Temporary Principal Research Assistant

Center for Justice Innovation; United States; Remote; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Part time

Job summary

A nonprofit organization focused on community safety is seeking a Temporary Principal Research Assistant. The successful candidate will engage in quantitative data analysis and extensive writing for the ongoing Statewide Evaluation of Georgia’s Drug Treatment Courts. Applicants should have a Master’s degree, significant research experience, and a background in the drug treatment court model. This is a part-time remote position with compensation ranging from $38.00 to $44.00 per hour.

Qualifications

• Master's degree and 10+ years of research experience is required; PhD is preferred.
• Experience working with Georgia’s administrative court data.
• Experience presenting quantitative data for research reports.

Responsibilities

• Clean, code, and analyze statewide drug court administrative data.
• Create summary descriptive tables based on statewide administrative data.
• Draft and/or edit sections of the survey/administrative data report.

Skills

Research experience

SPSS or R proficiency

Strong writing skills

Understanding of drug treatment court model

Education

Master's degree

PhD (preferred)

Job description

The Center for Justice Innovation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing community safety and racial justice. Since 1996, we’ve worked alongside communities, courts, and those most directly affected by the justice system to build stronger, healthier, and more equitable neighborhoods. With a team of over 900 staff and an annual budget of $130 million, the Center carries out its mission through three core strategies: operating programs, conducting original research, and providing expert assistance and policy guidance to reformers across the country and beyond. Learn more about our work at www.innovatingjustice.org.

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Center\'s Research department is staffed with social scientists, data analysts, and lawyers who are academically trained or have lived experience and who conduct research in the U.S. and globally on diverse criminal-legal system and justice issues. Their work includes evaluating programs and policies; conducting exploratory, community-based studies; and providing research translation and strategic planning for system actors. The Center has published studies on topics including court and jail reform, intimate partner violence, restorative justice, gun violence, reentry, sixth amendment rights, and progressive prosecution. The research teams strive to make their work meaningful and actionable to the communities they work with, policymakers, and practitioners.

The Research department is seeing a Temporary Principal Research Assistant. Reporting to the Director of National Research, the Principal Research Assistant will work collaboratively with members of the research team to complete the ongoing Statewide Evaluation of Georgia’s Drug Treatment Courts. This position includes quantitative data analysis and extensive writing.

THE ORGANIZATION

The Center for Justice Innovation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing community safety and racial justice. Since 1996, we’ve worked alongside communities, courts, and those most directly affected by the justice system to build stronger, healthier, and more equitable neighborhoods. With a team of over 900 staff and an annual budget of $130 million, the Center carries out its mission through three core strategies: operating programs that pilot new ideas and address local challenges; conducting original research to evaluate what works—and what doesn’t; and providing expert assistance and policy guidance to reformers across the country and beyond. Learn more at www.innovatingjustice.org.

OPPORTUNITY OVERVIEW

The Research department is seeking a Temporary Principal Research Assistant to work with the research team on the ongoing Statewide Evaluation of Georgia’s Drug Treatment Courts. The position involves quantitative data analysis and extensive writing. Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Clean, code, and analyze statewide drug court administrative data provided by the Council of Accountability Court Judges of Georgia (CACJ);
• Create summary descriptive tables based on statewide administrative data;
• Identify key areas of interest/discussion to be included in the statewide survey/administrative data report (e.g., caseload, staffing, completion rates, treatment options, challenges);
• Identify key grouping strategies for presenting findings from the statewide survey/administrative data (e.g., by region, jurisdiction size, eligible charge types);
• Finalize descriptive survey/administrative data tables for the report;
• Draft and/or edit sections of the survey/administrative data report;
• Edit and provide feedback across all written materials;
• Participate in monthly update calls with Georgia stakeholders; and
• Solicit and incorporate feedback from Georgia stakeholders; and
• Additional tasks as necessary.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Master\'s degree and 10+ years of research experience is required; PhD is preferred;
• Understanding of the drug treatment court model;
• Experience working with Georgia\’s administrative court data;
• Experience working in SPSS or R to clean, code, merge, and analyze large administrative criminal justice/court data sets;
• Experience presenting quantitative data for research reports (including for non-research audiences);
• Experience working with drug court practitioners and acting as an organizational representative to outside agencies; and
• Strong writing skills, including writing for non-research audiences.

Position Details

• Position Type: Temporary part-time (10 hours per week). Temporary until December 31, 2025.
• Position Location: Remote.
• Compensation: The range is $38.00 - $44.00 per hour and commensurate with experience.

The Center for Justice Innovation is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, national origin, age, military service eligibility, veteran status, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, or any other category protected by law. We strongly encourage applications from women, people of color, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and individuals with prior contact with the criminal justice system. Our goal is to create a supportive and respectful environment where everyone, regardless of background or identity, feels valued and included.

At this time, the Center is unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa. All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of application and throughout the duration of employment.

Questions about the application process? Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Voluntary Self-Identification

The Center may request voluntary self-identification information for government EEO reporting purposes. This information is confidential and will not be used in making hiring decisions. This section includes veteran status and disability self-identification prompts and related guidance as required by law.