Criminal Justice Research Intern

About Us

DNA Global ( www.datainaction.org ) is an emerging Equity-centered Research, Evaluation and Consulting firm, a startup, based in the San Francisco Bay Area, supporting public programs and government systems across justice, public health and education sectors locally and nationally to reach excellence, achieve equity and have the greatest possible impact. We conduct multidisciplinary research, evaluation, and data analysis, and provide evidence-based tools, technical assistance and strategic planning services to improve justice and related systems, policies and practices. Role Overview The Criminal Justice Research Intern will support ongoing research, evaluation, and data analysis projects focused on justice systems and related social outcomes. This role is embedded within active client and grant-funded work and is designed to expand team capacity on research, data, and publication efforts. The intern will work closely with senior staff to contribute to multiple projects simultaneously, with opportunities to support both quantitative and qualitative components of evaluation and research. This role is ideal for students in Criminal Justice, Public Policy, or related graduate programs, particularly those with strong research and data analysis skills who are interested in real-world application of their academic training.

Key Responsibilities

• Support ongoing criminal justice and public sector evaluation projects
• Conduct literature reviews and background research related to ongoing project work and manuscripts
• Assist with quantitative data analysis (data cleaning, basic analysis, interpretation)
• Support qualitative data collection, including:
• Developing interview guides and surveys
• Conducting interviews (if appropriate)
• Synthesizing qualitative findings
• Contribute to peer reviewed research papers and evaluation reports, including drafting sections, tables & figures, and preparing summaries
• Assist in developing evaluation tools and frameworks
• Support grant proposals and background research as needed
• Help organize and manage research materials, datasets, and documentation.

Required Qualifications

• Currently enrolled in or recently completed a graduate program (Master’s or PhD) in:
• Criminal Justice, Criminology, Public Policy, Sociology, Public Administration, or related field
• Foundational experience with research methods (quantitative and/or qualitative) and techniques
• Basic proficiency in data analysis (e.g., Excel, R, Stata, SPSS, or similar)
• Strong writing and communication skills
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and work independently with some guidance

Preferred Qualifications

• PhD student or candidate OR advanced Master’s student with demonstrated research experience
• Demonstrated experience with:
• Quantitative analysis (strongly preferred)
• Mixed-methods research
• Prior experience working on:
• Research projects, evaluations, or academic publications
• Criminal justice or related policy areas
• Equity and related subject matter
• Experience with survey design, interviewing, or qualitative coding
• Familiarity with program evaluation frameworks
• Ability to translate complex findings into clear, actionable insights, through data visualization techniques.

Ideal Candidate Profile

• Strong analytical, innovative critical thinker with genuine interest in reforming justice systems and promoting equity
• Comfortable working across both data and narrative-based research
• Collaborative and works well with communities and stakeholders
• Highly motivated and solution oriented in contributing to real-world, applied research and evaluation
• Fast learner, independent, problem solving, and driven to succeed intrinsically.

Details

• Expected duration of engagement: 3 months (summer position)
• Compensation of $1,000 upon successful completion of the internship
• 10-15 hours per week depending on workload and deliverables

How to Apply

Please submit your resume/CV, cover letter, and a relevant writing sample using the survey form provided or via email to [email protected] . Our Commitment to Diversity We believe that diverse perspectives and experiences make our work stronger. We encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply. We are committed to providing an equitable and inclusive hi