Criminal Justice Specialist

Volunteering Legal

Overview

Support the implementation of actions for the criminal justice system.

You have:

• Minimum of 3 years of experience (professional and/or academic) in the areas of Justice, Human Rights, Prison/Criminal System, Public Policies, or related fields.
• Work experience, including internships, with public sector partners.
• Professional and/or academic experience related to drug policy, with particular focus on the therapeutic or personal use of cannabis sativa (desirable).

Contract

This is a UNV National Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as National UN Volunteer. It is normally only for nationals. More about UNV National Specialist contracts.

The project “Strengthening and monitoring innovation actions and improvement of the penal and socio-educational systems, in line with national and international human rights principles and guidelines” aims to work on the development of innovative methodologies and actions with a focus on reestablishing regular and adequate functioning of the prison and socio-educational system and produce subsidies to strengthen the monitoring and inspection of official interventions in these systems, in line with national and international human rights principles and guidelines. In particular, The project works to provide CNJ with tools to: (i) promote the development of mandates and capabilities (constitutional, conventional and legal) of the Judiciary to overcome bottlenecks and obstacles that hinder individual performance and better collective action by magistrates in the criminal and socio-educational systems, notably to protect the positions of more vulnerable populations, and (ii) action to enable full and complete compliance with the decision (on the merits) handed down by the Federal Supreme Court in the ADPF 347, which consolidated the understanding regarding the existence of an unconstitutional state of affairs in Brazilian prisons and determined the agreement and monitoring of a national plan and state and district plans aimed at overcoming a situation of structural disarray and massive and systematic violation of fundamental rights, which prevents the implementation of the grammar and programs of principles present in the Federal Constitution, in the International Human Rights Treaties and in ordinary Legislation. To achieve these objectives, the project is organized into 6 axes, which correspond to the intermediate results expected for the project:

1 - Implementation, strengthening and monitoring/evaluation of actions that guarantee the regular functioning of the penal system 2 - Implementation, strengthening and monitoring/evaluation of actions that guarantee the regular functioning of the socio-educational system 3 - Improvement and quantitative and qualitative increase in the collection and production of data from the penal and socio-educational systems, 4 - Improvement, strengthening and monitoring of care strategies for the most vulnerable populations in interface with the penal and socio-educational systems 5 - Technical assistance to the CNJ for advocacy with 1st and 2nd degree magistracy, through the creation of awareness and communication channels, dissemination of content, education, training, interaction strategies, dialogue and other actions that allow better instrumentalization of the information of the performance options of Brazilian judges, enabling them to act more comprehensively towards the population and its inequalities 6 - Efficient management and knowledge management of the project carried out.

The UN Volunteer will work with a focus on Axis 1 mentioned above, with an emphasis on actions addressing both the entry and exit points of the prison system, as well as the safeguarding of the fundamental rights of persons deprived of liberty. This includes initiatives such as non-custodial measures, electronic monitoring, custody hearings, prison capacity regulation, the protection of the rights of incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals, as well as other projects aimed at overcoming prison overcrowding, with particular attention to initiatives related to enhancing the judiciary’s role in drug policy.

The UN Volunteer Criminal Justice Specialist will be responsible, under the supervision of the Technical Coordinator of the Non-Custodial Measures Unit, for supporting the implementation of the actions foreseen in this area, contributing to the fulfillment of the established workplan and the quality of deliverables, in close coordination with the CNJ and UNDP teams. To this end, the following indicative activities are envisaged:

1. Collaborate in the development of initiatives aimed at enhancing the judiciary’s role within the framework of drug policy;
2. Support the implementation of strategic actions and projects related to the activities foreseen for the team;
3. Provide support in the drafting of texts, reports, official communications, and other documents required for management, information, systematization, knowledge, and development of the ongoing actions of the team;
4. Contribute to the organization of events and trainings, providing technical, administrative, and management support to the team’s coordination;
5. Record and monitor the team’s actions, based on the definition of targets and priority deliverables, as well as the management strategies and monitoring tools established by UNDP and CNJ;
6. Advise the team’s coordination on the management and execution of contracted consultancies, including the technical drafting of terms of reference proposals, and the review of deliverables, reports, and assessments;
7. Participate in technical meetings, capacity-building initiatives, and other related activities, as requested by the supervisor and in accordance with the institutional workplan;
8. Provide technical support for the systematization of good practices, local institutional capacity development, and the implementation of cross-cutting actions under the Project;
9. Perform other tasks as required by the designated supervisor.

• Accountability • Adaptability and flexibility • Client Orientation; • Commitment and Motivation • Commitment to Continuous Learning; • Communication; Creativity; • Ethics and Values; Integrity; • Knowledge Sharing; • Planning and Organizing; • Professionalism; • Respect for Diversity; • Self-Management; • Technological Awareness; • Teamwork

• Minimum of 3 years of experience (professional and/or academic) in the areas of Justice, Human Rights, Prison/Criminal System, Public Policies, or related fields; • Work experience, including internships, with public sector partners.

Desirable skills and experience

• Professional and/or academic experience related to drug policy, with particular focus on the therapeutic or personal use of cannabis sativa (desirable).

The assignment will be in Brasília, the Federal capital of Brazil and seat of government of the Federal District. Brasilia is a family duty station and classified A (hardship). The living conditions in Brasilia are good as well as the access to health services. The accommodation facilities are in general good, and the choice is wide.

As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging their own housing and other living essentials. National UN Volunteers are part of the malicious insurance plan.

Brazil is security level 3 (moderate). United Nations Department of Safety and Security UNDSS Brazil advises to exercise a high degree of caution in Brazil due to high levels of serious and violent crime, particularly in major cities. Violent crime as muggings, armed robbery, kidnappings, and sexual assault, is very high. Avoid shanty towns (favelas) in the big cities and if you are attacked or robbed, do not resist. Demonstrations can occur at any time and may turn violent with little or no warning. All United Nations personnel must scrupulously comply with UNDSS procedures and recommendations during their assignment in Brazil. For missions in rural areas or indigenous reservations, special procedures may apply; UN personnel should consult with the local DSS office in advance.

Information on entitlements at the duty station is available at https://app.unv.org/calculator. The complete UN Volunteer Conditions of Service is available at https://explore.unv.org/cos.

Apply now

Potential interview questions

Added 8 months ago - Updated 8 months ago - Source: unv.org