Development & Communications Internship

Development & Communications Internship 

New York, NY 

 Summer 2026 

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 over 100,000 people arrested annually in New York City. Information collected about these arrestees and subsequent case processing is maintained in the agency’s internal and externally shared database systems, which are used to conduct descriptive and evaluation research on arrestee characteristics, case processing, and court outcomes, and on issues and potential reforms to criminal justice policy in New York City. CJA’s client-facing programs operate in the criminal courts and detention facilities 24 hours a day, seven days a week, within the 5 boroughs of NYC. City-wide, CJA employs over 300 mission-focused and support staff.  

About the Internship 

CJA is seeking a motivated Development & Communications Intern to support our external affairs and fundraising efforts over the summer. This is a hands-on role well suited to someone with strong writing skills and a genuine interest in criminal justice reform, data and technology policy, or nonprofit service. You'll work closely with the Department of Policy & Program Strategy and Communications to build the infrastructure and materials that help CJA tell its story and grow its network of funders and partners.

Responsibilities

Research & Prospect Development

• Research foundations, government funders, and organizations working at the intersection of justice, technology, and data to identify potential funding and partnership opportunities
• Compile and maintain a prospect database with funding priorities, deadlines, and contact information
• Track trends in the justice reform and civic tech funding landscape to inform CJA's development strategy

Writing & Communications

• Draft internal and external communications materials, including newsletters, press releases, vlog and other social media posts
• Support the development of CJA's editorial calendar and help ensure consistent, timely content across channels
• Assist in drafting and formatting grant letters of inquiry, proposals, or reports as needed
• Support development of website copy for the new website

Stakeholder Engagement & Event Planning

• Help develop briefing documents, one-pagers, talking points, and background memos for meetings with elected officials, potential funders, reporters, and other key stakeholders
• Conduct research to support those briefings, including legislative tracking, funder background, and media monitoring
• Help prepare talking points and Q&A documents for CJA leadership ahead of external meetings and events
• Support planning and logistics for webinars, convenings, or other external events
• Assist with drafting post-event summaries, thank-you communications, and follow-up materials

Administrative Support

• Providing note-taking support during meetings
• Sending out agendas ahead of meetings
• Coordinating schedules on behalf of CJA colleagues

Qualifications

• Strong writing and editing skills, with the ability to adapt tone and format for different audiences
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office products (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint)
• Interest in criminal justice reform, fundraising, data policy, or nonprofit services
• Research skills and comfort synthesizing information from multiple sources
• Organized, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment
• Graphic design and social media experience is a plus
• The selected intern will work June through August over an 8-10 week time frame, and will be offered an hourly rate of $18.00. Weekly hours will range from 10 to 35 and will be determined based on the intern’s availability.

Education: Recently Graduated or in a Graduate program 

Compensation: $18/hour

Submission Deadline: April 10, 2026

Internship Length: The selected intern will work June through August over an 8–10-week time frame

Time Commitment: 10 to 35 hours per week dependent on the intern's availability

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, Employee Assistance Program (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. 

Note: Only those candidates being considered will be contacted.

CJA is seeking applicants who pursue professional development pathways by participating in educational opportunities, reading professional publications, maintaining professional networks, and engaging with professional associations

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

CJA is committed to creating a diverse work environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, disability, parental status, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable laws. We encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply.