Who we are:
The Vera Institute of Justice, founded in 1961, is a nonprofit criminal justice organization that strives to build just government institutions and safe communities free from the scourge of racism, white supremacy, profit, and inequity that is pervasive in this country’s legal systems. We are an “inside” lane organization that drives change at scale with ambitious public sector leaders who share our commitment to building anti-racist, reparative systems that deliver justice. We leverage our access to government to transform these systems and work collaboratively with stakeholders across many movements—including advocacy, grassroots, and grasstop organizations. Our role is to pilot solutions that are transformative and achievable, harness the power of evidence to drive effective policy and practice, and use advocacy and communications to change narratives and norms.
Vera has a staff of 300 people and offices in New York City, Washington, DC, Los Angeles, and New Orleans. We are an equal opportunity employer with a commitment to diversity in the workplace. We expect our staff to embody respect, independence, collaboration, commitment, anti-racism, and equity—both in our outward-facing work and the internal culture of our workplace. We value a range of experiences in people’s educational backgrounds and encourage people who have been directly impacted by the criminal justice system to apply.
Who you are:
Disrupting Gender-Based Violence (DGBV) works to promote autonomy for survivors to choose their own path to safety. Safety for survivors includes reducing harms caused by the criminal legal system, particularly for BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities, and increasing access to nonpunitive and community-based responses. DGBV is currently working to end the use of mandatory arrest in New York State, a policy that has been shown to harm survivors and their families.
The Intern will assist the Disrupting Gender-Based Project (DGBV) team with research and education on non-carceral and community-centered approaches to safety. The Intern will gain considerable knowledge in the emerging best practices for domestic violence response and gain exposure to key movement players such as coalitions and service providers. At the end of the internship, the Intern will have experience engaging with domestic violence stakeholders across New York, preparing educational materials for advocacy purposes, and working collaboratively across teams within Vera.
What you'll do:
Conduct desk research on existing non-carceral and/ or community-based approaches to address domestic and family violence both in NY State and across the US. Scope program duration, funding, and impact while elevating insights to inform DGBV’s advocacy platform.
Develop relationships with non-carceral and/or community-based service providers and conduct focus groups with staff to understand needs and best practices.
Disseminate findings from desk research and focus groups. Draft report on non-carceral approaches to safety for domestic violence survivors and coordinate webinar/roundtable for movement leaders to gain exposure to alternative safety practices.
Collaborate with Research, Communications, and Advocacy & Partnerships teams at Vera to perform above activities.
What qualifications are we looking for?
- A demonstrated commitment to advancing systems change through research or practice.
- Strong interpersonal communication skills
- Ability to translate technical information into easily digestible summaries • Independent and self-directed as a project manager
- Demonstrated commitment to racial equity and inclusion
Preferred:
- Master’s Degree in Public Policy or Social Work or related field or experience in practice application of comprehensive approaches to safety.
- Lived experience in the criminal legal system.
Technical knowledge we need you to be prepared to use:
- Microsoft Office Suite
Location:
Please note this role will report to our Brookyn, N.Y office. Vera interns and employees adhere to a hybrid schedule and are in-office on an alternating schedule. Full-time positions generally amount to 10 days per month. Part-time positions generally amount to 5 days per month.
Schedule:
The intern should be available to work up to 35 hours per week during the summer. The dates will be between June 3rd and August 9th, with some flexibility to accommodate personal and academic schedules.
Compensation:
The compensation range for internships is $16.00 - $25.00 per hour. Actual compensation will vary depending on factors including but not limited to experience and performance. Applicants may choose to receive academic credit. For those who need to earn academic credit, Vera will gladly assist in working with the school or program to make arrangements and meet requirements.
How to apply:
Please submit cover letter and resume. In your cover letter, please explain why you are passionate about criminal justice reform and what you hope to gain from this internship.
Applications may also be faxed to:
ATTN: People Resources / Summer 2024 – Intern, Gender-Based Violence
Vera Institute of Justice
34 35th St, Suite 4-2A, Brooklyn, NY 11232
Fax: (212) 941-9407
Please use only one method (online, mail or fax) of submission.
No phone calls, please. Only applicants selected for interviews will be contacted.
In order to ensure a healthy and safe work environment, Vera Institute of Justice is requiring all employees to be fully vaccinated and provide proof of their COVID-19 vaccine before their start date. Employees who cannot receive the vaccine because of a disability/medical contraindication or sincerely-held religious belief may request an accommodation (e.g., an exemption) to this requirement.
Vera is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without unlawful discrimination based on race, color, creed, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, prior record of arrest or conviction, citizenship status, current employment status, or caregiver status.
Vera works to advance justice, particularly racial justice, in an increasingly multicultural country and globally connected world. We value diverse experiences, including with regard to educational background and justice system contact, and depend on a diverse staff to carry out our mission.
For more information about Vera, please visit www.vera.org
