Deadline: Ongoing
Human Rights Watch (HRW) is currently seeking applications from the eligible applicants for the post of Researcher on Criminal Justice in New York, Washington DC, Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco, United States.
The role of the Researcher may include documenting and advocating against racial injustice in policing; abusive prosecutorial policies; excessively harsh sentencing and post-conviction collateral consequences.
Human Rights Watch defends the rights of people worldwide, and scrupulously investigates abuses, expose the facts widely, and pressure those with power to respect rights and secure justice.
Key Jobs Responsibilities
The Researcher on Criminal Justice will perform the following functions-
- Identify issues or reform opportunities in US criminal justice policy by communicating with a wide range of participants in and observers of the criminal justice system.
- Make recommendations to the US Program regarding the issues that it should undertake; Develop a plan for strategic research and advocacy projects (other than litigation) to further those issues.
- Write op-eds, press releases, briefing memos, statements, testimony and other materials in order to disseminate our research findings and policy recommendations for change.
- Work closely with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and local human rights organizations to develop opportunities for our work to enhance and complement their own work.
- Be prepared and willing to work flexible hours to accommodate developing and urgent events; and.
- Travel domestically and internationally, as required, to conduct research and advocacy.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must have-
- A US law degree (J.D.) or an advanced degree in US criminal law/policy, journalism, or public policy or a related field is required.
- Minimum five years of relevant experience is required.
- Relevant experience may include among other things, work as a prosecutor or criminal defense attorney; analysis and advocacy on criminal justice policies for nonprofit advocacy or impact litigation organizations; or work in government relating to criminal justice policy.
- Ability to analyze trends and developments in the US criminal justice system so as to develop priorities to focus time and effort on issues of greatest importance or issues that are most capable of being influenced is required.
- Ability to develop and implement effective and creative research, media outreach, and advocacy strategies is required.
- Ability to conduct effective and sensitive interviews with a wide range of people, including people arrested or prosecuted, their victims, and government officials is required.
- Ability to develop advocacy and messaging strategies, including outreach with local media environments and the electronic media is required.
- Experience working with communities who have suffered civil or human rights violations in the United States, such as minority and low-income communities, is strongly desirable.
- Excellent writing and editing skills and dynamic public speaking ability in English are required, including the ability to articulate human rights issues persuasively, particularly with people of differing perspectives and concerns.
- Strong initiative and follow-through, the capacity to think creatively and strategically, and an entrepreneurial capacity to work effectively and manage projects with minimal oversight and staffing support are required.
- Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work collaboratively within HRW, as well as with external partners, are required.
- Ability to multi-task effectively, including having good planning and organizing skills and ability to work under pressure are required.
- Experience in developing non-courtroom strategies to reform criminal justice policies is desirable.
- Experience in developing public records requests and in analyzing data so as to inform research findings and policy recommendations is desirable.
- Ability to think creatively about use of images, audio, video, data, and online tools in the presentation of findings and in advocacy is desirable.
- Familiarity with and experience working in international human rights in criminal justice contexts is desirable.
How to Apply
Applicants must submit their cover letter, curriculum vitae, salary requirements, a brief non-legal writing sample (no briefs or legal memos and unedited by others) and three references via Email.
For more information, please visit HRW.
