Criminal Justice Reform Project

The Criminal Justice Reform Project was founded in 1992 in the United States. It is an international litigation and public policy organization dedicated to exonerating wrongfully convicted individuals. The mission is to free the staggering number of innocent people who remain incarcerated and to bring reform to the system responsible for their unjust imprisonment.

The Criminal Justice Reform Project in Argentina was born in the country in 2014 after the great repercussion of the documentary "El Rati Horror Show", which told the story of a man who spent seven years in prison for a crime he did not commit. The documentary made visible the discretionary power of the police to investigate, the biased approach of the media and the main causes that contribute to wrongful convictions in Argentina.

As in most of the locations around the world, the organization has three main objectives: research, analysis, and litigation for cases of people who have been wrongfully convicted; the promotion of related legislature and public policy; and the training of students on this area of law.

Industry: Law & Human and Civil Rights; Government & Public Policy
Sector: Nonprofit Organization
Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina

Possible Intern Roles:

Research and Analysis

The intern will conduct research and write reports about the different causes that contribute to wrongful convictions, as well as the role they play in the Argentine legal system. The intern may also register petitions for cases that are submitted to the organization and write memos detailing decisions regarding whether to represent the petitioners or not, and the justification for their final decision.

Suggested Spanish level: Intermediate
Candidate requirements: The ideal candidate will have an interest in justice, criminal and human rights law and a background in research.

 

In the words of past interns:

“With the clarity in future career plans that my internship provides, I've started to think more about how my academic plans tie in with these career plans, and what actions I can take in the next few years in order to make them a reality. I was able to learn more about how the organization functioned, was able to get better acquainted with the day-to-day work of a lawyer (or group of them), and found myself getting to know my work peers. Being in Argentina also greatly expanded my cultural awareness and understanding in general.” - Leopoldo S., Research Intern, from Princeton University



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