Careers Job Description
General Description
About the Data Collaborative for Justice (DCJ)
The Data Collaborative for Justice (DCJ) is a research institute launched at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in 2013. DCJ seeks to advance justice and equity through rigorous research on mass incarceration, racial disparities, bail reform, case backlog, pretrial diversion, low-level enforcement, and other justice reform topics. DCJ partners with reformers, think tanks, and state and local agencies in New York and maintains a small portfolio of partnerships around the nation. DCJ operates under the Research Foundation of the City University of New York (CUNY).
About the Position
The Data Collaborative for Justice is seeking a Senior Research Associate with relevant criminal justice experience and a significant capacity for autonomy. The successful applicant would lead or participate in timely research projects pertaining to New York City’s criminal justice system. In the near term, the work would include analyzing racial disparities in arrest, conviction, and sentencing—especially for low-level charges—as part of a larger initiative to examine changes following the city’s submission of a police reform plan in April 2021. The work would also likely include an analysis of differences across the city’s five boroughs in charging, pretrial decision-making, and sentencing; and, over time, would include other topics to-be-determined that align with DCJ’s mission and the successful candidate’s interests.
DCJ seeks both to perform rigorous research and craft concrete policy recommendations to reduce injustice and help change the criminal legal system for the better. Accordingly, the ideal candidate would bring meaningful experience conducting criminal justice research in New York; solid content knowledge of local policy issues; and a capacity and interest in identifying policy ramifications. The work would include quantitative analysis with administrative data and report or brief writing that blends analytic rigor with accessibility to policymakers. The successful applicant would work closely with other researchers and staff and assist in identifying worthwhile future projects. The Senior Research Associate reports to the Associate Director of Research.
Salary: $75,000 - $110,000 (commensurate with experience)
Location: Manhattan; DCJ is currently in hybrid mode with a mix of in-person and remote work, a status that may change in either direction as conditions evolve.
To apply: Please upload a cover letter, updated CV, and three references to the RF Careers page with your application (a single pdf is preferred).
Deadline to Apply: September 2, 2022 (applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis)
Visit our website at www.datacollaborativeforjustice.org
Other Duties
Responsibilities:
- Conduct quantitative research on the scope of enforcement and progress (if any) in reducing racial disparities in arrest and Desk Appearance Ticket (DATs) issuance in New York City as part of a multi-agency police reform initiative.
- Compare recent trends in prosecution and charging, pretrial decisions, and sentencing across the five boroughs of New York City.
- Author reports that combine analytic rigor, clear writing, and reflection about key takeaways.
- Engage in work that is not “academic” in purpose, such as writing short research or policy briefs, assisting with convenings, or contributing to discussions regarding how DCJ can best advance justice and equity.
- Work collaboratively with other DCJ staff and external partners.
- Participate in or propose additional quantitative or qualitative projects with the potential to illuminate timely policy questions in New York City or State or, potentially, in other jurisdictions across the country.
- Identify, develop, and draft research proposals for submission to funders; and implement ideas for new research.
- Observe and uphold principles of responsible research; observe and enforce all Research Foundation (RF) policies on ownership of intellectual property, use of facilities and equipment, and investigation on human subjects.
- Maintain confidentiality as required by the project or as directed by supervisors.
Qualifications
Main Qualifications:
- Ph.D. or Master’s degree in criminal justice/criminology, sociology, public policy or related discipline.
- Five plus years of work experience in applied research; a prior focus on New York’s criminal justice system is ideal. (The above are minimum requirements – candidates with a genuine interest in DCJ’s work who are concerned their experience may exceed what is sought are encouraged to apply).
- Commitment to using research to address current criminal justice policy issues.
- Advanced quantitative skills, including hands-on experience with administrative data.
- Proficiency in data cleaning, merging, and coding using at least one statistical analysis software (e.g., R, Stata, SPSS), R preferred.
- Ability to author or co-author reports, research briefs, or other documents of varying complexity, alongside an interest and ability in making written products responsive to current policy debates.
- Ability to present findings on Zoom or at conferences or symposia.
- Ability to balance competing priorities, complex situations and tight deadlines.
- Ability to exercise intellectual leadership in anticipating and resolving research issues and in authoring proposals designed to address new topics of interest.
RFCUNY Benefits
RFCUNY Employee Benefits and AccrualsAbout the Research Foundation
The Research Foundation of The City University of New York (RFCUNY) is a nonprofit educational corporation founded in 1963 to provide post-award fiscal and administrative support for CUNY’s research and sponsored programs. RFCUNY’s services allow CUNY researchers, faculty, and staff to focus on their intellectual curiosity and scientific discoveries, on projects and programs that serve our local and global communities, proposing concrete solutions to society’s most pressing challenges.
RFCUNY serves as a fiscal agent and works closely with all the CUNY campus Grants Offices to perform the core functions of post-award financial management for CUNY research projects and sponsored programs. These functions include legal assessment and signing of agreements where RFCUNY is named as a fiscal agent; setting up award accounts; preparing sub-awards and assisting PIs in monitoring the work of the recipients of sub-awards; supporting project directors with hiring and managing research project and sponsored program staff; supporting the purchasing and paying for goods and services with grant and program funds; managing financial aspects of projects including accounts receivable, financial reporting, invoicing, budget monitoring, and cost compliance with uniform guidance; ensuring that sponsor financial requirements are met; monitoring compliance with applicable project and financial management rules and laws; supporting the management of independent and external audits and financial reviews; and providing data, information, management expertise, and other supports to CUNY’s research and sponsored programs.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
Key Features
Data Collaborative for Justice
Full Time
$75,000.00 - $110,000.00
Sep 16, 2022 (Or Until Filled)