Research Associate (starting July 2020 or earlier)

posted August 29, 2019

Do you want to help produce cutting-edge research to expose the broader harm of mass incarceration? Does your dream job include collecting and analyzing never-seen-before data? Do you want to learn how to efficiently and effectively use research to propel social change?

The Prison Policy Initiative (https://www.prisonpolicy.org) is a leading organization in the fight against mass incarceration. We use data to explain the need for criminal justice reform, and we do so in a way that is designed to both bring in new allies and re-energize existing supporters. (For a high level overview of our work, our history, and our impact, see our highly skimmable annual reports.

The position

The Research Associate will be a key part of our growing team and will provide research and editorial support for projects led by other staff members. The position will revolve around collecting and organizing quantitative data from government datasets and your own open records requests and more qualitative work based on existing academic and journalistic research. The Research Associate will be expected to become a subject matter expert on the areas assigned, identify what is possible, collect it, discover/solve problems, and organize the reliable results that serve as a foundation of our movement.

For examples of the kinds of data collection projects that the Research Associate would take on, see our work on prison wages, co-pays, phone calls and articles by a part-time staffer who plays a similar role:

This new position is structured with a transition path to a Policy Analyst position where there will be more opportunities for lead authorship of briefings and to take over leadership of an organizing campaign.

Required skills/experience/attitudes:

• An inquisitive mind and a reputation for meticulous work.
• Strong writing skills.
• 1+ years of paid or volunteer, part- or full-time, experience working for criminal justice reform in an advocacy, academic, jailhouse lawyer, journalistic, or government capacity.
• Able to start on July 1, 2020 (or earlier) in our Easthampton, Massachusetts office. (Because of the collaborative nature of our work, we will not consider requests to work remotely)

We are an equal opportunity employer. People from communities that are overrepresented in the criminal justice system and people with direct experience with the criminal justice system are especially encouraged to apply.

Salary & Benefits

The expected salary for this entry-level position is $40,000, and our practice has been to recognize the advancement of skills over time with generous raises. Benefits include health insurance, all Massachusetts holidays, paid sick time, paid vacation, and an IRA match.

To apply, send to jobs [at] prisonpolicy.org:

• A cover letter
• Your resume
• At least one writing sample
• Our Research Associate skill assessment form at https://www.prisonpolicy.org/Research_Associate_skills_assessment.doc

Hiring process

We will be reviewing applications and scheduling interviews on a monthly basis. We anticipate doing a phone screen, a round of Skype interviews, and then a final round of in-person interviews.

Please allow us to keep our daily focus on improving the criminal justice system by refraining from writing or calling the office to check on the status of your application. We'll keep the job page at https://www.prisonpolicy.org/jobs.html up to date with the status of our candidate search.

Equal Justice Works Fellow (Sept 2020-Aug 2022)

posted July 26, 2019

The Prison Policy Initiative is seeking an upcoming or recent law school graduate to design an innovative policy project about bail, probation reform or one at the intersection of criminal justice and telecommunications, consumer protection, redistricting, or voting rights.

Founded in 2001, the Prison Policy Initiative (https://www.prisonpolicy.org) is a leading organization in the fight against mass incarceration. The organization uses data to explain the need for criminal justice reform and spark policy advocacy campaigns on a number of issues. The Prison Policy Initiative will work with you to develop a compelling proposal for an Equal Justice Works Fellowship (or for similar programs nationally or specific to your law school.)

The best applicants will have some experience with one of the above subject matters and be excited to learn and apply the Prison Policy Initiative's approach of clear writing, insightful data analysis, and powerful visuals to their social change project.

We welcome, but do not expect, applicants to have detailed project proposals or to have experience writing and organizing in our exact style. We see it as our job to help you design and execute a successful proposal and project around one of our areas of expertise.

You will have:

• A law degree from an Equal Justice Works member law school by May 2020. Recent law graduates, and experienced attorneys seeking to make a career change to public interest work are also welcome to apply. Most law schools are Equal Justice Works members. For a list of member schools, see https://www.equaljusticeworks.org/law-school-professionals/law-school-membership/
• Experience in at least one of the Prison Policy Initiative's campaign focus areas of telecommunications, consumer protection, bail, probation, redistricting, and voting rights.
• A demonstrated commitment to racial justice and criminal justice reform.
• An interest in using data, and presenting it using engaging data visualizations, to propel reform.
• A willingness to work collaboratively from our office in Western Massachusetts.

We especially encourage applicants from communities that are overrepresented in the criminal justice system, and applicants with direct experience with the criminal justice system.

The position:

• Will focus on producing timeless reports and timely articles on a number of our issues (in and related to your original area of interest).
• Will likely involve working with the press, advocates and elected officials who are inspired by your work with us.
• Will most likely not involve litigation, but will, depending on the chosen subject matter, likely involve advocacy before legislative bodies or regulatory agencies.

To apply, send to jobs [at] prisonpolicy.org:

• Resume
• Unofficial law school transcript
• A cover letter that describes your most relevant experience and interest in joining the Prison Policy Initiative.
• Two writing samples that demonstrate your ability to write clearly and persuasively. (The subject matter need not address your proposed project.)

Selection process

We will be reviewing applications and scheduling interviews on a weekly basis. Once selected by us, we will assist you in submitting an application to Equal Justice Works and similar programs nationally and at your school. Please allow us to keep our daily focus on improving the criminal justice system by refraining from writing or calling the office to check on the status of your application. We'll keep the job page at https://www.prisonpolicy.org/jobs.html up to date with the status of our candidate search.

Development Director

posted July 10, 2019

Would you like to make an established nonprofit even more effective? Do you want to use your development and communications experience to make social change on a national scale?

About us:

Founded in 2001, the Prison Policy Initiative (https://www.prisonpolicy.org ) is a leading organization in the fight against mass incarceration. The organization uses data to explain the need for criminal justice reform and to spark policy advocacy campaigns on a number of issues. For a high-level overview of our work, our staffing level, and our budget, see our most recent annual report at https://www.prisonpolicy.org/about.html#annual.

The role:

This new position is designed to concentrate the fundraising work currently and successfully performed by three staffers (alongside their other duties) into one new senior role. The ideal candidate can immediately take over our existing processes for engaging both individual and foundation donors. Over time, you will use your experience to develop new strategies and processes that better respond to the changing dynamics of fundraising, whether related to new opportunities in the field, our organizational growth, the shift away from paper communications, etc.

In addition, we expect this new position to change some of how we work. Currently, our senior staff evaluate potential projects (e.g. reports) for their organizing and communications impact; the ideal candidate for this position would be able to evaluate potential projects from a fundraising perspective.

Finally, because this is a small office where most staff wear multiple hats, the ideal candidate will also be willing to take on an office manager role (<5% of position) and be willing to take on projects to support our communications work separate from fundraising (<5%).

You will have:

• At least 5 and preferably 10 years paid experience in fundraising for a non-profit, higher ed, or government organization. (Candidates with less experience should see our alternative version of this position, the Development and Communications Associate.)
• Strong writing skills.
• Exceptional organizational skills with a demonstrated ability to manage multiple competing projects and deadlines.
• An interest in (but not necessarily experience with) criminal justice, racial justice or economic justice research, advocacy or organizing.
• A willingness to work collaboratively from our office in Western Massachusetts.

We especially encourage applicants from communities that are overrepresented in the criminal justice system, and applicants with direct experience with the criminal justice system.

To apply, send to jobs [at] prisonpolicy.org:

• Resume
• A cover letter that describes your most relevant experience
• At least one writing sample that demonstrates your ability to write clearly and persuasively. (The subject matter need not address criminal justice.)

Salary & Benefits

The expected salary for this position is $50,000-70,000/year plus health insurance, all Massachusetts state holidays, 2-3 weeks paid vacation, paid sick time, and an IRA match.

Hiring process

We will be reviewing applications and scheduling interviews on a weekly basis. We anticipate doing a phone screen with the Executive Director, an interview by Skype with other staff members and then an in-person interview. Please allow us to keep our daily focus on improving the criminal justice system by refraining from writing or calling the office to check on the status of your application. We'll keep the job page at https://www.prisonpolicy.org/jobs.html up to date with the status of our candidate search.

Development & Communications Associate

posted June 20, 2019

Would you like to make an established nonprofit even more effective? Do you want to use your development and communications experience to make social change on a national scale?

About us:

Founded in 2001, the Prison Policy Initiative (https://www.prisonpolicy.org ) is a leading organization in the fight against mass incarceration. The organization uses data to explain the need for criminal justice reform and to spark policy advocacy campaigns on a number of issues. For a high-level overview of our work, our staffing level, and our budget, see our most recent annual report at https://www.prisonpolicy.org/about.html#annual.

The role:

This new position has three aspects:

1. Supporting our Communications Strategist, and taking responsibility for incoming requests and outgoing mailings.
2. Managing our Development work, including our existing processes for engaging with individual donors and keeping up with reporting and renewal requirements for our foundation supporters.
3. Ensuring that office administration runs smoothly.

You will have:

• At least two years paid experience in fundraising and/or communications for a non-profit, higher ed, or government organization.
• At least a basic familiarity with non-profit fundraising and a strong desire to gain this experience.
• Strong writing skills.
• Exceptional organizational skills with a demonstrated ability to manage multiple competing projects and deadlines.
• An interest in (but not necessarily experience with) criminal justice, racial justice or economic justice research, advocacy or organizing.
• A willingness to work collaboratively from our office in Western Massachusetts.

We especially encourage applicants from communities that are overrepresented in the criminal justice system, and applicants with direct experience with the criminal justice system.

To apply, send to jobs [at] prisonpolicy.org:

• Resume
• A cover letter that describes your most relevant experience
• At least one writing sample that demonstrates your ability to write clearly and persuasively. (The subject matter need not address criminal justice.)

Salary & Benefits

The expected salary for this position is $42,000/year plus health insurance, all Massachusetts state holidays, two weeks paid vacation, paid sick time, and an IRA match. Candidates with substantially more experience should see the alternative version of this position, the Development Director.

Hiring process

We will be reviewing applications and scheduling interviews on a weekly basis. We anticipate doing a phone screen with the Executive Director, an interview by Skype with other staff members and then an in-person interview. Please allow us to keep our daily focus on improving the criminal justice system by refraining from writing or calling the office to check on the status of your application. We'll keep the job page at https://www.prisonpolicy.org/jobs.html up to date with the status of our candidate search.

Policy Fellow

posted March 18, 2019

Do you want to produce cutting-edge research to expose the harm of mass incarceration? Could your research and writing spark policy advocacy campaigns to create a more just society? The Prison Policy Initiative is seeking a recent law school graduate to join our team of five full-time staff members in shaping the future of the criminal justice reform movement.

Founded in 2001, the Prison Policy Initiative (https://www.prisonpolicy.org) is a leading organization in the fight against mass incarceration. The organization uses data to explain the need for criminal justice reform and spark policy advocacy campaigns on a number of issues.

You will have:

• A recent or forthcoming law degree
• Experience in at least one of the Prison Policy Initiative's focus areas, including telecommunications, consumer protection, bail, probation, redistricting, or voting rights.
• A demonstrated commitment to racial justice and criminal justice reform.
• Attention to detail and a passion for simplifying complex issues.
• A hunger for policy work.
• An interest in data and willingness to use statistics/numbers to propel reform.
• A willingness to work collaboratively from our office in Western Massachusetts.

The position:

• Will involve producing timeless reports and timely articles on a number of our issues (in and outside of your original area of expertise). Initial projects will likely build on your existing area of expertise.
• Will likely involve working with the press, advocates and elected officials who are inspired by your work with us.
• Will most likely not involve litigation.
• Is intended to last for a full year, and there may be an opportunity to transition to a different, permanent, position.

To apply, send to jobs [at] prisonpolicy.org:

• Resume
• Unofficial law school transcript
• Unofficial undergraduate transcript (if you graduated within the last 5 years)
• A cover letter that describes your most relevant experience and interest in joining the Prison Policy Initiative.
• Two writing samples that demonstrate your ability to write clearly and persuasively. (The subject matter need not address our areas of interest)

Salary & Benefits

The expected salary for this position is $50,000/year plus health insurance, all Massachusetts state holidays, paid vacation, paid sick time, and an IRA match.

Start date

This position has a rolling deadline, but we welcome applicants who cannot start until Fall 2020.

Hiring process

We will be reviewing applications and scheduling interviews on a weekly basis. We anticipate doing a phone screen with the Executive Director, an interview by Skype with other staff members and then an in-person interview. Please allow us to keep our daily focus on improving the criminal justice system by refraining from writing or calling the office to check on the status of your application. We'll keep the job page at https://www.prisonpolicy.org/jobs.html up to date with the status of our candidate search.