Research Attorney

Temporary Legal Research Consultant to Support FAMM’s Cutting Edge State Nursing

Home Project

FAMM is a nonpartisan, nonprofit sentencing and corrections reform organization whose

mission is to create a more fair and e􀆯ective justice system that respects our American

values of individual accountability and dignity while keeping our communities safe.

FAMM’s Office of General Counsel seeks a temporary research attorney to support our

state Nursing Home Project. The research attorney will review state statutes, administrative law, and other authorities that bar or inhibit nursing homes from accepting currently or formerly incarcerated patients. The research will focus on a minimum of three states that host FAMM compassionate release clearinghouses. This research project is one of the first of its kind.

Background: FAMM works to improve compassionate release processes and outcomes

across the states and federal government. Forty-nine states, the federal government, and

the District of Columbia have mechanisms that permit early release from prison for

individuals who are severely disabled, gravely ill, advanced in years, and/or near death,

among other reasons. FAMM maintains in-depth memos outlining compassionate release

programs in every state and the District of Columbia to ensure that those who most need

the information have access to it. FAMM also manages clearinghouses for compassionate

release at the federal level and in five states. We recruit pro bono lawyers and provide

strategic support to the attorneys to help incarcerated people secure early release from

prison.

We have learned that individuals who are eligible for compassionate release are routinely

denied early release because they have nowhere to go. Many of these individuals need

placement in a nursing home, but most nursing homes deny them admission due to their

incarceration status. The FAMM Nursing Home Project seeks to uncover the reasons

nursing homes are reluctant to admit patients from incarceration and develop proposed

interventions. Identifying these barriers to admission, including legal barriers, will help

FAMM devise targeted interventions to ensure that no eligible incarcerated person is

denied release because they have nowhere to go.

Qualifications: This opportunity is well suited to an attorney with experience drafting

and/or analyzing regulations and legislation. The ideal candidate will be highly organized,

detail-oriented, and possess excellent research and writing skills.

The position is a temporary contract position and will be open until filled. The consultant

can work from our office in Washington, D.C. but need not do so. Compensation will

depend on experience.