- Network with and learn from Vera’s Leadership Team;
- Attend brown bags to enhance your understanding of criminal justice reform;
- Develop your professional and personal network;
- Gain valuable work experience via real-world problem solving;
- Learn the inner workings of a non-profit leader in criminal justice reform;
- Cultivate your passion for equal justice for all!
Vera offers summer internships to high school, undergraduate and graduate students in all disciplines of study. Some preference is given to applicants with demonstrated experience and/or interest in the field of social and/or criminal justice. However, qualifications and responsibilities vary by department. All are encouraged to apply.
How to apply
Please submit cover letter, resume, and dates of availability. PDF format preferred. No phone calls, please. Only applicants selected for interviews will be contacted. Online applications are preferred.
About Vera
The Vera Institute of Justice, founded in 1961, is an independent, non-partisan, nonprofit organization that combines expertise in research, technical assistance, and demonstration projects to assist leaders in government and civil society, examine justice policy and practice, and improve the systems people rely on for justice and safety. At a time of unprecedented challenge, we’re fighting for justice reform built on bedrock American values and grounded in action at the state and local level.
About the Research Position
Vera seeks a current undergraduate or graduate student to serve as an intern and provide logistics support for a large-scale research study on restrictive housing in American prisons and jails. The intern will work from Vera’s New York City office and report to a Senior Research Associate in the Center on Sentencing and Corrections. The intern should be available to work 20 hours per week during the summer months, start and end dates flexible.
Responsibilities
The intern will be responsible for providing logistics support for Vera’s NIJ-funded research project, Examining the Use of Restrictive Housing and Its Impact on Officer Wellbeing. Specific responsibilities include the following:
- Provide broad assistance on a survey of jails and prisons about the use of restrictive housing
- Create and maintain a database of jail contacts
- Create and implement a system for tracking survey responses
- Develop and implement a follow-up strategy for non-responders, including email, phone, and/or U.S. mail as necessary
- Participate in regular meetings of the project team, providing updates and contributing to discussion as necessary
- Provide logistics support to other aspects of the project, as time permits and issues arise
Qualifications
The ideal candidate will have the following skills and competencies:
- Experience with original data collection, preferably a large-scale survey
- Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail
- Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Microsoft Excel
- Excellent written and interpersonal communication skills
- Ability to show initiative, ask questions, and adapt to changing priorities
- Interest in criminal justice reform and commitment to Vera’s mission
About the Communications Internship:
The Communications Department
Vera’s Communications team works across the institute to advance Vera’s mission and the work of our colleagues in all aspects of the criminal justice system. We manage nearly all of Vera’s internal and external communications—including newsletters, publications, press releases, social media, digital media, and website content. We produce messaging and content to strengthen Vera’s core priorities of reducing the use of jail, improving conditions of confinement, and securing equal justice in an increasingly diverse America.
About the Position
You will have an opportunity to work on the In Our Backyards campaign. You will spend time in the depths of the internet via research and tracking. You will primarily help us build our targeted press-lists, track jail expansion projects and media coverage, and perform miscellaneous research tasks (such as building our knowledge-bank on county and state-level stakeholders, policies, key dates, dynamics etc.). Since many local elections will be heating up over the summer, there will likely be quite a bit of campaign tracking.
In addition, you will work with Vera’s Communications team to assist us in these initiatives:
- Assist with maintenance of social media accounts and the
- development of social media content;
- Perform light proofreading of various Communications materials;
- Conduct general research including photo research;
- Help maintain Vera’s online staff database; and
- Help Vera with website content review and maintenance.
General qualifications:
Should have some writing, editing, and research experience
(social media experience is not required, but is a plus.)
Some experience with website CMS systems (Wordpress, etc.)
Ability to work independently while juggling multiple assignments
Interest in criminal justice reform
The Nitty-Gritty:
- Internships start on June 3rd and end on August 16th, with some flexibility to accommodate school schedules
- Interns are paid $16 per hour for a 20 hour work week
- Internships are centered onsite from one of our offices (NYC, DC, LA, or New Orleans). This particular internship is based out of our NYC office.
- Internships are filled on a rolling basis. It is suggested that you apply as soon as possible.
