The Vera Institute of Justice is a justice reform change agent. Vera produces ideas, analysis, and research that inspire change in the systems people rely on for safety and justice, and works in close partnership with government and civic leaders to implement it. Vera is a truly unique institution in the justice reform field, in that it promotes fairness across a variety of substantive areas—bail reform, adult and youth confinement, access to justice for immigrants, services for victims of violence, etc.—and because it does so by working closely with national, state, and local leaders as a trusted partner. Vera is currently pursuing core priorities of ending the misuse of jails, transforming conditions of confinement, and ensuring that justice systems more effectively serve America’s increasingly diverse communities. For more information about Vera, visit www.vera.org.

Who you are

A person passionate about Vera’s work and looking to work as an independent contractor under the guidance and direction of the director of justice policy and director of the New Orleans office and in collaboration with other staff working to end money injustice (money bail and conviction fines and fees) in New Orleans.

How to apply

Please submit cover letter, resume, two references and a proposal by no later than August 18, 2019. The position will constitute roughly 30 hours/week of work from September 3 through December 31, 2019.

Your proposal should include your take on the following:

• Providing leadership in the ongoing work to engage various New Orleans communities (from grassroots to mainstream civic organizations) in the effort to end money injustice by gaining the cooperation of the judges of the criminal district court, the city council, and the mayor so that the 2020 budget for the court provides for agreement to replace money bail and end conviction fines and fees consistent with Vera's recent report, “Paid in Full.”
• Developing new community partnerships towards ending money injustice.
• Representing Vera in its collaboration with the New Orleans Alliance for Equity and Justice.
• A description of strategies that would be employed to achieve the above.

This will be an expedited process, with interviews conducted during the week of August 19th.

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. 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, or current employment status. 

Vera works to advance justice, particularly racial justice, in an increasingly multicultural country and globally connected world. We value diverse experiences, including with regard to educational background and justice system contact, and depend on a diverse staff to carry out our mission.

For more information about Vera, please visit www.vera.org.