Fall 2026 - Intern, Restoring Promise

Vera Institute of Justice; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 23,419 - 34,440; Part time

Job summary

Vera Institute of Justice in Brooklyn, NY is offering a part-time internship focused on criminal legal reform through the Designed for Dignity initiative. The intern will assist with policy reviews, trainings, and technical assistance for state corrections departments, while conducting research and supporting data collection and reporting.

The role emphasizes note-taking, preparation of presentations, and collaboration with staff across the team.

Qualifications

• Current student or non‑student pursuing a career in criminal legal reform in a nonprofit setting.
• Previous personal or professional exposure to the criminal legal system or corrections.

Responsibilities

• Assist with policy reviews and creation of technical assistance resources.
• Support meetings, webinars, and trainings (virtual/in-person) with note‑taking and materials.
• Help write and edit documents, newsletters, and reports for dissemination.

Skills

Microsoft Office

Zoom

Communication skills

Tools

Microsoft Office

Zoom

Job description

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 with the revision of Department of Corrections policies and trainings, while providing 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, facilitation, critical analysis, research, implementation support, partnership‑building, problem‑solving, and project management.

By the end of the internship, the intern will

• Build an understanding of the Restoring Promise approach, the Designed for Dignity project, and prison culture change within state corrections departments.
• Gain hands‑on experience with designing technical assistance tools and activities in thoughtful and strategic ways.
• Support the team in delivering strategic technical assistance to state departments of corrections as they engage in policy change, training change, and related research activities.

About the role

• Technical Assistance (TA)
• Support the Designed for Dignity project with agency assessments, and trainings.
• Support the TA team in conducting policy reviews and technical assistance resource development.
• Provide technical support for meetings, webinars, and trainings held virtually/in‑person.
• Join external and internal meetings and assist with note‑taking.
• Support colleagues in their day‑to‑day work with site partners (i.e., corrections staff, people who are incarcerated, government leaders) as needed and where able.
• Support the writing and editing of documents, newsletters, and reports.
• Assist with the design and creation of presentations/visuals.
• Provide 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.
• Travel for one potential technical assistance‑related site visit (if available).

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, note‑taking, and internal team memos.

Location

The internship will report to our Brooklyn, NY office. This role is a hybrid schedule, in‑office on an alternating schedule that generally amounts to 10 days per month.

Compensation and Benefits

The compensation range for this position is $17.00 – $25.00 per hour. Actual salaries will vary depending on factors including but not limited to experience and performance.

EEO Statement

Vera is an equal opportunity 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.