JOB SUMMARY

The Office of Homelessness and Criminal Justice Reform (OHCJR) is looking for a Data and Analytics Intern to join our team. As an intern on our team, you will have the opportunity to work directly with experts in the criminal justice system to understand the impact of legal and policy changes on criminal justice systems. This internship will be focused on analyzing the intersection of different criminal justice agencies, and how they collectively work, and are impacted by changes to the system.

We are seeking a Data and Analytics Intern to join our team and support efforts to analyze how legislative changes and system modifications can impact criminal justice systems. You will work on designing data models and conducting analyses to assess how changes in laws, regulations, and policies affect various elements of the criminal justice system, including law enforcement, courts, and corrections.

The Office of Homelessness and Criminal Justice Reform supports the Criminal Justice Advisory Council (CJAC) and the Salt Lake Valley Coalition to End Homelessness (SLVCEH), which serves as the county’s Continuum of Care. In addition to CJAC and SLVCEH, the office oversees a range of programs focused on systemic solutions to homelessness and criminal justice issues. These include Community Violence Intervention, AmeriCorps, the Emergency Food Program, Coordinated Entry, the Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program, and the Justice and Mental Health Initiative. We collaborate with local, state, and national partners to address complex social challenges and provide data-driven insights to guide policy, improve public safety, and promote fairness in the justice system.

Work is primarily Monday through Friday with flexible hours to accommodate a school schedule. There may be occasional work on the weekends.

Applicants must be currently enrolled in a Bachelor OR Graduate program.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The following duties and responsibilities are intended to be representative of the work performed by the incumbent(s) in this position and are not all-inclusive. The omission of specific duties and responsibilities will not preclude it from the position. Applicants must be prepared to demonstrate the ability to perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation.

• Data Modeling & Analysis in Criminal Justice Context:
• Design, create, and optimize data models to support the analysis of criminal justice system data, focusing on how legislative changes (e.g., criminal laws, sentencing reforms, police procedures) affect the system.
• Analyze large datasets related to crime rates, arrests, sentencing, recidivism, and law enforcement operations to identify trends and potential impacts of legal reforms.
• Impact Assessment of Legislative Changes:
• Collaborate with legal experts, policymakers, and criminal justice practitioners to analyze and assess the potential effects of new or proposed laws on criminal justice data systems and practices.
• Evaluate the effects of changes in laws (e.g., decriminalization, sentencing reforms) on key metrics such as incarceration rates, case processing times, or recidivism rates.
• Collaboration with Cross-Functional Teams:
• Work with data engineers, legal teams, and policy analysts to ensure that models align with the requirements of the criminal justice system and relevant legislative mandates.
• Support the creation of reports and visualizations that help stakeholders understand how changes in the law might affect the functioning of the criminal justice system.
• Data Integration & System Testing:
• Assist in integrating new criminal justice data sources into existing data models to accommodate legislative or procedural changes.
• Test and validate the models to ensure they meet both legal and operational requirements, providing actionable insights for policy decisions.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Currently pursuing a degree in Data Science, Public Policy, Computer Science, or a related field.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to work with complex, large datasets specific to criminal justice systems (e.g., police data, court data, correctional data).
• Familiarity with data modeling techniques and tools (e.g., ER modeling, normalization, dimensional modeling).
• Experience in SQL, Python, R, or similar tools for data analysis and manipulation.
• Interest in criminal justice reform.
• Experience with data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI) is a plus.
• Communication skills, with the ability to present complex findings to both technical and non-technical audiences, including policymakers and legal professionals.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS  

• Understanding of criminal law and justice system processes.
• Familiarity with criminal justice datasets, such as arrest records, case files, or correctional facility data, is a plus.
• Strong experience in data analysis and modeling across multiple data sets.

LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES

• Gain practical experience in applying data modeling techniques to real-world criminal justice data.
• Develop a deeper understanding of how legislative changes influence criminal justice systems and their data management.
• Exposure to a range of data sources and stakeholders, including law enforcement agencies, court systems, and correctional facilities.
• Contribute to meaningful projects that support criminal justice reform efforts and improve public policy outcomes.

PAY: $17.00/hour 

START DATE: The internship begins May 2025 (start date flexible) and ends August 2025. There may be the possibility of an extension.

TO APPLY:

Required Documents

• Resume
• A work portfolio example showing data analytic skills
• Schedule availability

PHYSICAL ADDRESS

Salt Lake County Mayor’s Office

County Government Building

2001 S State Street

Salt Lake City, UT 84114

WORKING CONDITIONS AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Interns may work remotely or from the Salt Lake County Government Center. They will be provided with a computer and an email account. Intern may be asked to attend meetings off-site, at other government facilities, and in the community. Interns may be sitting for long periods of time at a computer.

PAID INTERN POSITIONS

• Are not considered merit employees.
• Are not guaranteed employment following their internship