Summer 2025 - Graduate Research Intern, Incarceration and Inequality Project

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 224 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:

The Incarceration and Inequality Project (IIP) combines research, data science, and strategic communications to explore and document how mass incarceration has impoverished communities and widened racial disparities in income and wealth over the past five decades. Vera is creating a national dataset that includes information on incarceration, community supervision, and economic outcomes from a range of local and federal sources. The project team will use this dataset to produce data-informed products, including policy briefs, research papers, and an online data visualization tool.

About the role:

We are seeking a part time (10-20 hours/week) Graduate Intern to provide a range of supports for new and ongoing studies, including quantitative analysis, data management, and literature reviews on topics related to mass incarceration, and economic justice. This is an opportunity to join a multidisciplinary team that is addressing policy-focused questions at the intersection of mass incarceration, economic mobility, and racial equity.

What you'll do:

Background research

• Reviewing the literature on criminal legal and economic justice topics
• Producing research summaries
• Working with members of the research team to develop estimation techniques, based on existing research

Data management and exploratory analysis

• Merging and aggregating administrative datasets
• Conducting descriptive analysis
• Producing data visualizations
• Authoring memos and other internal documents describing results

Research methodology

• Participating in IIP research meetings, discussing research designs and providing feedback on emergent findings
• Presenting findings to the team

What qualifications are we looking for?

• Currently enrolled in graduate school in economics, sociology, criminology, demography, public policy or a related discipline
• Interest in applied social justice research, particularly to advance policy reform and advocacy
• Ability to show initiative, ask questions, and adapt to changing priorities
• Attention to detail and strong organizational skills
• Excellent written and interpersonal communication skills
• A demonstrated ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds
• Familiarity with analyzing quantitative datasets
• Experience with R and/or Python is a plus

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities you'll bring:

• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite or similar software
• Quantitative analysis software (ie: SQL, SPSS, SAS, R Stata, etc)

Location:

Please note this role will report to our Brooklyn, NY 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 20 hours per week during the summer. The dates will be between June 2nd and August 8th, 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, Place, and Culture / Summer 2025 - Graduate Research Intern, Incarceration and Inequality Project
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.