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Human Rights Defense Center

 

Job Description

Employment Opportunities at HRDC

The Human Rights Defense Center is a dynamic and vibrant non-profit organization. We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate on the basis of age, race, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, religion or other impermissible factors, nor on prior incarceration/criminal record status.

HRDC welcomes volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering, interning or being a fellow at HRDC in a non-compensated capacity, please contact us at 561-360-2523.

 

STAFF ATTORNEY

Human Rights Defense Center: Staff Attorney Job Posting

 

Job Description

 

The Human Rights Defense Center (HRDC) is seeking a full-time staff attorney in its Boynton Beach, FL office.

 

HRDC is a nonprofit organization that advocates in furtherance of the human rights of people held in U.S. prisons, jails, and detention facilities. HRDC is one of the few national opponents to the private prison industry and is the foremost advocate on behalf of the free speech rights of publishers to communicate with prisoners and the right of prisoners to receive publications and communications from outside sources. HRDC also does significant work around government transparency and accountability issues by filing and litigating public records and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cases at the state and federal levels. In addition, HRDC provides representation in cases involving wrongful convictions and consumer class actions related to the financial exploitation of prisoners and their families.

 

HRDC has a national docket and works with the most skilled civil rights lawyers and firms around the country. Our opponents include state, local and federal agencies, as well as private prison companies and companies that profit from mass incarceration. All HRDC cases have a media component and often involve working with the affected communities.

 

Responsibilities: The attorney will primarily litigate Section 1983 and FOIA cases in Federal Court, and will also litigate cases under state public records laws. The attorney will be expected to handle all phases of complex civil litigation and maintain an active case load, although cases at HRDC are handled cooperatively among all in-house attorneys. The attorney will be directly supervised by the Litigation Director and will work with in-house legal support staff. In most cases, the attorney will coordinate and work with co-counsel from various jurisdictions across the country. The attorney will occasionally be expected to travel to various jurisdictions around the country. This is a full time, 40 hour per week job in our Boynton Beach office; however, remote work is an option for an ideal candidate.

 

Qualifications: A minimum of five years post-graduate experience as a full-time lawyer or judicial clerkship is preferred, but exceptions will be made for exceptional candidates with less experience. The successful candidate will have excellent writing and analytical skills, experience litigating § 1983 cases, a demonstrated commitment to improving the criminal justice system, and a personal interest in the preservation and advancement of civil liberties and individual rights. The attorney must be admitted in good standing to the Florida Bar,  must be self-motivated, energetic, capable of working in a dynamic, fast paced environment, and able to adjust to shifting priorities. Experience with First Amendment, public records, Section 1983, federal court, class action or consumer related litigation is a plus.

 

Salary/Benefits: Salary is $100,000-$140,000 per year and will be set depending on experience skill sets. HRDC offers a generous benefits package including 100% employer paid group health, dental, and vision insurance. Generous vacation, including all federal holidays.

 

Application: Send resume, cover letter, and three references to litigation director Jonathan Picard, jpicard@humanrightsdefensecenter.org. No phone calls please. The position will remain open until filled.

 

HRDC is an equal opportunity employer. Formerly incarcerated persons are strongly encouraged to apply.

 

Human Rights Defense Center: Advertising Coordinator

 

Job Description: Advertising Coordinator

 

The Human Rights Defense Center (HRDC) is hiring a full-time advertising coordinator to work with our executive director to sell print and digital advertising in the nation’s two premiere criminal justice magazines, Prison Legal News and Criminal Legal News. This is a critical position which sustains and increases print and online advertising.

 

HRDC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Boynton Beach, Florida. Our mission since 1990 has been to protect the human and civil rights of people in jails, prisons, and detention centers nationally. HRDC furthers its mission through advocacy, litigation, and the publication and distribution of two monthly magazines and numerous books intended for prisoners and their advocates. HRDC has 14 full time employees.

 

HRDC is a charitable organization and relies on sales of its books, advertising, magazines and donations to support its work. The advertising coordinator will promote sales of advertising in HRDC’s monthly magazines and websites. The advertising coordinator will report directly to the executive director and work under their direction and supervision. Primary areas of responsibility include: (1) maintaining and servicing existing advertising accounts, (2) generating leads for new potential advertisers, contacting them and doing outreach to sell print and digital ads, (3) reaching out to lapsed advertisers about renewing ads, (4) reviewing ad content for accuracy.

 

We will soon be launching a podcast which will be an additional opportunity to sell advertising.

 

The position is based in our Boynton Beach, FL office. It is a M-F, 9-5 job with all federal holidays off.

 

Annual salary range for this position is $60,000 to $70,000. HRDC has a generous benefits package that includes full health insurance, dental and vision insurance, and paid vacation.

 

QUALIFICATIONS

 

  1. At least 3-5 years direct sales experience successfully selling advertising, products, or services.
  2. Experience generating leads and following up.
  3. Proficiency with MS Office suit, Windows and Salesforce. Quickbooks expertise is desirable as well.
  4. A high degree of accuracy and attention to detail.
  5. Able to function in a deadline driven, fast-paced, dynamic work environment.
  6. Creative ability to sell advertising.
  7. Excellent writing and communication skills.
  8. Experience or familiarity with the publishing industry is a plus but not required.

 

If interested, please send your resume and cover letter to: pwright@prisonlegalnews.org . No phone calls please. Position remains open until filled. HRDC is an equal opportunity employer and criminal justice impacted people are encouraged to apply.

 

Human Rights Defense Center: Stop Prison Profiteering Researcher/Investigator

 

 

The Human Rights Defense Center (HRDC) is seeking a full-time researcher/investigator for its Stop Prison Profiteering Campaign in its Boynton Beach, FL office.

 

 

 

HRDC is a nonprofit organization that advocates in furtherance of the human rights of people held in U.S. detention facilities. This includes people in state and federal prisons, local jails, immigration detention centers, civil commitment facilities, Bureau of Indian Affairs jails, juvenile facilities and military prisons. HRDC is one of the few national opponents to the private prison industry and is the foremost advocate on behalf of the free speech rights of publishers to communicate with prisoners and the right of prisoners to receive publications and communications from outside sources. HRDC also does significant work around government transparency and accountability issues by filing and litigating public records and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cases at the state and federal levels.

 

 

 

HRDC is one of the leaders and founders of the Campaign for Prison Phone Justice which challenges exorbitant phone rates charged to those who receive calls from prisoners. For more information about the campaign please go to www.phonejustice.org and www.prisonphonejustice.org . HRDC maintains and updates the data on the latter website.

 

Campaign for Stop Prison Profiteering and Prison Phone Justice

 

HRDC Researcher and Investigator

 Activities include:

 

Public Records Research

 

  • Survey all 50 states and BOP for prison phone and profiteering contracts and related information on an ongoing basis
  • Post records on website; maintain content of site
  • Analyze records and provide summaries for litigation staff

 

Communication

 

  • With campaign partner organizations: Communicate as needed by telephone and email to strategize and collaborate; coordinate and facilitate monthly national conference calls
  • With campaign allies on the outside: Communicate daily/weekly with campaign allies such as state and local partner campaigns, attorneys, and journalists
  • With prisoners: Read and respond to letters from prisoners regarding phone and profiteering issues;

 

 

Generating Press and Social Media Content

 

  • Contribute to HRDC websites and social media accounts with blog posts, press releases, etc.
  • Disseminate information on Campaign activities through listserv and Campaign Twitter account
  • Write articles for Prison Legal News and allied publications about prison profiteering and other prison phone justice issues
  • Communicate with impacted people about their experiences and help disseminate the human impact these policies of exploitation have on prisoners, their families and society

  

Public Education and Advocacy

 

  • Write reports for legislative hearings and utilities commission meetings
  • Create online advocacy actions for engaging Campaign supporters as needed

 

 

Litigation Support:

 

  • Assist HRDC lawyers in public records litigation related to phone information
  • Assist litigation partners in class action litigation related to the financial exploitation of prisoners and their families as needed

 

  

This is a salaried position as part of a litigation project and a public policy campaign. Knowledge of criminal justice issues and telecommunications policy is highly desirable but not required. The successful applicant will work under the supervision of litigation director Jon Picard in our Boynton Beach office. This is a M-F, 9-5 full time office position.

 

Computer skills and knowledge of office software packages including Microsoft OS, Office, and QuickBooks is required. A minimum of two years related work experience is required. A college degree is not required but is desired. The successful candidate will have excellent writing and analytical skills, excellent problem solving, interpersonal and communication skills. Managing large amounts of data in electronic and hard copy format is required along with the ability to process large amounts of mail. Experience with public records laws and submitting public records requests is helpful but not required.

  

HRDC has a professional work environment; business casual dress and neat appearance are required.

 

 HRDC is an equal opportunity employer. Formerly incarcerated persons are strongly encouraged to apply.

 

 

 

Pay scale for this position is $60,000-$75,000 annually. HRDC provides paid vacation and time off; all federal holidays are paid time off. HRDC also provides health, dental and vision insurance and pays 100% of insurance premiums.

 

Please submit resume to Paul Wright at: pwright@prisonlegalnews.org.

 

No phone calls please.