CEEP Research offer Scholars the opportunity to work closely with leaders in both academia and the professional world on the mentor’s specific research project.  This research relationship often leads to publication as co-authors, published acknowledgements, presentations at international symposia, and even employment opportunities.  Interns have been acknowledged in The Edge of Disaster by Stephen Flynn, Sr. Fellow, Council on Foreign Relations and Former Director of Global Issues, National Security Council Staff, Clinton Administration.  Scholars have also been named as co-authors in the published works of Dr. Ernest Drucker (Epidemiologist and CUSP Board Member) on both HIV/AIDS and the Rockefeller Drug Laws.

• Citizens Crime Commission of NYC Research Internship on Juvenile Justice
• The Aspen Institute Research Internship

CITIZENS CRIME COMMISSION OF NYC RESEARCH INTERNSHIP ON JUVENILE JUSTICE

The Citizens Crime Commission is an independent, non-profit, non-partisan organization working to reduce crime and to improve the criminal justice system and the safety of New York City. In the last two decades, the commission has been a leading advocate on key issues such as: sentencing reform, reducing jail overcrowding, creating alternatives to incarceration, creating community courts, judicial reform, improving police management, and developing more effective police tactics. During the high-crime years of the 1980s and early 1990s, the commission urged lawmakers to reform the criminal justice and legal systems so that they could better respond to the escalating levels of violence and disorder. Most recently, the commission has successfully supported the greater use of DNA evidence in crime fighting, brought attention to the dangers inherent in the rise of juvenile crime, developed interventions against gun violence and highlighted the changing nature of the threat of terrorism. Currently, the commission is particularly interested in the New York City’s juvenile justice system, in light of recent increases in crime among the juvenile population both locally and nationwide. This is in part because increased juvenile crime can be viewed as a harbinger of crime increases in the general population, as was seen during the most recent national crime wave. Specifically, the commission seeks to address the question of how government, law-enforcement, criminal justice, and community-based measures can work more effectively to prevent juveniles from committing crimes. More information on the commission is available online at www.nycrimecommission.org.

Research interns play a major role in the research, analysis and writing of a report on the current state of New York City’s juvenile justice system and recommendations for its improvement. The report that will be published by the commission will be circulated to governmental leaders, policy makers, the press and posted online The goal is to report on the current state of juvenile justice, identify deficiencies, if any, develop a reform agenda and then actively seek to convert the reform agenda into actual policy.

The internship provides the opportunity to learn about the criminal justice system in New York City, with a focus on the juvenile justice process, while also offering direct insight and participation in the policy-making process.  It is the current intention of the commission to immediately seek implementation of the reform agenda upon completion of the report. Any interns who successfully complete the research and writing process will be strongly considered for involvement in the reform implementation phase, should the intern so desire.  As such it would be especially suitable for students considering work in the legal, government, public policy or similar fields. Students in any current field of study will be considered for this position.

THE ASPEN INSTITUTE RESEARCH INTERNSHIP

The Aspen Institute is an international nonprofit dedicated to fostering enlightened leadership and open-minded dialogue. The Initiative on Financial Security (IFS) is one of over a dozen Aspen Institute policy programs that seek to improve public and private sector policy decision-making by providing a neutral venue for leaders to engage in informed inquiry on complex, important issues of our time.  Savings policy has moved to the forefront of public discourse as the U.S. personal savings rate has dropped to zero and domestic policy attention is focused on issues such as pension reform, Social Security and the cost of health care. The mission of IFS is to examine solutions to this savings crisis so that more Americans can own homes, finance college, start businesses and prepare for a secure retirement. Members of IFS’ Advisory Board include CEOs and senior executives from The Capital Group, Goldman Sachs, ING Financial Services, Bank of America, H&R Block, Shorebank, and the Urban Institute, among others.  The intern is exposed to the various activities of a think tank (research, events and publications) and develops organizational, research, and communications skills. S/he will also learn about the development of roundtable events both in terms of content and logistics, as well as major issues in American savings policy.