Summer Intern, Innocence Network
The Innocence Network, an affiliation of independent nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and public defender’s offices that provide pro bono post-conviction legal assistance to inmates seeking to prove they have been wrongfully convicted of crimes they did not commit, is seeking a Summer Intern to support the activities of the Network and Board, and to take on special projects that may arise for the summer of 2012. The Summer Intern will report to the Innocence Network’s Program Administrator or his/her designee and will work with other members of the Innocence Network Support Unit. The intern will gain experience in non-profit program administration. This is an unpaid internship.
BACKGROUND ON THE INNOCENCE NETWORK
Since 1989, DNA testing has exonerated 283 people in the United States, including 17 who were sentenced to death. Almost all of the DNA exonerees were represented by Innocence Network member-organizations. Since 2009 alone, the work of the Innocence Network member-organizations has also led to the exoneration of more than 40 additional people in cases that did not involve DNA evidence. By exonerating innocent people and exposing flaws in the justice system, the Innocence Network’s member-organizations have changed the direction of the national debate on criminal justice among policymakers, jurists, law enforcement officers, and members of the public.
The Innocence Network was formed in the late 1990s and formally established in 2005, and has since grown to 65 members, with 55 in the United States and ten operating in other countries. The members range from sizable and well-established organizations to two-person law clinics and all-volunteer start-ups. The Innocence Network is governed by an independent Board of Directors, composed of 21 representatives of Network member-organizations. The Innocence Project is one of the founding members of the Innocence Network, and has historically provided much of the infrastructure and support for Innocence Network activities and operations.
Tasks include:
- Assist in developing content to be shared by Network projects
- Upload and manage shared resources on intranet
- Listserv maintenance
- Review of application materials
- Assist with fundraising strategies
- Other Network support tasks as needed
Qualifications:
- Basic computer skills, including Microsoft Word and Excel
- Strong writing and editing skills
- Database management skills
- A flexible, independent work style
- An interest in criminal justice issues
The internship is based in the Innocence Project’s office in lower Manhattan and requires a minimum commitment of at least two full days each week. However, the time frame and schedule are flexible. Letters of recommendation and documentation of internship for course credit can be provided upon completion.
Please submit cover letter, including a statement regarding your interest in the internship with the Innocence Network, and a resume to hr3@innocenceproject.org. No phone calls, please. Only those selected for interviews will be contacted.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. The internship will begin no sooner than Tuesday, May 29th, 2012 and is expected to last through the summer.
The Innocence Project is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to workplace diversity.