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 grassroots 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 almost 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:

As part of the New York Bail Reform Evaluation study, we are looking to hire a justice-impacted person residing in New York State to work alongside Vera staff to understand the impact of bail reform among individuals who are directly impacted by the criminal-legal system. Through qualitative research methods, this hire will travel with Vera staff to conduct in-depth interviews in county study sites (e.g., Erie, Tompkins, Broome, Albany, Ulster, or Oneida) with justice-impacted individuals.  

This position is designed for people who have been impacted by the justice system who are seeking to develop their skills by drawing on their lived experiences as they begin building their career. Supervised by GJNY’s senior qualitative researcher, this hire will assist in the development of data collection instruments, conduct qualitative interviews with system-impacted individuals and qualitative coding and analysis. This hire will be expected to work 35 hours a week for a period of 6 months.

In this role, you will:

1. Develop research instruments

• Assist with developing qualitative research questions and data collection instruments 

2. Conduct qualitative interviews

• Assist and participate in community engagement activities across New York  
• Conduct in-person interviews with justice-impacted individuals

3. Analyze qualitative data

• Conduct and assist qualitative coding and analysis from in-person interviews

4. Engage in community engagement activities

• Participate in stakeholder and community engagement

What qualifications do you need?

Required:

• H.S. diploma or GED  
• This position is designed for people who have been impacted by the criminal-legal system in the state of New York.  
• Ability to travel in New York State

Preferred:

• Knowledge of New York’s criminal legal system 
• Strong oral and communication skills 
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively with a team

List of required software applications:

• Microsoft Word

Compensation and Benefits:

The compensation range for this position is $55,000 - $58,000 (Level C). Actual salaries will vary depending on factors including but not limited to experience and performance. The salary range listed is just one component of Vera Institute’s total compensation package for employees. As an employer of choice in our field, supporting Vera staff—both personally and professionally—is a priority. To do this, we invest in the well-being of our staff through other rewards including merit pay, generous paid time off, a comprehensive health insurance plan, student loan repayment benefits, professional development training opportunities and up to $2,000 annual for education costs and fees relevant to Vera work, employer-funded retirement plan, and flexible time and remote work schedules. To learn more about Vera’s benefits offerings, click here.

Applications may also be faxed to:

ATTN: Human Resources / Research Analyst, Greater Justice New York
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