Policy Associate

The Innocence Project, Inc. (“the Project”) is a nonprofit pro bono legal clinic founded in 1992 by Prof. Barry Scheck and civil rights lawyer Peter Neufeld at the Cardozo School of Law/Yeshiva University. The Project represents prisoners nationwide for whom post-conviction DNA testing can prove innocence, and seeks to redress the underlying causes of wrongful convictions through systemic criminal justice reform.

The Policy Associate works within the Innocence Project’s Policy Department. The Policy Associate is responsible for closely tracking innocence-related news and policy developments, in order to best inform the Innocence Project’s nation-wide policy advocacy efforts, both immediate and long term. The Policy Associate also identifies and participates in creating media-based opportunities to further educate the public about innocence-related policy possibilities.

Job description:

• Monitor news media for news related to wrongful convictions and the Project’s policy goals, and issue daily reports

• Maintain a readily searchable archive of news clippings and reference materials

• Monitor legislation in all 50 states via our bill tracking subscription service, media reports, and other research, and issue daily reports

• Maintain contacts with allied criminal justice advocates

• Assist in various research projects

Candidate must possess:

• A working knowledge of the legislative process at the state and national level

• Basic familiarity with the criminal justice system (the process of trials, appeals, and habeas review)

• Familiarity with the way the media works, especially newspapers (online)

• Basic familiarity with the use of DNA technology in the criminal justice system

• An interest in further developing our grassroots advocacy with new technologies

• A willingness to investigate and pursue information

• Keen internet research skills

• The ability to use databases and other filing/retrieval systems

• Lucid and concise writing ability

• Ability to work constantly in collaboration with colleagues

• A passionate commitment to the work of the Innocence Project and criminal justice policy reform

• Desire to take initiative to advance the Project’s policy goals

This position is ideally suited for someone with 1 year of experience in a professional setting post-college, or possibly an entry-level position for someone with significant internship experience. A background in journalism, political science, and/or criminal justice is preferred.

Please email resume and cover letter to hr4@innocenceproject.org (include POLICY ASSOCIATE) in the subject line. Emails should be in Word or Word Perfect format; Adobe files or .zip file attachments will not be read.

Please, no telephone calls regarding this position.

The Innocence Project is an equal opportunity employer committed to workplace diversity.