Job description
Who we are:
The Vera Institute of Justice is powered by hundreds of advocates, researchers, and policy experts working to transform the criminal legal and immigration systems until they’re fair for all. Founded in 1961 to advocate for alternatives to money bail in New York City, Vera is now a national organization that partners with impacted communities and government leaders for change. We develop just, antiracist solutions so that money doesn’t determine freedom; fewer people are in jails, prisons, and immigration detention; and everyone is treated with dignity. For more information, visit vera.org.
Vera has a staff of 216 people, is headquartered in Brooklyn, New York and has offices in Washington, D.C., 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.
About the team:
As Restoring Promise prepares for the new phase of our strategic plan, we seek an individual passionate about criminal legal reform, with a particular interest in transforming prison culture and conditions. The intern will support the Designed for Dignity statewide culture change work by assisting in editing Department of Corrections policies through a dignity-centered lens. This work includes developing documentation, such as annotation or rationale guides, to explain and justify policy revisions. The intern will also provide essential research support to inform policy and program development. These materials and research efforts will help states equitably and sustainably create humane policies and practices that center human dignity. The intern will have key opportunities to develop skills in technical assistance, critical analysis, research, implementation support, partnership-building, problem-solving, and project management.
What you’ll do:
Technical Assistance
- Support the Designed for Dignity project with agency assessments, and trainings
- Support the TA team in conducting policy reviews
- Provide technical support for meetings and trainings held virtually and/or in-person
- Join external and internal meetings and assist with notetaking
- Support colleagues in their day-to-day work with site partners (corrections staff, people who are incarcerated, government leaders) as needed and where able
- Support the writing and editing of documents and reports
- Assist with the design and creation of presentations/visuals
- Administrative support as needed
Research
- Conduct literature reviews
- Support data entry, analysis, and visualization
- Transcribe interviews and focus groups
- Contribute to the writing and editing of documents and reports
Initiative
- Attend learning opportunities related to justice reform and share notes with Restoring Promise team
- Get to know staff across the team
- Attend weekly meetings with the full team
- Attend monthly department and Institute meetings
- Potential travel for site visit
What qualifications are we looking for?
- While this internship is open to current students, we are also interested in non-student candidates looking to pursue a career in any facet of criminal legal reform, particularly in a nonprofit setting
- Previous personal or professional experience or exposure to the criminal legal system or corrections
Preferred:
- Lived experience as a person directly impacted by the criminal legal system
- Interest in Criminal Legal Reform, Correctional Services, Psychology, Social Work or other Human Services
Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities you’ll bring:
- Microsoft office and Zoom
- Communication skills for emailing, notetaking, and internal team memos
Location:
Please note this role will be remotely located.
Schedule:
The intern should be available to work 10 - 20 hours per week during the fall. The dates will be between September 15, 2025, and December 12, 2025, with some flexibility to accommodate personal and academic schedules.
Compensation:
This opportunity is unpaid.
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, Place, and Culture / Fall 2025 - Legal 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.
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.
