(Special) Advisor on Race and Wrongful Conviction

Innocence Project•New York, NY

13d•Hybrid

About The Position

To further advance the missions of the IP, the (Special) Advisor on Race and Wrongful Conviction will serve as an advisor, thought leader, expert and in-house resource on racial justice, equity, bias and discrimination and its impact on the functioning of the criminal legal system and, particularly, wrongful conviction. The (Special) Advisor on Race and Wrongful Conviction will set the vision for this work and will collaborate with the IP staff to ensure that the substantive work of the organization is consistently guided, informed, and supported by rigorous historical, academic, forensic and social science research and scholarship, legal decisions, and policies/practices that explain, expose, ameliorate and ultimately eliminate racial bias as a factor in criminal legal system decision making. Thus, for example, the (Special) Advisor on Race and Wrongful Conviction will advise on methods to help ensure that the IP's intake procedures surface cases where racism may have contributed to the wrongful conviction of an innocent person, that litigation strategies take into account the latest law and science on racial bias and discrimination, that our social work policies and practices are informed by the unique challenges posed by discrimination and unconscious bias and that our policy work and education campaigns contribute to dismantling systemic racism. The (Special) Advisor on Race and Wrongful Conviction will support and advise all Departments of the IP, including the program teams, but will not play an active role in litigation or policy advocacy campaigns. The (Special) Advisor on Race and Wrongful Conviction is not responsible for the development of internal diversity, equity and inclusion policies, practices or procedures. The (Special) Advisor on Race and Wrongful Conviction will report to the Executive Director of the IP, and will be a member of the IP’s Executive Department. The (Special) Advisor on Race and Wrongful Conviction will also collaborate with the NYU Center Executive Director and Faculty Director to produce scholarly writing regarding the role of race in wrongful convictions.

Requirements

To align with NYU’s policy for visiting scholars, a J.D. degree and admission to practice in New York is required
8+ years of progressive responsibility in academia, policy advocacy and/or litigation in areas at the intersection of racial justice, civil rights and criminal justice
A sophisticated analysis and knowledge of racial injustice in America, its history and manifestations, and efforts to address it
Demonstrated history of collaboration with communities of color on race, criminal justice and civil rights
Demonstrated project and time management skill, including organization, attention to detail, and follow-through
Demonstrated experience in creative problem solving, strategic flexibility, and good judgment
Experience with strategic planning
Willingness to travel as necessary for speaking events, meetings, and conferences.
Must be legally authorized to work in the U.S.

Nice To Haves

The ideal candidate is a dynamic thought leader and subject matter expert on racial injustice and the intersection of race, civil rights, and criminal justice and wrongful conviction. The ideal candidate will have experience and passion around teaching, training, and/or disseminating research on these topics to broad audiences.
In addition, the ideal candidate models our IP Values of accountability, collaboration, empathy + compassion, equity, person-centeredness, quality focus, and self-awareness. All Innocence Project employees must embrace, respect and value the rich diversity of perspectives and lived experience of our staff. We recognize and appreciate that our work is better for having varied participants and thought partners. The ideal candidate is someone who thrives in this type of environment.
Subject matter expertise in racial injustice and the intersections between criminal justice, civil rights and race
Excellent written and oral communications skills, and the ability to effectively communicate complex issues to diverse audiences
Excellent research and analytical skills
Enthusiasm for the work of the IP and for social justice, including a demonstrated commitment to public interest
Shares in the IP’s values of accountability, collaboration, empathy + compassion, equity, person-centeredness, quality focus, and self-awareness
Enthusiasm for the work of the Innocence Project and for social justice, including a demonstrated commitment to public interest
Shared commitment to the IP’s values of accountability, collaboration, empathy + compassion, equity, person-centeredness, quality focus, and self-awareness

Responsibilities

Provide ongoing expertise, thought leadership, and strategic vision to various program directors and executive leadership on the role of racial bias and discrimination in the administration of the criminal legal system and the ways in which it contributes to the wrongful conviction of innocent people.
Build and maintain strong and effective relationships with organizations, academics, researchers, attorneys, organizers, policy advocates and other experts that specialize in the operation of racial bias and discrimination in the criminal legal system and decision making.
Continuously monitor state and federal court decisions addressing novel and/or significant claims of racial bias and discrimination in (and relating to) criminal justice and the wrongful conviction of innocent people.
Continuously monitor emerging legal, historical, forensic and social science research and scholarship, and policy landscape regarding the impact of racial bias on decision making especially as applied to the criminal legal system and the wrongful conviction of innocent people.
Provide regular verbal and written updates, trainings and resources to IP and Center staff regarding relevant research.
Produce lay and academic publications and original research on the role of race in wrongful convictions, including co-publishing with NYU Center and IP.
Collaborate with IP Departments on cases, campaigns and strategies involving race, racial bias/discrimination as they lead to wrongful conviction.
Collaborate with the NYU Center on research and thought leadership regarding race, racial bias/discrimination as they lead to wrongful conviction.
Attend relevant trainings, conferences and conventions regarding the ways in which racial bias and discrimination in the criminal legal system contributes to the wrongful conviction of innocent people, bring these learnings into the IP’s work and position IP as a participant in and contributor to these larger conversations.