Investigator, National Prison Project

ABOUT THE JOB

The ACLU seeks applicants for the full-time position of Investigator in the National Prison Project of the ACLU’s National office in Washington, DC, San Francisco, CA, or New York, NY. This is a hybrid role that has in-office requirements of two (2) days per week or eight (8) days per month. This is a two-year term-limited position.

The National Prison Project works to ensure that conditions in prisons, jails, juvenile detention centers, and immigration detention facilities comply with the Constitution, domestic law, and international human rights principles. The Project has successfully litigated on behalf of incarcerated people in more than 25 states, and is the only organization litigating conditions of confinement cases nationwide. Our priorities include reducing overcrowding, improving health care, eliminating violence and maltreatment, and increasing oversight and accountability in prisons, jails, and other places of detention. We also work to reverse the policies that have given the United States the highest incarceration rate in the world and led to extreme over-representation of people of color in the incarcerated population.

This position is part of a collective bargaining unit. It is represented by ACLU Staff United (ASU).

WHAT YOU'LL DO 

Reporting to the Deputy Project Director for Immigration Detention, the Investigator will conduct investigations, interviews, facility visits, and research to support the Project's litigation and advocacy efforts, with a particular focus on immigration detention.

YOUR DAY TO DAY

• Plan and conduct investigations of conditions and compliance in detention facilities, including visiting and inspection of facilities
• Interview incarcerated individuals, detention facility administrators and staff, and other stakeholders, both in-person and remotely 
• Correspond with people in detention facilities, jails and prison, identify any areas related to our class action cases and areas of concern, suggest responses to correspondence, and under the supervision of an attorney, draft outgoing correspondence and advocacy 
• Draft surveys and interview guides to assess detention facility conditions and programs 
• Locate, review, and analyze correctional and medical records and other documents and conduct other relevant factual research to support investigations and litigation (e.g. review production of government documents in Freedom of Information Act cases) 
• Draft and edit reports about investigation findings 
• Develop and maintain comprehensive knowledge of case details
• Attend and participate in case meetings
• Work with attorneys in supporting the work of experts in our matters 
• Review and provide feedback on draft correctional policies, memoranda, and other documents 
• Draft advocacy letters on behalf of clients and class members under the supervision of an attorney 
• Provide training and onboarding support for employees as needed (e.g. train attorneys and/or co-counsel to conduct class member interviews) 
• Provide administrative and logistical support related to investigations and facility visits, including coordinating travel, organizing documents, and preparing materials, and assisting with processing outgoing mail and surveys as needed

FUTURE ACLU'ERS WILL 

• Be committed to advancing the mission of the ACLU
• Center and embed the principles of equity, inclusion and belonging in their work by demonstrating commitment to diversity with an approach that respects and values multiple perspectives
• Be committed to work collaboratively and respectfully toward resolving obstacles and conflicts

WHAT YOU'LL BRING

• Excellent research and analytical skills, including the ability to gather, review, and synthesize information from multiple sources and identify key findings.
• Effective interpersonal and interviewing skills, including the ability to communicate effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds and navigate sensitive conversations
• Strong written communication skills, including the ability to clearly document findings, prepare reports, and adapt writing for different audiences
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage large volumes of information, records, and correspondence accurately
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion and professionalism
• Ability to work independently, anticipate needs, and manage competing priorities while collaborating effectively with colleagues and external partners
• Ability to receive and incorporate constructive feedback and maintain respectful, professional relationships with colleagues, clients, and other stakeholders
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, Salesforce, and other standard computer applications
• Willingness and ability to travel regularly to detention facilities and other locations for investigative assignments

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS 

• Familiarity with issues related to conditions of confinement preferred 
• Proficiency in Spanish preferred
• Prior experience conducting research, investigations, interviews, or related work is a plus.
• Associate's or Bachelor's degree in a relevant field, or equivalent experience, is a plus

COMPENSATION

WHY THE ACLU

For over 100 years, the ACLU has worked to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the United States. Whether it’s ending mass incarceration, achieving full equality for the LGBTQ+ community, establishing new privacy protections for our digital age, or preserving the right to vote or the right to have an abortion, the ACLU takes up the toughest civil liberties cases and issues to defend all people.

We know that great people make a great organization. We value our people and know that what we offer is essential not just their work, but to their overall well-being. 

At the ACLU, we offer a broad range of benefits, which include:

• Time away to focus on the things that matter with a generous paid time-off policy
• Focus on your well-being with comprehensive healthcare benefits (including medical, dental and vision coverage, parental leave, gender affirming care & fertility treatment)
• Plan for your retirement with 401k plan and employer match
• We support employee growth and development through annual professional development funds, internal professional development programs and workshops

OUR COMMITMENT TO ACCESSIBILITY, EQUITY, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION

Accessibility, equity, diversity and inclusion are core values of the ACLU and central to our work to advance liberty, equality, and justice for all. For us diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion are not just check-the-box activities, but a chance for us to make long-term meaningful change.  We are a community committed to learning and growth, humility and grace, transparency and accountability. We believe in a collective responsibility to create a culture of belonging for all people within our organization – one that respects and embraces difference; treats everyone equitably; and empowers our colleagues to do the best work possible. We are as committed to anti-oppression, anti-ableism, and anti-racism internally as we are externally. Because whether we’re in the courts or in the office, we believe ‘We the People’ means all of us.

With this commitment in mind, we strongly encourage applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status and record of arrest or conviction, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.    

The ACLU is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual with a disability and need assistance applying online, please complete the Accommodation Request Form

If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.