also their joy. It is in those moments that one finds the true meaning of corrections and the ways in which it needs to change.
Q: How important is building relationships/connections?
A: Connections are everything, especially when working in a prison. Staff members need to communicate, otherwise the inmates will know and they will use that against you. Understanding other people's job duties is also important because then you know who to turn to for help. For this internship, I became friends with a lot of my co-workers. We would go out to lunch often and I really felt like I had a connection with them. This helped me find kindness and friendship in a place littered with dishonesty.
Learn about the 2,000+ jobs and internships posted annually by the Augustana University Student Success Center at Augie Opportunities.