Winter/Spring 2022 Undergraduate Intern, National Prison Project
INTERNSHIP OVERVIEW
Founded in 1972 by the American Civil Liberties Union, the National Prison Project (NPP) seeks to ensure constitutional conditions of confinement in prisons, jails, juvenile facilities, and immigration detention facilities. The Project seeks to promote prisoners’ rights through class action litigation and public education. Its priorities include reducing prison overcrowding, improving prisoner medical care, eliminating violence and maltreatment, and increasing oversight and accountability in prisons, jails, and other places of detention.
- Time Commitment: A Fall or Winter/Spring internship requires a part-time commitment of 10, 15 or 20 hours per week or full-time commitment 35 hours per week.
- Internship Duration: Part-time internships are a 12-week period and full-time internships are a 10-week period. Winter/Spring interns are expected to start January 18 or January 31, 2022.
- Winter/Spring: January – April
- Stipend: A stipend is available for those students who do not receive course credit. Students who receive outside funding are eligible for a partial stipend to bring their total funding up to the level of ACLU’s stipend amount for that term, if applicable. Arrangements can be made with educational institutions for work/study or course credit. Below is the stipend breakdown by term:
- Winter/Spring/Fall: Stipends are calculated on number of hours and weeks worked. The hourly rate is $18.57 for undergraduate students or equivalent experience and $21.42 for graduate, law, and PhD students or equivalent experience.
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Interns will have the opportunity to gain valuable experience by working alongside the National Prison Project team. They will learn about creating change through prison reform litigation and advocacy work. Responsibilities may include:
- Assisting with the production and distribution of advocacy materials
- Conducting factual research and writing regarding prisoners' rights and legislative movement
- Gathering current information related to prison and jail conditions
- Documenting and tracking complaints received from prisoners and responding with informational materials
- Providing campaign and litigation support to supervising attorneys
- Other projects as assigned
EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS
The internship is open to students who have completed their first year of an undergraduate degree. Interns should possess the following:
- A strong interest in prisoners' rights and a commitment to civil rights
- Strong organizational skills and the ability to work independently
- Excellent research, writing, and communication skills
- Strong computer skills, particularly web-based research including proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (i.e. Word, Excel)
- A commitment to diversity within the office using a personal approach that values all individuals and respects differences in regards to race, ethnicity, age, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, religion, disability, and socio-economic circumstance
- Commitment to the mission of the ACLU
