15 Criminal Justice Summer Programs for High School Students
- Stephen Turban
- 3 days ago
- 10 min read
If you are considering a future in criminal justice or related fields, learning more about the subject early can be helpful. Criminal justice summer programs give high school students a way to explore the field before making long-term academic choices.
Why choose a criminal justice summer program in high school?
Criminal justice programs introduce you to how different parts of the system function, from courts to investigations to public policy. Programs hosted by universities reflect how criminal justice is studied at the college level. This kind of experience can strengthen your understanding of the field and add substance to your college applications.
With that, here is a list of 15 criminal justice summer programs for high school students!
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; exact intake size is not publicly disclosed
Location: Manhattan District Attorney's Office, New York, NY
Cost: Paid internship; interns earn minimum wage
Program Dates: June 29–July 31
Application Deadline: Applications open January 26, close when full.
Eligibility: Manhattan residents who are current juniors or seniors
In this internship, you work inside a district attorney’s office and gain direct exposure to how criminal cases are investigated and prosecuted. You participate in workshops and guided discussions that examine prosecutorial decision-making, ethics, and courtroom procedure. The program includes a mock trial component, allowing you to practice legal reasoning, argument development, and professional communication. You develop workplace skills by operating in an office environment with expectations around punctuality, collaboration, and professionalism. Daily in-person participation gives you sustained exposure to the rhythm and responsibilities of public-sector legal work.
Location: Remote , you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available.
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort.
Program Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring. Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year.
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement.
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program tailored for high school students. The program offers extensive 1-on-1 research opportunities for high school students across a broad range of subject areas that you can explore as a high schooler. The program pairs high school students with Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll have developed an independent research paper! You can choose research topics from subjects such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. You can find more details about the application here, and check out students’ reviews of the program here and here.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Placements are limited and competitive
Location: U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, Brooklyn, NY, and Central Islip, NY
Cost: Free to participate; volunteer (unpaid) internship
Program Dates: Offered year-round; summer placements typically run from June to August
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions; applications reviewed on an ongoing basis
Eligibility: U.S. citizens who are entering high school seniors or currently enrolled students
U.S. Attorney’s Office (Eastern District of New York) – Student Internship Program places you inside a federal prosecutor’s office where criminal cases are actively handled. Depending on your assignment, you may help organize evidence, assist with legal research, or support attorneys preparing for trial. Some roles involve working with digital litigation systems used in federal court. You follow strict professional standards around confidentiality and conduct. The experience gives you daily exposure to how federal cases move from investigation to court filings.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; exact information on the cohort size is not available
Location: Georgetown University School of Continuing Studies, Washington, DC
Cost: $3,725 (residential) or $3,095 (commuter). Limited scholarships are available through the university.
Program Dates: June 21–June 27, July 12–July 18, July 26–August 1
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions; programs fill on a first-come, first-served basis once admitted
Eligibility: High school students interested in law, criminal justice, or public policy
In this program, you spend a full week immersed in legal systems and criminal justice debates through lectures, discussions, and applied activities. You examine topics such as constitutional interpretation, sentencing, jury systems, and the balance between victim and prisoner rights, grounding abstract legal principles in real-world cases. You will participate in mock trials where you assume the role of counsel in a hypothetical criminal case, practicing argument construction and courtroom procedure. Instruction from Georgetown faculty and legal professionals exposes you to contemporary legal controversies and evolving judicial norms. You also engage with peers in discussion-based sections that emphasize legal reasoning, ethical analysis, and persuasive communication.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 25 students per session
Location: Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL
Cost: $900 registration fee. Limited need-based assistance is available through the Criminal Justice Summer Camp Fund.
Program Dates: June 8–June 13, July 20–July 25
Application Deadline: Rolling registration until sessions are full
Eligibility: Students entering grades 9–12
In this camp, you gain direct exposure to how the criminal justice system operates through hands-on and field-based activities. You will learn core crime scene investigation techniques and practice basic evidence collection in simulated scenarios. The program includes demonstrations from specialized units such as K-9, SWAT, and bomb squads, giving you insight into operational law enforcement roles. You also visit local law enforcement agencies and observe courtroom procedures, including mock trial activities. Instructions from criminal justice professionals focus on how investigative, legal, and correctional components interact within the system.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; exact information on the cohort size is not available
Location: Marist University, Poughkeepsie, NY
Cost: $3,700 for one session (includes tuition, housing, meals, field trips, and course materials). A discounted rate is available for students completing both sessions.
Program Dates: June 28–July 11, July 12–July 25
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions on a space-available basis
Eligibility: Primarily rising juniors and seniors; rising sophomores and graduating seniors considered if space allows
In this pre-college program, you study the criminal justice system as an integrated structure spanning policing, courts, and corrections. You will analyze questions around public safety, civil liberties, sentencing, and institutional accountability through lectures and guided discussion. The curriculum introduces criminological theory while emphasizing how legal rules are applied in real-world contexts. You develop an individual specialty project that allows deeper exploration of a specific criminal justice topic. Guest speakers and site-based sessions expose you to professionals working across local, state, and federal agencies. Upon completion, you earn college credit for an introductory criminal justice course.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed; enrollment is course-capacity based
Location: Brown University, Providence, RI
Cost: Residential: $5,936; Commuter: $4,632
Program Dates: June 22–July 2
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions until courses reach capacity
Eligibility: High school students completing grades 9–12; proficiency in Algebra I and basic biology/chemistry lab skills required
In this course, you study how forensic scientists use biology, chemistry, and quantitative analysis to solve crimes. You practice evidence collection and evaluation techniques, including fingerprint analysis, footwear comparison, and material identification. The curriculum integrates hands-on laboratory work with virtual reality simulations that model crime scene processing and bloodstain pattern analysis. You will learn how scientific methodologies are applied to investigative problems, emphasizing accuracy, documentation, and interpretation of evidence. Coursework balances short lectures with experimental and project-based work, requiring you to apply interdisciplinary science to criminal justice scenarios.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive admission; course sections capped at approximately 20 students
Location: University of Maryland, College Park, MD
Cost: $1,791 (campus option) or $1,420 (online option) for the full program, including tuition and mandatory fees. Limited partial scholarships available (up to 30% of program cost)
Program Dates: July 13–July 31
Application Deadline: Applications open January 6 and close June 1
Eligibility: Rising sophomores through graduating seniors
Terp Young Scholars: Introduction to Criminal Justice (University of Maryland) puts you in an actual University of Maryland course while you’re still in high school. You will study how the criminal justice system functions across policing, courts, and corrections, with units on juvenile justice, offender reentry, and how public trust shapes law enforcement. Classes run on a real college schedule and are capped at around 20 students, so discussions are tight and writing-heavy. You complete graded assignments, exams, and projects, and the credits you earn appear on an official UMD transcript.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective admission; class sizes typically range from 12 to 18 students
Location: Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
Cost: $6,100 for a 2-week session, including tuition, housing, meals, program fee, and insurance. Limited need-based scholarships are available.
Program Dates: June 21–July 2, July 5–July 17, July 19–July 31
Application Deadline: Early, regular, and late deadlines between January and April; late applications close once courses fill
Eligibility: Students who will graduate from high school in the next three years and are at least 16 years old by June 20
Harvard Pre-College Summer School (Law & Criminal Justice Courses) places you inside a small seminar at Harvard where most of your time is spent reading cases, writing analytical essays, and debating legal questions. You will choose one course tied to law, ethics, government, or public policy and complete independent work. Classes are discussion-driven, not lecture-heavy, and instructors expect you to defend arguments clearly and precisely. While the course does not carry credit, you receive a Harvard transcript noting successful completion, which reflects the academic rigor of the experience.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Medium selective; exact information on the cohort size is not available
Location: New York University, New York, NY
Cost: $2,579 tuition per course; Optional housing and dining available at additional cost
Program Dates: Various sessions from June 29 to August 7
Application Deadline: Typically updated in January
Eligibility: High school students who have completed grades 9, 10, or 11
Criminal Justice: From the Crime Scene to the Courtroom (NYU Career Edge) is taught the way NYU teaches undergraduates, with structured lectures, short analytical assignments, and discussion-based case work. You will examine criminology, constitutional law, forensic evidence, and how legal standards shape criminal cases. Coursework draws on current events and asks you to analyze crime using social, psychological, and legal frameworks. Sessions are short and focused, which makes the program intense without being overwhelming. You leave with a clear sense of how criminal justice is studied at a major private research university.
11. Justice Quest
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Approximately 30 students per session
Location: University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, and St. Petersburg, FL
Cost: $695 for the day program. Optional residential add-on (Rocky’s Residents) costs $1,395 and includes housing, meals, supervision, and evening programming
Program Dates: June 22–June 26, July 6–July 10, July 20–July 24
Application Deadline: Registration opens February 1; sessions fill on a rolling basis
Eligibility: Rising 9th–12th-grade students
Justice Quest (University of South Florida) walks you through criminal behavior, forensic evidence, and legal process as parts of the same system. You will study why crimes occur using psychological and social perspectives, and then apply that thinking to evidence like fingerprints and impression analysis. Faculty-led sessions are paired with site visits to places like courthouses and forensic labs, so concepts don’t stay abstract. Much of the week is spent working through real case scenarios with peers. The program keeps a steady academic pace while staying grounded in real institutions.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Approximately 30 students per session
Location: University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Cost: $695 for the day program. Optional residential add-on (Rocky’s Residents) costs $1,395 and includes housing, meals, supervision, and evening programming.
Program Dates: June 22–June 27, July 20–July 25
Application Deadline: Registration opens February 1; sessions fill on a rolling basis
Eligibility: Entering 10th–12th grade students interested in law, criminal justice, or cybercrime
Mock Trial: Cybercrime and Law (University of South Florida) centers on how crimes involving technology are investigated and argued in court. You will work through a simulated cybercrime case, learning how digital evidence is evaluated and how legal strategies are built for both prosecution and defense. Sessions cover courtroom roles, rules of procedure, and how cyber laws affect privacy and liability. You spend time preparing arguments and presenting them in a mock courtroom setting with guidance from legal professionals.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 32 students per session
Location: University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, FL (culminating mock trial held at Stetson University College of Law)
Cost: Tuition not specified. Optional residential add-on (Rocky’s Residents) costs $1,395 and includes housing, meals, supervision, and evening programming
Program Dates: Not specified
Application Deadline: Registration opens February 1; enrollment is rolling until capacity is reached
Eligibility: Entering 10th–12th grade students interested in law, advocacy, or courtroom practice
Judy Genshaft Honors College: Mock Trial Intensive (University of South Florida) is structured around learning how arguments are built from evidence, not just how they’re delivered. You will practice opening statements, cross-examinations, and closing arguments while working with attorneys and experienced mock trial competitors. Case preparation requires close reading, fact analysis, and coordination with teammates. The final trial takes place at a law school, which changes the tone and expectations of the experience. Most of your time is spent refining language, logic, and courtroom presence.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment; cohort size not publicly disclosed
Location: University of New Haven, West Haven, CT
Cost: $750 for the day program. Optional on-campus accommodations experience costs $1,300
Program Dates: July 7–July 11, July 14–July 18
Application Deadline: Rolling registration until sessions are full
Eligibility: Students entering grades 10–12 for the upcoming academic year
The Crime Scene Investigation Academy at the University of New Haven focuses on how forensic evidence is processed from the moment a scene is identified. You will learn how to secure a scene, document evidence, collect materials, and preserve them according to forensic standards. Activities include fingerprint processing, footwear and tire impression casting, and scene documentation. You’re expected to explain how evidence supports investigative conclusions, not just collect it. The program ends with you presenting findings in a format used by investigators.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment; exact capacity not publicly specified.
Location: Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH
Cost: $395 (early registration); $445 (late registration after May 1). Includes all lab materials and program supplies.
Program Dates: June 15–19
Application Deadline: Early registration deadline: April 30
Eligibility: Grades 10–12 (no prior coursework required)
CSI Forensics Camp at Xavier University introduces you to forensic science through structured lab work rather than lectures. You will work through simulated crime scenes using professional kits, learning how the chain of custody affects evidence reliability. Activities include fingerprint development, hair and fiber microscopy, impression analysis, and introductory forensic entomology. Instruction comes from practitioners who explain how these techniques are used in real investigations.
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a PhD student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.
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