Internship Opportunity: Vera Institute of Justice

PLEASE NOTE: This opportunity is listed for reference only. The deadline to apply has passed.

This is a paid internship opportunity from outside the Rockefeller Center.

Position Type: Internship - paid

Location: Industry City, Brooklyn, NY

Sector: Advocacy

Start Date: Winter/Spring 2020

Wage or benefits: Applicants may choose whether to receive academic credit for an internship/externship or compensation at a rate of $16/hour. For those who need to earn academic credit, Vera will gladly assist in working with the school or program to make arrangements and meet requirements.

Time Commitment: Up to 20 hours per week. Start and end dates are flexible.

Desired Class Year: Open to all class years including graduate students

Desired Major or Interest: Interest in criminal justice reform and strong commitment to social and racial justice

Application Deadline: Rolling basis

Organization website: https://www.vera.org/

Brief Description of the organization:

The Vera Institute of Justice, founded in 1961, envisions a society that respects the dignity of every person and safeguards justice for everyone. Vera is committed to securing equal justice, ending mass incarceration, and strengthening families and communities.

• We study problems that impede human dignity and justice.
• We pilot solutions that are at once transformative and achievable.
• We engage diverse communities in informed debate.
• We harness the power of evidence to drive effective policy and practice.

Brief Description of the Intern's role or key qualifications:

We are looking for a research intern to join our Greater Justice New York (GJNY) team. GJNY was launched as an interdisciplinary effort to tackle the drivers of mass criminalization and mass incarceration in New York. New York State is a microcosm of the landscape of incarceration across our country—arrests and the number of people in jail in large, urban areas like New York City are declining while a quiet but significant incarceration boom is under way in more rural, less populated parts of the state. We use research, policy, and advocacy to shine a light on injustices in all areas of the state and in all aspects of the criminal system—from bail to sentencing, parole, fines and fees, and more—and drive change through piloting innovative solutions and providing technical assistance. Our vision is a leaner, fairer, and more effective justice system where incarceration is the last resort, not the default, across all 62 counties of New York State.

Responsibilities:

The intern will work closely with a research analyst on the Greater Justice New York team on various aspects of research projects. Specific duties and responsibilities include the following:

• Communicate with outside partners to coordinate data collection
• Develop and implement a follow-up strategy for non-responders, including email and phone
• Create and maintain a system for organizing and updating data received from outside partners
• Assist research activities including data entry, data cleaning, and quality assurance
• Search for and collect publicly available data necessary for research projects
• Participate in regular meetings of the project team, providing updates and contributing to discussion as necessary
• Assist in other GJNY projects and tasks
• Provide logistics support to other aspects of the project, as time permits

Qualifications:

The ideal candidate will have the following skills and competencies:

• Excellent interpersonal communication skills
• Comfort communicating with outside partners to ask for information
• Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail
• Experience with original data collection
• Ability to show initiative, ask questions, and adapt to changing priorities
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Microsoft Excel
• Interest in criminal justice reform and strong commitment to social and racial justice

How to apply:

Please submit a cover letter and resume. In you cover letter, please explain why you are passionate about criminal justice reform and what you hope to gain from this internship. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

Online submission in PDF format (through Vera's careers page) is preferred.

If necessary, materials can be faxed or mailed to:

ATTN: Human Resources / GJNY Research Intern

Vera Institute of Justice

34 35th St, Suite 4-2A, Brooklyn, NY 11232

Fax: (212) 941-9407

Please use only one method (online, mail or fax) of submission. No phone calls, please. Only applicants selected for interviews will be contacted.

This is a paid internship from outside the Rockefeller Center. Such opportunities are posted in an effort to help students find a leave-term internship experience in public policy or a social sciences related area. Such postings do not constitute an endorsement by the Center of the political objectives of any one person or organization.