Now Hiring: Researcher on US Criminal Justice Policy (3020 hits)
Human Rights Watch (“HRW”) is seeking a Researcher for its US Program to investigate, document, and advocate against human rights abuses experienced by persons involved with the US criminal justice system including: accused, convicted, and post-convicted (e.g. released, paroled) persons; victims of crime; and family members of both. The Researcher will report to the Director of the US Program. The position may be based in one of HRW’s offices in New York, Washington, DC, Chicago, Los Angeles, or San Francisco. APPLICATIONS ARE DUE BY APRIL 13, 2012.
Responsibilities:
1. Identify issues or trends that should be US Program priorities by communicating with wide range of participants in and observers of the criminal justice system (e.g. inter alia persons accused or convicted of crimes and their family members, service providers, legal services organizations, judges, prosecutors, police, academics, journalists, and victims).
2. Research, document, and analyze policies and practices of state and federal criminal justice systems, as well as international comparisons.
3. Write reliable, comprehensive, and timely reports (often including images, audio, data analysis, and/or online tools) on human rights abuses experienced by persons in the criminal justice system.
4. Write op-eds, press releases, briefing memos, statements, testimony, and other materials.
5. Assist in the development and implementation of advocacy strategies to change abusive laws, policies, and practices.
6. Respond promptly to queries from the media, public, and colleagues in the human rights community and take initiative to project concerns in public debate.
7. Place abuses within the broader political, social, and economic contexts and present human rights concerns to government officials, opinion leaders, inter-governmental agencies, and the media.
8. Work closely with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and local human rights organizations to ensure that HRW’s work complements and enhances their own work.
9. Be prepared and willing to work flexible hours to accommodate developing and urgent events.
10. Travel domestically and overseas, as required, to conduct fact-finding missions.
11. Deliver outputs in a timely manner and be consistent with the agreed strategy and priorities of the US Program.
12. Help set priorities for the U.S. Program’s research and advocacy efforts.
