Investigations Intern

New Jersey Division on Civil Rights - Fall 2026 Investigations Internship

The New Jersey Division on Civil Rights (DCR) seeks highly motivated students with a passion for protecting civil rights to work with its Investigations Unit, serving as Investigative Interns. This is a unique opportunity to gain experience in the investigative process for civil rights issues. This is an unpaid position but applicants may seek funding from other sources or academic credit from their school if eligible. Applicants must commit to a minimum of 12 weeks for 12-15 hours per week. 

The Investigative Intern will support DCR’s mission by assisting in the investigation of discrimination complaints, developing interview questions, completing review of documents and evidentiary materials, and drafting reports and correspondence related to investigations. This internship provides an opportunity to gain hands-on experience in civil rights enforcement, administrative investigations, and in public service. 

DCR is the division in the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office responsible for combating discrimination and addressing hate and prejudice in New Jersey. DCR enforces New Jersey’s Law Against Discrimination (LAD), the oldest state civil rights statute in the country, as well as the New Jersey Family Leave Act (NJFLA) and the New Jersey Fair Chance in Housing Act (FCHA). DCR investigates complaints of discrimination, educates the public on civil rights issues, and works to ensure equal treatment for all residents. 

Qualifications:

• Currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program, preferably in Law, Criminal Justice, History, Political Science, Journalism, or a related field.
• Strong interest in civil rights and social justice issues.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Basic computer literacy. 
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

To apply, please submit the following application materials by June 8, 2026, to Investigator Jessica Peoples at Jessica.Peoples@njcivilrights.gov and include “Investigations Intern” in the subject line: 

• Resume;  
• Cover letter;
• Brief writing sample of no more than 5 pages (unedited by others or by artificial intelligence tools); and 
• Unofficial academic transcript.

Interns will be permitted to work either in-person, remotely, or on a hybrid schedule from one of DCR’s offices (Atlantic City, Newark, Trenton, or Cherry Hill). 

Please note that you must complete a Confidential Background Investigation Clearance Form if you intend to accept an offer for a position in the internship program. Please visit our website to learn more about us: www.njcivilrights.gov.