Olivia Heilbronn

My Role: During the Spring 2025 semester, I served as a Treatment Intern at the Hampshire County Sheriff’s Office (HSO) in Northampton, Massachusetts. In this role, I worked directly with case managers and conducted intake assessments to identify clients’ needs and appropriate treatment plans. I assisted various units within the facility, including education, medical, psychological, and reentry services. Additionally, I co-facilitated treatment groups and supported individual client programming, gaining valuable hands-on experience in correctional rehabilitation.

I Learned: This experience was invaluable in fostering both my personal and professional growth. It allowed me to understand the complexities of the criminal justice system while gaining a new perspective on how the law impacts people's lives beyond the courtroom. I was able to further enhance my communication skills by having to interact effectively with client populations from various backgrounds and circumstances, while maintaining both professionalism and genuine empathy. Before interning at HSO, I didn’t realize how many interconnected systems are required for a county jail to function, and how these systems directly affect clients’ daily lives and legal cases. Observing this complexity provided me with valuable insights that will greatly benefit my future legal career.

How My Classes Helped: My Legal Studies coursework provided a solid foundation for my internship as it cultivated my understanding of criminal law, constitutional rights, and the broader justice system. This knowledge helped me grasp the legal context and terminology relevant to the clients I worked with. Importantly, my classes highlighted the critical connection between law and social justice, allowing me to better understand the challenges faced by the individuals in the correctional system.