Summer 2026 Intern, Reshaping Prosecution

About the team:

The Reshaping Prosecution Program is dedicated to transforming what it means to be a prosecutor by focusing on the dignity of all people impacted by the criminal justice system. Prosecutors play a critical but often hidden role in mass incarceration as one of the most powerful actors in the criminal justice system. They decide who to charge with a crime what crime to charge whether to detain someone in jail pending trial and what sentence to recommend if there is a conviction. Yet despite this immense power prosecutors have largely not been the focus of criminal justice reform efforts until recently. Our team helps prosecutors across the country work to end mass incarceration pursue racial equity and be more transparent with the communities they serve. This position will focus on Reshaping Prosecutions projects including technical assistance to District Attorney offices and community-based organizations across the country.

The Reshaping Prosecution intern will learn how to:

• conduct community and policy landscape research
• develop community outreach strategies
• manage advocacy efforts
• draft written content for a wide audience

About the role:

1. Expand and support our network of stakeholders and partners in their racial equity-focused reforms.

• Create resources and tools for current and previous partners to stay in contact and share updates.
• Creating a database to contain information in an easily digestible way.

2. Provide programmatic and administrative support to the Reshaping Prosecution Initiative.

• Help to liaise with site and community partners and project funders.
• Support logistics for external meetings.

3. Provide guidance and thought partnership related to advocacy and community outreach.

• Researching websites for contact information
• Research websites for platforms and policies of various government officials criminal justiceorganizations grassroots organizations.

4. Draft written content for newsletters guides memos talking points etc. about prosecutors role in addressing racial disparities.

• Contribute research and content for site-based memos and reports public-facing publicationsand blog posts.
• Support project proposal drafting and submission processes.

5. Keep the team up to date on the latest news literature trends and elections impacting prosecutionreform by conducting research.

• Researching periodicals social media etc. for advocacy-related materials.
• Conducting desk and qualitative research to learn more about prosecutor offices across the country.

6. Conduct landscape analysis regarding community-based organizations District Attorney officesorganizations that provide restorative justice and diversion programs etc.

• Creating power analysis maps.
• Identifying key issues stakeholders advocate and work on within specific counties/states.

What qualifications are we looking for

Required:

• Interest in the criminal legal system;
• Demonstrated ability to work with advocates government officials criminal legal system personnelpractitioners and people who are directly impacted by the criminal legal system.

Preferred:

• Education in public policy social work political science criminal justice or related field; or equivalent workexperience.
• Lived experience as a person directly impacted by the criminal legal system.
• Strong interest in racial justice advocacy.

Knowledge Skills & Abilities youll bring:

• Strong organizational skills.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite.
• Proficient with Canva.

Location:

Please note this role will report to our Washington D.C. or Brooklyn NY office. Vera employees adhere to a hybrid schedule and are 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. Actual compensation will vary dependingon factors including but not limited to experience and performance. Applicants may choose to receive academic credit. For those who need to earn academic Credit Vera will gladly assist in working with the schoolor program to make arrangements and meet requirements.

Applications may also be faxed to:

ATTN: People Place and Culture / Summer 2026 - Intern Reshaping Prosecution
Vera Institute of Justice
34 35th St Suite 4-2A Brooklyn NY 11232
Fax:
Please use only one method (online mail or fax) of submission.
No phone calls please. Only applicants selected for interviews will be contacted.

Vera is an equal opportunity / affirmative action 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 includingwith regard toeducational background and justice system contact and depend on a diverse staff to carry out our mission.

For more information about Vera please visit.