RESEARCH ASSISTANT

RESEARH - EVIDENCE BASED PRACTICE DEPARTMENT

POSTED: 7/14/23

Are you interested in using data to reduce unnecessary pretrial detention in NYC?

Join our team of professionals seeking to improve the experience of justice involved individuals in the NYC Courts!

ABOUT CJA

The New York City Criminal Justice Agency (CJA) is a not-for-profit service and research organization that operates in partnership with the New York City Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice. CJA is the City’s main pretrial services agency, combining operations, pilot projects, and research under one roof. CJA utilizes procedural justice practices to provide pretrial services to tens of thousands of persons arrested annually in New York City. Information collected about these arrestees and subsequent case processing is maintained in the agency’s databases, which are used to conduct research on case processing, court outcomes, and criminal justice policy in New York City. CJA’s programs operate in the criminal courts and detention facilities 24 hours a day, seven days a week within the five boroughs of NYC, employing over 250 employees, citywide.

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POSITION SUMMARY

The New York City Criminal Justice Agency (CJA) seeks a Research Assistant with strong quantitative data analysis skills to join the growing Research & Evidence-Based Practice Department. The Research Assistant will support CJA’s work to promote evidence-based pretrial services by helping collect, clean, and analyze data under the supervision of a project director. Research Assistants also prepare statistical tables and contribute to research reports on pretrial justice topics.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

Research assistants are responsible for:

• Collecting and organizing data
• Checking and solving data quality issues
• Assisting in data analysis
• Preparing statistical tables and graphics
• Writing memoranda and short reports

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• BA/BS in a social science discipline (sociology, criminal justice, political science, psychology, economics, etc.)
• A strong interest in criminal justice research
• Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail
• Excellent written and spoken communication skills
• Experience with statistical software (SPSS, Stata, R, or Python)
• Experience with or willingness to learn SQL
• Ability to work in an open workspace

The ideal candidate will have an aptitude for computer programming and data visualization, and have completed course work in research methods and statistical analysis. 

All applicants must include a cover letter describing their qualifications for and interest in the position along with a resume.

SALARY: $52,000

Location: New York, NY

CJA VALUES

Each employee at CJA is guided by these values in our work:

• Commitment: We are committed to being active partners in criminal justice reform through initiatives and creative problem-solving that evaluates different methods and strategies for alternatives to detention.
• Fairness: We are guided by fairness and the presumption of innocence for those who are detained and work with integrity and without bias to protect the privacy and interest of court-involved people and their families.
• Innovation: We value curiosity as a driving force to lead the way in pretrial services. We use innovative techniques in research, pilot programs, and engaging justice-involved communities to execute our mission of reducing unnecessary pretrial detention.

BENEFITS: CJA offers a very generous benefit plan including health, dental and vision insurance, a comprehensive mental health and wellness (EAP) plan, four weeks’ vacation, paid holidays and a retirement plan with employer matching contributions. CJA is also strongly committed to professional learning and development for its staff members and offers staff varied opportunities for learning and development through partnerships and vendor services for web based, in-person professional development training, as well as in-house job training and development.

Applications will be reviewed as they arrive.

Note: This position operates on a hybrid schedule with 3 in person days and 2 remote days. The successful hire must be able to assume responsibilities that are both remote and on-site, in accordance with CJA policy at the time of hire. Terms and conditions are subject to change based on business needs.

Only those candidates being considered will be contacted.

The New York City Criminal Justice Agency is an Equal Opportunity Employer

CJA is committed to creating and retaining a workforce of diverse talent and a culture of inclusion and belonging that honors and welcomes people with a variety of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer with a track record of encouraging and supporting the employment of people with lived experiences in the legal system. We are dedicated to advancing our mission and work by recruiting and building multi-disciplinary teams that reflect the racial, ethnic, culture and gender identities of the clients and communities we serve.

We encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply. Our employment practices are equitable and fair, without consideration of race, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, disability, prior arrest or conviction, employment status, parental status, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable laws.