Development & Communications Internship

Job Description

Development & Communications Internship – Summer 2026

Organization: The New York City Criminal Justice Agency (CJA)

Location: New York, NY

Internship Term: Summer 2026 (June through August)

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. As the City’s main pretrial services agency, CJA uniquely combines operations, pilot projects, and research. The agency utilizes procedural justice practices to provide pretrial services to over 100,000 people arrested annually in New York City. CJA collects and maintains information about arrestees and subsequent case processing in its internal and externally shared database systems. This data is leveraged to conduct descriptive and evaluation research on arrestee characteristics, case processing, court outcomes, and to inform potential reforms to criminal justice policy in New York City. CJA’s client-facing programs operate 24/7 across the five boroughs of NYC, within criminal courts and detention facilities. The agency employs over 300 mission-focused and support staff city-wide.

About The Internship

CJA is seeking a motivated Development & Communications Intern to contribute to its external affairs and fundraising efforts during the summer of 2026. This is a hands-on opportunity ideal for individuals with strong writing skills and a genuine interest in areas such as criminal justice reform, data and technology policy, or nonprofit service. The intern will collaborate closely with the Department of Policy & Program Strategy and Communications to develop essential infrastructure and materials. These efforts will be crucial in enhancing CJA’s ability to articulate its mission and expand its network of funders and partners.

Key Responsibilities

Research & Prospect Development

• Conduct research to identify potential funding and partnership opportunities, focusing on foundations, government funders, and organizations working at the intersection of justice, technology, and data.
• Compile and maintain a prospect database, including details on funding priorities, deadlines, and contact information.
• Track trends within the justice reform and civic tech funding landscape to provide insights that will inform CJA’s development strategy.

Writing & Communications

• Draft a variety of internal and external communications materials, such as newsletters, press releases, vlogs, and other social media posts.
• Support the development of CJA’s editorial calendar to ensure consistent and timely content dissemination across all channels.
• Assist in drafting and formatting grant letters of inquiry, proposals, or reports as needed.
• Contribute to the development of website copy for CJA’s new website.

Stakeholder Engagement & Event Planning

• Help create briefing documents, one-pagers, talking points, and background memos for meetings with key stakeholders, including elected officials, potential funders, and reporters.
• Perform research to support these briefings, involving legislative tracking, funder background research, and media monitoring.
• Assist in preparing talking points and Q&A documents for CJA leadership in preparation for external meetings and events.
• Provide support for the planning and logistics of webinars, convenings, or other external events.
• Aid in drafting post-event summaries, thank-you communications, and follow-up materials.

Administrative Support

• Provide note-taking support during various meetings.
• Distribute agendas in advance of scheduled meetings.
• Coordinate schedules on behalf of CJA colleagues.

Qualifications

• Strong writing and editing skills: Ability to adapt tone and format for diverse audiences.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office products: Including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Demonstrated interest: In criminal justice reform, fundraising, data policy, or nonprofit services.
• Research skills: Comfort with synthesizing information from multiple sources.
• Organizational skills: Organized, detail-oriented, and capable of managing multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment.
• Graphic design and social media experience: Considered a significant plus.

Education

Recently Graduated or currently enrolled in a Graduate program.

Compensation

$18.00 per hour

Internship Length & Time Commitment

The selected intern will work for an 8-10 week period from June through August. Weekly hours will range from 10 to 35, determined by the intern’s availability.

Submission Deadline

April 10, 2026