Essential Functions: The Research Assistant will support the Center's urban safety initiatives, including the implementation of CompStat, a collaborative and data-driven crime reduction strategy. Community CompStat meetings, held on a biweekly or monthly basis and attended by various law enforcement and community partners, are a critical component of the CompStat strategy. As part of this work, the Research Assistant will perform the following activities:Identify relevant crime patterns and trends utilizing information from crime reports and other sources, and present summary of findings in a range of formats, including written reports, data visualizations (maps, tables, charts, graphs), and oral presentations.Perform analysis of crime data and community data.Facilitate Community CompStat meetings by presenting crime information in a concise way to support collaboration and decision-making among groups of law enforcement and community partners.Communicate reliably, clearly, and effectively with the Center's community partners, including community leaders, law enforcement personnel, local politicians, and community-based organizations.Represent CompStat and AmeriCorps Urban Safety Program (AMUS) at local AMUS events, community gatherings, workshops, and trainings (must be available nights and weekends). Coordinate with Center research staff and AmeriCorps members involved in public safety projects.Take and route messages from participating community partners.Retrieve or produce deliverable documents and presentations for law enforcement agencies, public safety organizations, and funding organizations.Conduct literature review, create logic models, and prepare best practice protocols on public safety interventions.Assist in drafting program descriptions for grant proposals.Prepare regular updates to Center Director and Managing Director.
Qualifications: Bachelor's degree in relevant area of social science (including economics, political science, criminal justice, education, psychology, public health, social work, sociology, and urban studies) is required. Master's degree is highly preferred. Experience working with crime data is highly preferred.Demonstrated ability to work in an academic research environment.Must be skilled in MS Office, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Basic statistical analysis and mapping skills, and a willingness to take courses and pursue training to improve skills in these areas. Advanced skills and practical experience in ESRI ArcGIS are an advantage. Computer programming and/or database management experience is an advantage.Strong problem resolution, organizational, analytical, and communication (oral, written, and advanced note-taking) skills; strong capacity to collaborate and work as a team member.Ability to present effectively to groups of diverse stakeholders.Prior experience training, supervising, or managing employees required. Familiarity with Detroit areas and neighborhoods required.Start April 2021 |
