The Philadelphia Center

Experience

Q&A: Sarah Anker

Sarah Anker, a junior at Hope College, completed her criminal justice requirements by working at the Defender’s Association and taking the Social Justice elective course.

TPC: Where did you work this semester?
Sarah Anker: I worked at the Defender’s Association in the Juvenile Special Defense Unit, which deals with cases of kids 15-18 who, because of the nature and the severity of their crime, got placed directly in the adult system.

TPC: Was this a path you knew you wanted to follow when you got here?
SA: I knew I wanted to do something in the criminal justice system and I wanted to work with juveniles, so this was ideal. I wasn’t sure I could handle it emotionally so I came here to figure out if it was the right path for me. The opportunity to do this internship was perfect. I’ve really enjoyed it and I’ve seen that I could pursue a career in this.

TPC: What’s something that you found surprising about what you’re doing?
SA: I guess the kids themselves. These kids are just kids. When you look at their charges, they look like really terrible, terrible people. But getting to know them, seeing their families, seeing the hardships they’ve gone through, seeing how the things that have happened in their life have pretty much set them up to do some of these things…

TPC: Your role isn’t to defend them but to get them into the juvenile court system, right?
SA: The attorney does all the court proceedings. Our job is to get the background. Our job is to be the social worker for that kid—visiting him in prison, finding out about their life, visiting the parents at home, gathering educational history, other juvenile arrests…We’re there to talk to the kid and the parents and be that supportive role throughout the process.

TPC: How many cases did you work on while you were here?
SA: Independently I have 3 cases that I did the interview, gathered the information, put it all in a report. There are two cases that I’ve completed the reports and they are going to the psychologists and eventually to the judge. So my name will be on two official reports.

TPC: When we talk about internships, we always talk about how our internships are really hands-on. Was it what you thought it would be or was it different in any way?
SA: I think the thing that surpassed my expectations was the huge list of internships through The Philadelphia Center. Even though it was stressful trying to find an internship and figuring out what I wanted to do, there was that support from the Center. It wasn’t just me putting in what I wanted, but everyone around me was pushing me to do the things I wanted to do.

TPC: Has anything happened while you’re here that’s going to change your path?
SA: I think so, because I had been looking into law school and now I know that I want to do social work. So I’m going to go to grad school to get my MSW. I think through seeing both sides—here’s law, here’s the social work part—the social work part, that personal connection, that person who can be emotionally supportive for them…that’s more important to me.

TPC: How do you like living in the city?
SA: It’s been really fun. I’ve had a really good time taking advantage of some of the things that I don’t have the opportunity to take advantage of back in Holland or Northville, both small towns. Even just carrying groceries four blocks and figuring that out has been kind of cool. Like, ‘Okay, I should buy milk more often because I can’t haul milk back when I have two other huge bags overflowing with things.’ I’ve really enjoyed walking places and having lots of different restaurants and places to go within walking distance instead of driving everywhere. It’s also more environmentally friendly.

TPC: So what have you learned so far that’s helped prepare you for this?
SA: I think that my internship here and my classes here have directly mirrored everything that I’ve done. I’ve seen things from my classes in my internship and my internship has connected back to my class, both of my classes. This whole semester has just been one big learning experience.