Justice Policy Institute (Washington, DC)

The Justice Policy Institute (JPI) seeks a full-time Associate, with a passion for social justice, to join our Washington, D.C. based team.

Organization description: The Justice Policy Institute is a national nonprofit dedicated to reducing the use of incarceration and the justice system by promoting fair and effective policies. JPI does this through groundbreaking research and analysis, strategic communications, organizing, and technical assistance to advocates and policymakers.

Position summary: The Associate will provide substantive support to our place-based advocacy and policy work, including playing a leadership role supporting JPI’s ongoing work in Washington, DC. A core focus of this position will include activities to support the implementation, coordination, and analysis of the District of Columbia’s Incarceration Reduction Amendment Act of 2016 (IRAA), and the recently passed Second Look Amendment Act.

This includes helping to facilitate support to individuals returning to the community under an IRAA order, monitoring implementation of reentry support for IRAA grantees, and working with our local partners to advance fair and effective public safety strategies that strengthen communities, tackle racial inequities, and build healthy neighborhoods. The position will also involve working with government partners in the Mayor’s Office, the DC Council, and other key stakeholders. In addition, the Associate will also work with JPI’s Director of Organizing and Strategic Partnerships to support JPI’s ongoing efforts in Maryland and nationally.

JPI offers potential for professional advancement.

Key responsibilities:

Working under the direction of Research and Policy Associate, the Associatewill:

DC IRAA Implementation Responsibilities:

• Provide technical assistance to our partners providing legal representation and reentry support.
• Work with partner organizations to develop and implement a communication strategy to reach IRAA-eligible individuals inside the DC Jail and the Federal Bureau of Prisons, as well as conduct community outreach, in order to keep them updated with latest information on IRAA policy and practice.
• Assist our IRAA legal partners to recruit pro-bono legal representation for upcoming eligible individuals.
• Attend and be an active participant in coalition meetings around DC, including the Reentry Action Network, Thrive Under 25 and the DC Emerging Adult Justice Action Collaborative.
• Support the coordination and maintenance of current databases.

Place-based Responsibilities:

• Create relationships with local advocates, justice-involved individuals, members of impacted communities, and policy makers.
• Cultivate relationships with partners inside correctional facilities and serve as a liaison between the incarcerated community and policy reform efforts.
• Provide presentations and testimonies to state legislatures, city councils, government agencies, conference panels, and community events.
• Coordinate and conduct interviews with stakeholders, including but not limited to direct-service providers and justice-involved individuals, to provide meaningful perspective to JPI’s work.
• Support placed-based advocacy efforts including tracking legislation and keeping advocates and the impacted population updated about policy change efforts.
• Support and participate in organizing events targeting impacted communities, including those currently and formerly incarcerated.
• Follow up on research and information request from advocates, partners, and impacted community members.

The Associate will assist with other tasks as needed.

Hours: Full-time

Qualifications:

• Relevant experience aligned with JPI’s work and mission.
• Strong preference for an individual with extensive lived experience in the criminal justice system or as an advocate/organizer working in communities disproportionately impacted by the system.

• Excellent written and oral communications skills, with public speaking experience to a variety of audiences.
• Proven interpersonal skills with diverse groups including advocates, media, non-profit professionals, criminal justice stakeholders, the justice-involved population, and community organizations.
• Familiarity with social media tools to stay up to date and communicate with a broad audience.
• Detail-oriented, highly organized, flexible self-starter who demonstrates a willingness to learn and take on new tasks, either collaboratively or alone.

Compensation: Competitive salary commensurate with skills and experience and comparable to similar positions in the nonprofit community.

To apply: Please email a personal statement and resume with the subject line “JPI Associate” to [email protected]. The position is open until filled, and only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.

JPI is currently operating in a 100 percent remote working posture but plans to transition to a permanent hybrid work model in Fall 2021. This will include a combination of remote work and in-person meetings. JPI will continue to have an office with workstations and meeting rooms for staff to utilize. The Associate position is expected to attend meetings throughout the Washington, D.C. metro region on a routine basis.

JPI is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity and diverse experiences, including with regard to educational background and justice system involvement.