The Prison Law Office, located in Berkeley, California, is seeking an investigator/ monitor to investigate conditions in detention centers.

The Prison Law Office is a nonprofit public interest law firm founded in 1976 that provides free legal services to incarcerated adults and juveniles to improve their conditions of confinement in various correctional settings, including prisons, jails, juvenile halls, and immigration detention facilities. With a staff of attorneys and support personnel, we engage in class action and other impact litigation in California, Arizona, and other states; provide direct legal services to individuals regarding their incarceration; educate the public about jail and prison conditions; and provide technical assistance to attorneys throughout the country.

We have litigated numerous successful institutional reform cases that, among other things, have reduced the overcrowding of California’s prisons, improved health care services, guaranteed people with physical and developmental disabilities reasonable accommodations and equal access to jail and prison programs, reduced the use of excessive force, limited racial discrimination in prisons, and restricted the use of solitary confinement in adult and juvenile correctional systems. See www.prisonlaw.com for more information.

Investigators assist attorneys in developing legal strategy and in gathering facts about conditions inside detention facilities, including interviewing people who are incarcerated and their family members, touring facilities, collecting and analyzing documents, and presenting facts and analyses in presentations and reports. Much of our work involves monitoring compliance with state-wide class action injunctions.

Compensation includes a competitive salary based on experience.

 Job Requirements:

• B.A. or higher degree
• Experience or interest in legal work, particularly on behalf of people affected by the criminal legal system.
• Excellent analytical and writing skills.
• Excellent verbal communication skills; bilingual skills in Spanish preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to problem-solve, exercise sound judgment, take initiative, and work independently.
• Ability to interact cooperatively, professionally, and effectively with coworkers, clients, co-counsel, opposing counsel, and jail/prison staff.
• Ability to travel throughout California and Arizona to prisons and jails on multi-day tours; valid driver’s license required.
• People of color, LGBT+ individuals, persons with disabilities, and people who have had prior contact or experience with the criminal legal system or prison systems are encouraged to apply.

 Application:

To be considered for the position, please submit the following materials:

• Cover letter
• Resume
• Legal writing sample
• List of three references

Please send all documents attached to a single email to office@prisonlaw.com with the subject line “Investigator Application.”

 The Prison Law Office is an equal employment opportunity employer and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, sex (including pregnancy), gender, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity (including transgender status), or any other basis prohibited by law. The Prison Law Office does not bar applicants based upon their arrest or criminal history.

 Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic and the statewide and Alameda County shelter-in-place orders, most Prison Law Office employees are currently primarily working remotely from their homes. While we have implemented detailed health and safety protocols to minimize risk of exposure and have an evolving plan for reopening our office, we anticipate remaining primarily remote at least throughout the rest of 2020. Most employees are expected to be able to primarily work remotely from home until Prison Law Office and state/county health officials determine it is safe to reopen offices. All employees are issued Prison Law Office computers and are provided with appropriate supplies. We continue to explore additional technologies to make working remotely as efficient and connected as possible.

 Benefits

Generous Benefits

 Professional Level:

Professional

 Minimum Education Required:

Bachelor of Arts or Science.