About the Role
The Louisiana Criminal Justice System Researcher will support the Louisiana Truth and Safety Project by producing accessible, accurate, justice-centered research on Louisiana’s criminal legal system, incarceration trends, jail churn, sentencing, alternatives to arrest, public spending, racial disparities, and non-carceral solutions. This role helps ground narrative strategy, public education, policy communications,
and partner tools in credible research and community-relevant analysis. The researcher will work closely with project leadership, communications staff, organizers, and partners to translate complex criminal justice issues into clear findings, briefs, talking points, fact sheets, and other materials that support advocacy, field coordination, and public understanding. The ideal candidate combines strong research skills with political clarity, attention to accuracy, and commitment to impacted communities.
This is a grant funded position with a stipend amount of $3000.00. A commitment of 10 to 30 hours per month.
Requirements
Key Responsibilities:
Research and Analysis
● Conduct research on Louisiana’s criminal legal system, including incarceration, jail populations, pretrial detention, sentencing, probation and parole, court practices, fines and fees, homelessness criminalization, substance use criminalization, and related issues.
● Track and analyze public data, government reports, budgets, policy proposals, media narratives, and system trends relevant to criminal justice in Louisiana.
● Identify racial, geographic, and economic disparities across Louisiana’s criminal legal landscape.
● Support development of research that connects lived experience to public costs, policy choices, and community impact.
● Issue Briefs and Public Education Materials
● Produce issue briefs, research memos, fact sheets, backgrounders, and summary documents for internal and public-facing use.
● Help create clear, accessible “show the money” materials that explain incarceration incentives, jail churn, public spending, and alternatives.
● Translate technical findings into plain language for organizers, partners, spokespeople, and the public.
● Support rapid-response research needs tied to emerging public debates, media moments, or policy threats.
Narrative and Communications Support:
● Collaborate with communications and narrative staff to ensure public messaging is grounded in accurate, useful research.
● Contribute data points, framing support, and contextual analysis for messaging toolkits, talking points, op-eds, trainings, public statements, and campaign materials.
● Help distinguish verified data, estimates, lived experience, and policy interpretation in project materials.
● Support message testing and development by identifying strong evidence, public trends, and useful comparisons.
Qualifications:
● Experience in criminal justice research, policy research, public policy, legal system analysis, sociology, public administration, or related fields.
● Strong research, writing, and analytical skills.
● Ability to synthesize complex information into clear, accessible language.
● Familiarity with Louisiana criminal justice issues, incarceration trends, courts, policing, reentry, or decarceration work strongly preferred.
● Demonstrated commitment to racial justice, non-carceral solutions, and community-centered research.
● Ability to work independently, manage deadlines, and produce accurate work with strong attention to detail.
● Experience using public data sources, government reports, academic sources, and policy materials.
About the Company
Job Title: Louisiana Criminal Justice System Researcher Project: Louisiana Truth and Safety Project Organization: Louisiana Liberation and Sovereignty Collective (LLSC) Location: Louisiana-based preferred; work connected to Orleans Parish, Terrebonne Parish, East Baton Rouge Parish, and statewide issues
Employment Type: Contract Project Period: Through December 2026