Summer Research Intern
HRFK seeks applicants for a Summer Intern to support its work advocating for the advancement of human rights protections for children in the criminal legal system.
HRFK seeks to create a paradigm shift, underpinned by laws and policies, in how the United States justice system views, treats, and sentences children who have come into conflict with the law, especially those that have experienced prior childhood trauma. Shifting current policies and systems that promote an overly punitive approach that disproportionately harms children of color to a human rights framework that is child-centered and trauma-informed, will ensure all children are treated as children and with the care and dignity they deserve. Specifically, HRFK drives change through:
Policy Research and Recommendations: Through its State Ratings Report, HRFK has identified the 12 laws needed to establish a basic legal framework to protect the rights of all children in the criminal justice system. These laws provide a blueprint for reform and provide state and local organizations a mechanism for holding their elected officials accountable for achieving positive policy outcomes for children.
Public Education: Passing laws is only half the battle, HRFK works to ensure the entirety of the criminal justice system is equipped to take a child-centered, trauma-informed, human rights lens when interacting with children. This includes training for judges, defense attorneys, and prosecutors. External to the judicial system, HRFK seeks to educate the general public through op-eds and media engagement, and often as a ghost-writer for or in partnership with partners in the field.
Advocacy: Cultivating and stewarding the support of state and federal legislators and connecting them with strong state-level advocacy campaigns elevates successes at the state-level to the national-level, influencing both federal policy and creating a “race-to-the-top” whereby states with lower ratings are compelled to take action. Human Rights for Kids has 11 current or former state legislators on its Board of Directors from around the country and actively conducts outreach and cultivates a network of champions at the federal level.
Strategic Litigation: HRFK engages in and supports strategic litigation to bring about lasting legal reforms on behalf of children through the court system. Activities focus on appellate litigation and submitting Amicus Briefs to advance legal protections for children who have suffered human rights abuses. HRFK’s litigation work is done in concert with its legislative advocacy and public education efforts to maximize impact.
Reporting to the Child Rights Researcher, this summer position will assist with the authoring and development of a national report to further the goals of Human Rights for Kids.
