(Special) Advisor on Race and Wrongful Conviction

Innocence Project • New York, NY

12d • Hybrid

About The Position

Throughout the history of this country, racial bias and discrimination has played an arbitrary and pernicious role in the administration of the criminal legal system and has contributed to the problem of wrongful conviction. Two-thirds of the 254 people freed or exonerated by the IP are people of color and 58% are Black. According to the National Registry of Exonerations, Black people comprise 47% of all known exonerations since 1989, even though they make up just 13% of the U.S. population. Furthermore, Black people are seven times more likely to be wrongfully convicted of murder than white people; a Black person convicted of sexual assault is 3.5 times more likely to be innocent than a white person convicted of such a crime; and innocent Black people are 12 times more likely to be wrongfully convicted of drug possession than innocent white people. The work of the IP has uncovered racial (and other) bias in prosecution, policing, indigent defense, and forensic science. To further advance the mission 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.

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.

Benefits

• The salary for this position is highly competitive and the Innocence Project offers an excellent benefits package, including fully-paid individual health, dental and vision insurance, Flexible Spending Account, 401k plan with 6% company-match, paid disability and family care leave, adoption and fertility expense reimbursements, and company-paid transportation benefits.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree