Senior Research and Policy Associate

Fair and Just Prosecution (FJP) is seeking applications for Senior Research and Policy Associates.  In this role you are responsible for working closely with the executive team and other staff to provide support and assistance to recently elected prosecutive leaders committed to new innovations, enhanced transparency and accountability and moving beyond past incarceration-driven approaches.   

You will conduct research, assist with on the ground and remote learning, and draft briefs and other materials to educate these new leaders on issues of importance including strategies for reducing incarceration, promoting diversion and bail reform, enhancing transparency and accountability, addressing justice system racial inequities, and fortifying community trust. You will assist FJP in supporting this network of new leaders, including providing opportunities for them and their staff to learn about best practices, be exposed to reform-oriented national justice thinking and be fortified in their commitment to implement new approaches to promoting healthier and safer communities. 

Who We Are 

Great strides have been made over the past few years in promoting criminal justice reforms that recognize that prior “tough on crime” and incarceration-driven practices don’t always produce safer or healthier communities. New thinking has started to permeate the justice system and has prompted proactive and prevention-oriented strategies. 

Against that backdrop, a new generation of reform-minded state and local elected prosecutors committed to changing their office culture and promoting a less punitive approach to addressing crime has come into office. Recently elected DAs in geographic areas ranging from Los Angeles, St. Louis, and Philadelphia to smaller rural communities are pushing back against the “law and order/tough on crime” rhetoric of past decades and elevating a national conversation around the importance of a fair, equitable and right-sized justice system. 

FJP brings together these reform-minded and innovative elected prosecutors as part of a network of leaders committed to promoting a justice system grounded in fairness, equity, compassion, and fiscal responsibility.

What You’ll Do 

You have an important and robust job.  You will: 

• Interface with recently elected prosecutors, national organizations, academics and justice system leaders    
• Research and draft briefing papers and assemble informational materials, including development and review of data, survey information, technical assistance materials, and protocols modeling new thinking in prosecutive practices    
• Help oversee, develop, draft and manage amicus briefs and sign on statements that address timely criminal justice issues and reforms.  
• Help oversee and manage information gathering from prosecutors, academics and other subject matter experts in regard to prosecutive best practices, juvenile justice issues, strategies for reducing incarceration, diversion and bail reform, enhancing transparency and accountability, addressing justice system inequities, and fortifying community trust  
• Help oversee and manage in-person and remote gatherings to enable newly elected prosecutive leaders to learn from each other – and from other experts in the field  
• Assist in managing interviews, oversee surveys and provide assistance and support to prosecutive leaders who are part of the FJP network  
• Oversee and manage the development and promotion of opportunities for academic collaborations   
• Work with FJP staff to help develop and update project management and tracking tools and mechanisms  
• Work with FJP staff to identify, promote, and oversee other learning opportunities and partnerships that can enhance the ability of FJP prosecutive leaders to learn about and implement new justice system practices and thinking 

Who You Are  

First and foremost, you have a strong commitment to reforms in prosecution and changes to the criminal legal system and the ability to reimagine the role and function of prosecutive leaders in moving away from past “tough on crime” approaches.  Additionally, you have the following background, experience, and skills/abilities: 

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: 

• Bachelor’s degree and JD, Master’s Degree or equivalent post-graduate degree required. However, we value diverse educational and experiential backgrounds. An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience will also be considered
• Four years or more of experience in criminal justice legal or policy work
• Understanding of justice reform work and systems.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES: 

• Ability to understand and help support a growing national project focused on reforms of prosecution and of the criminal legal system more broadly  
• Strong writing, research and oral communication skills  
• Ability to juggle and prioritize multiple tasks, and help keep a large national project organized and on track  
• Ability to communicate effectively with, develop credibility among, and gain the confidence of, elected prosecutive leaders and their staffs  
• Ability to work in a non-traditional environment and interface with team members virtually. 
• Ability to supervise more junior staff in organizing and successfully completing a variety of projects.  
• Ability to project manage and work independently. 

What Else Should You Know

Physical Demands
The project requires extensive home computer and telephone time and usage, research and writing. The position also requires frequent travel throughout the nation and will require the ability to travel by air or car to various parts of the nation. Light lifting up to 10 pounds may be needed.

Work Environment
In non-pandemic times, the position can work remotely or may be able to work out of a New York office. Post-pandemic travel will be required, most likely three or four times per year. While on travel, the “position" will work from airports, hotel rooms, offices or space of other organizations or bodies.

What Now? 

This role is an extraordinary opportunity to contribute to our mission of justice reform and work with a small but growing creative and dedicated team.  If you would like to apply, please submit your resume AND a cover letter today. We look forward to hearing from you.   

Fair and Just Prosecution, a project of Tides Center, is an equal opportunity employer. We strongly encourage applications from women, people of color, and bilingual and bicultural individuals, as well as members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities. Applicants shall not be discriminated against because of race, religion, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, color, marital status, or medical condition including acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and AIDS-related conditions. We encourage and will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Applicants with Disabilities: Reasonable accommodation will be made so that qualified disabled applicants may participate in the application process. If you seek an accommodation, please advise in writing at the time you apply.

Women, people of color, LGBTQ candidates, and people with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

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