Summer 2024 – Intern, Restoring Promise

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:

Restoring Promise is an initiative of the Vera Institute of Justice that seeks to transform prison cultures, climates, and spaces by partnering with correctional leaders to reimagine housing units for young adults and realign corrections policies and practices with a commitment to human dignity. Transforming the United States prison system has been the goal of Vera’s groundbreaking work with corrections agencies since 2016 when Vera and the MILPA Collective opened the first of now seven young adult housing units in five states. Testimonials from corrections staff and incarcerated people and results from a randomized control trial of Restoring Promise units in South Carolina demonstrate what Vera knows to be true: when we treat people with dignity, we can create a sense of purpose beyond custody and control, forge community, and make prisons safer. 

We are seeking a highly motivated Summer Intern to assist our team in researching and analyzing prison budgets. The successful candidate will gain valuable experience in data collection, analysis, and reporting while contributing to important projects aimed at understanding and improving the financial aspects of correctional facilities. The Summer Intern will be responsible for conducting a literature review and 50 state scan on corrections budgeting, interviewing internal and external stakeholders and experts on corrections spending and resource allocations, drafting an internal memo on lessons learned, and presenting the findings and recommendations. 

What you'll do:

Research 

• Conduct comprehensive literature review on prison budgets, including expenditures, revenues, and allocations using both online databases and direct inquiries, including inquiries of Restoring Promise site partners. 
• Analyze financial data to identify trends, patterns, and areas of opportunity or concern within prison budgets and spending. 
•  Collaborate with the Restoring Promise team to develop clear and concise report summarizing key findings and recommendations. 
• Assist in the preparation of presentations and other materials for internal stakeholders and external partners. 
• Stay informed about relevant policies, regulations, and trends impacting prison finances to ensure accuracy and relevance of research efforts. 
• Participate in team meetings and discussions to contribute insights, ideas, and suggestions for improving allocation of prison funding with an eye towards human dignity. 

Initiative 

• Attend learning opportunities related to justice reform and share notes with Restoring Promise team. 
• Attend monthly full team meetings. 
• Potential travel to Restoring Promise unit at one of our five sites. 

What qualifications are we looking for?

• Bachelor’s degree in economics, finance, public policy, and/or criminal justice OR currently enrolled in graduate school in an economics, finance, public policy, and/or criminal justice program OR Knowledge of or lived experience with the criminal legal system, prison systems, or corrections. 
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to collect, organize, and interpret large datasets. 

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities you'll bring: 

• Microsoft Office (Excel, PWP, Word) 
• Zoom 
• Excellent written and verbal skills, including the ability to present complex information in a clear and understandable manner. 
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment. 
• Interest in criminal justice, public finance, or related fields is preferred, but not required. 

Location:

Please note this role will report to our Brooklyn 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 3th 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, Restoring Promise 
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