Research Assistant
Location: College Park, MD
Position Number: 127510
Salary: $58,500 - $67,500
Closing Date: April 15, 2024
The Maryland State Commission on Criminal Sentencing Policy (MSCCSP or Commission) was created in 1999 to oversee criminal sentencing policy and to monitor the state’s voluntary sentencing guidelines. The MSCCSP is responsible for setting guidelines, as well as collecting, compiling, and maintaining the sentencing guidelines database. Data collected by the MSCCSP permits analysis of sentencing trends with respect to compliance with the guidelines, particular offenses, specific types of offenders, and geographic variations. The MSCCSP monitors circuit court sentencing practices and is authorized to adopt changes to the guidelines consistent with legislative intent when necessary.
The MSCCSP is a State agency within the Executive Branch of Maryland. The Commission’s staff office was set up under the guidance of the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice to allow the Commission to benefit from the shared research resources of the University of Maryland. The office is conveniently located next to the campus in College Park and all MSCCSP staff members are University of Maryland employees. The position offers some opportunity for remote work.
Job Responsibilities:
- 40% -Compiling, maintaining, and distributing monthly and biannual jurisdiction-specific sentencing guidelines worksheet completion and submission reports.
- 15% – Assisting staff with administrative daily operations such as responding to Maryland Automated Guidelines System helpdesk inquiries.
- 10% – Assisting with collection of sentencing guidelines data.
- 10% – Working with criminal justice partners to verify data.
- 10% – Assisting with completion of performance testing and feedback documentation of the online sentencing guidelines worksheet application.
- 10% – Assisting staff with preparation of memorandums and reports for the MSCCSP and for State policy makers, practitioners, and stakeholders about the impact of proposed criminal justice policy changes.
- 5% – Assisting with writing meeting minutes.
Education:
- A bachelor’s degree is required.
Experience:
- Experience with data spreadsheet (e.g., Excel) management is required.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Demonstrated time- and project-management skills, including the ability to work on multiple, simultaneous projects and meet multiple deadlines by maintaining a high level of organization.
- The candidate will need to be a quick learner, as the position requires comprehensive knowledge of Maryland’s sentencing guidelines and sentencing policy in general.
- Candidate should be accurate, detail oriented, enthusiastic, and flexible.
- Candidate needs to be highly motivated and able to work well independently.
Preferences:
- Advanced degree in criminology, public policy, or another relevant field is preferred.
- Experience with statistical software packages, such as STATA, SPSS, or SAS, is preferred.
- Experience conducting criminal justice research and policy analysis is preferred, with knowledge of at least one of the following areas: sentencing, community corrections, prisons, courts, or prosecution. Experience working with State policy makers, corrections officials, researchers, and other justice system stakeholders is preferred.
