Research Fellow jobs in San Francisco, CA

Company Description

Fair and Just Prosecution (FJP) is seeking applications for Research and Policy Fellows.  In this role you are responsible for working closely with the executive team and other staff to provide support and assistance to recently elected prosecutive leaders committed to new innovations, enhanced transparency and accountability and moving beyond past incarceration-driven approaches.   

You will conduct research, assist with on the ground and remote learning, and draft briefs and other materials to educate these new leaders on issues of importance including strategies for reducing incarceration, promoting diversion and bail reform, enhancing transparency and accountability, addressing justice system racial inequities, and fortifying community trust. You will assist FJP in supporting this network of new leaders, including providing opportunities for them and their staff to learn about best practices, be exposed to reform-oriented national justice thinking and be fortified in their commitment to implement new approaches to promoting healthier and safer communities. 

Who We Are 

Great strides have been made over the past few years in promoting criminal justice reforms that recognize that prior “tough on crime” and incarceration-driven practices don’t always produce safer or healthier communities. New thinking has started to permeate the justice system and has prompted proactive and prevention-oriented strategies. 

Against that backdrop, a new generation of reform-minded state and local elected prosecutors committed to changing their office culture and promoting a less punitive approach to addressing crime has come into office. Recently elected DAs in geographic areas ranging from Los Angeles, St. Louis, and Philadelphia to smaller rural communities are pushing back against the “law and order/tough on crime” rhetoric of past decades and elevating a national conversation around the importance of a fair, equitable and right-sized justice system. 

FJP brings together these reform-minded and innovative elected prosecutors as part of a network of leaders committed to promoting a justice system grounded in fairness, equity, compassion, and fiscal responsibility. 

Job Description

What You'll Do

You have an important and robust job.  You will: 

• Interface with recently elected prosecutors, national organizations, academics and justice system leaders    
• Research and draft briefing papers and assemble informational materials, including development and review of data, survey information, technical assistance materials, and protocols modeling new thinking in prosecutive practices    
• Assist FJP staff with information gathering from prosecutors, academics and other subject matter experts in regard to prosecutive best practices, juvenile justice issues, strategies for reducing incarceration, diversion and bail reform, enhancing transparency and accountability, addressing justice system inequities, and fortifying community trust  
• Work with FJP staff to plan, structure, and organize in-person and remote gatherings to enable newly elected prosecutive leaders to learn from each other – and from other experts in the field  
• Work with FJP staff to help develop and conduct interviews, oversee surveys and provide assistance and support to prosecutive leaders who are part of the FJP network  
• Work with FJP staff to help develop, promote and oversee opportunities for academic collaborations   
• Work with FJP staff to help develop and update project management and tracking tools and mechanisms  
• Work with FJP staff to identify and promote other learning opportunities and partnerships that can enhance the ability of FJP prosecutive leaders to learn about and implement new justice system practices and thinking 

Qualifications

Who You Are

First and foremost, you have a strong commitment to reforms in prosecution and changes to the criminal legal system and the ability to reimagine the role and function of prosecutive leaders in moving away from past “tough on crime” approaches.  Additionally, you have the following background, experience, and skills/abilities: 

• Bachelor’s degree required; JD, Master’s Degree or equivalent post-graduate degree preferred. However, we value diverse educational and experiential backgrounds. An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience will also be considered
• Ability to understand and help support a growing national project focused on reforms of prosecution and of the criminal legal system more broadly 
• Understanding of justice and/or policy reform work  
• Strong writing, research and oral communication skills  
• Ability to juggle and prioritize multiple tasks, and help keep a large national project organized and on track  
• Ability to communicate effectively with, develop credibility among, and gain the confidence of, elected prosecutive leaders and their staffs

What Now?  

This role is an extraordinary opportunity to contribute to our mission of justice reform and work with a small but growing creative and dedicated team. If you would like to apply, please submit your cover letter, resume, and a writing sample today.  We look forward to hearing from you.   

Additional Information

The starting salary for this position is $62,000.

FJP is committed to attracting, developing and retaining exceptional people, and to creating a work environment that is dynamic, rewarding and enables each of us to realize our potential. FJP’s work environment is safe and open to all employees and partners, respecting the full spectrum of race, color, religious creed, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, political affiliation, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, and all other classifications protected by law in the locality and/or state in which you are working.  

Women, people of color, LGBTQ candidates, and people with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.