Associate, County Initiatives
Location: Washington, D.C.
Salary: $70,000-$80,000
Organization Overview
REFORM Alliance is a national organization seeking to safely reduce the number of people on probation and parole and create real pathways to work and wellness for people who have been supervised instead of supported. We are using all the resources we have to help fix the flawed criminal justice system in the United States by changing laws and policies and building a movement of REFORMers to help change hearts and minds.
REFORM was founded in the wake of the #FreeMeek movement. The Board includes award-winning recording artist Meek Mill; Fanatics executive chairman Michael Rubin; Arnold Ventures co-founder Laura Arnold; entrepreneur and business mogul Shawn “JAY-Z” Carter; Kraft Group CEO and New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft; Galaxy Digital CEO and founder Michael E. Novogratz; Vista Equity Partners founder, chairman, CEO Robert F. Smith; Brooklyn Nets co-owner, businesswoman, investor, and philanthropist Clara Wu Tsai; and co-founder and co-CEO of the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, Priscilla Chan. Veteran criminal justice advocate Robert Rooks leads the organization as CEO.
Initiative Description
REFORM Alliance aims to transform community supervision by changing our laws, systems, and culture to create real pathways to work and well-being. REFORM’s goal is for people to reenter society with dignity, to remove barriers to their independence and stability, and to equip them with the tools to succeed – all while making families and communities safer and stronger.
While tackling supervision practices and changing policy at the state level remains an important avenue for change, reentry is fundamentally a local issue that requires solutions by practitioners and advocates who understand their communities, resources, and systems the best. REFORM will partner with selected counties to help enact evidence-based policies that support the most effective practices and target the most pervasive ills of our current supervision system, including tackling technical violation responses, creating and improving incentives for recidivism-reducing activities, and ensuring wraparound services necessary for overall success (e.g. assistance with housing, jobs, mental health treatment, etc.). This innovative program seeks to reframe and rethink current community supervision systems by pursuing safe and effective practices that link participants to services and incentivize success.
REFORM’s County Initiatives Program aims to redefine community supervision by removing barriers to success for supervision officers and people on supervision. This includes:
- Expanding the use and consistency of early termination of supervision through clearer, streamlined processes and procedures;
- Building better coordination and linkages between county supervision departments and existing services/systems;
- Improving the staffing and management of supervision departments by encouraging and implementing positive reinforcement measures as goals, effective performance appraisals, and supervision officer training; and
- Assisting local service providers with obtaining the fiscal resources to support the supervision community.
Position Overview
REFORM seeks a Program Associate to support our County Initiatives Project. This position requires the ability to analyze data and policies, collaborate and problem solve with local stakeholders, and use evidence-based practices to make meaningful systemic changes. The ideal candidate is familiar with community supervision and reentry issues. Strong writing skills and the ability to translate information for various audiences is expected. A B.A. or B.S. is required, with active consideration for candidates who also have exceptional advocacy, legal services, social services, or community corrections experience.
Responsibilities
- Use data and evidenced-based practices to help identify areas for systemic improvement across candidate jurisdictions;
- Track and identify evidence-based practices in community supervision that are being deployed in non-candidate jurisdictions;
- Provide support to County Program Manager with policy and legal research;
- Provide support to County Program Manager in the drafting and editing of external communication materials, and primary and secondary policy memorandums related to administrative guidance (including summaries and analyses);
- Assist in the management of stakeholder relationships in collaboration with the County Initiatives Program Manager;
- Support the creation of deliverables such as powerpoint presentations, evaluation summaries, and final reports;
- Contribute to grant management by checking in with county partners, using data to help stakeholders meet objectives, and reviewing reports as needed;
- Provide support to the County Initiatives Program Manager in the drafting of primary and secondary policy memorandums related to administrative guidance, including summaries, and analysis;
- Help prepare and facilitate innovative presentations that are interactive and engaging for audience members;
- Complete special projects and other tasks, which may include administrative tasks, assigned by the County Initiatives Program Manager, Sr. Deputy Director, or Sr. Director;
- Work effectively and collaboratively with other policy drafters and partner organizations; and
- Otherwise generally support the County Initiatives Program Manager, Sr. Deputy Director, and Sr. Director in the completion of their duties.
Qualifications & Skills
- B.A. or B.S. required; policy, advocacy, or criminal legal experience a plus
- Ability to effectively communicate with individuals of all socioeconomic backgrounds
- Strong writing and editing skills
- Prior experience multitasking several projects at the same time while remaining organized
- Strong organizational and administrative skills; with keen attention to detail
- Experience working in a fast-paced environment with a strong work ethic and willingness to go the extra mile
At REFORM Alliance, we strive to move hearts and minds to create a more humane criminal justice system. This requires us to maintain a company culture that values employee individuality and community Growth. We are committed to fostering an environment that is inclusive, empowering and globally minded. We firmly believe that diversity in gender, race, ethnicity, sexual identity, cultural background, religion, disability, and age produces ideas and perspectives that make our efforts stronger for people unjustly in the system and make our company a better place to work. Our leadership team is committed to embedding diversity and inclusion into everything we do and how we lead.
