Resource Coordinator, Alternatives to Incarceration

THE ORGANIZATION

The Center for Justice Innovation (formerly the Center for Court Innovation) is a non-profit organization that works with communities and justice systems to advance equity, increase safety, and help individuals and communities thrive. The Center's goal is to identify and resolve as early as possible the challenges that bring people into the criminal and civil legal systems. It does this in a number of ways—by developing and running programs that reduce the need for incarceration and enhance economic opportunity, conducting original research to identify what works, and sharing what we learn from our programming and research with those seeking to transform the justice system around the world.

The Center is an 800-employee, $100 million nonprofit that accomplishes its vision through three pillars of work: creating and scaling operating programs to test new ideas and solve problems, performing original research to determine what works (and what doesn’t), and providing expert assistance and policy guidance to justice reformers around the world.

Operating Programs

The Center’s operating programs, including the award-winning Red Hook Community Justice Center and Midtown Community Justice Center, test new ideas, solve difficult problems, and attempt to achieve systemic change within the justice system. Our projects include community-based violence prevention programs, alternatives to incarceration, reentry initiatives, and court-based initiatives that reduce the use of unnecessary incarceration and promote positive individual and family change. Through this programming, we have produced tangible results like safer streets, reduced incarceration, and improved neighborhood perceptions of justice.

Research

The Center's research teams are staffed with social scientists, data analysts, and lawyers who are academically-trained or have lived experience and who conduct research in the U.S. and globally on diverse criminal-legal system and justice issues. Their work includes evaluating programs and policies; conducting exploratory, community-based studies; and providing research translation and strategic planning for system actors. The Center has published studies on topics including court and jail reform, intimate partner violence, restorative justice, gun violence, reentry, sixth amendment rights, and progressive prosecution. The research teams strive to make their work meaningful and actionable to the communities they work with, policymakers, and practitioners.

Policy & Expert Assistance

The Center provides hands-on, planning and implementation assistance to a wide range of jurisdictions in areas of reform such as problem-solving courts (e.g., community courts, treatment courts, domestic violence courts), tribal justice, reducing incarceration and the use of fines/fees and reducing crime and violence. Our current expert assistance takes many forms, including help with analyzing data, strategic planning and consultation, policy guidance, and hosting site visits to its operating programs in the New York City area. 

THE OPPORTUNITY

Brooklyn Justice Initiatives (BJI), a program of the Center for Justice Innovation, seeks to reengineer the experience of criminal court in Brooklyn, New York by providing judges and attorneys meaningful alternatives to bail, fines, and jail sentences. Operating out of Kings County Criminal Court, Brooklyn Justice Initiatives is a team of social service providers, court-based resource coordinators, and others who seek to improve the quality of justice. By providing meaningful pretrial supervised release and post-conviction sentencing options, Brooklyn Justice Initiatives seeks to use an arrest as a window of opportunity to change the direction of a participant’s life and avoid the harmful effects of incarceration.

Reporting to the Associate Director of Court Operations for our Alternative to Incarceration (ATI) department, the Resource Coordinator will serve as a court navigator and liaison for all diversion programming. They will facilitate the referral process by reviewing all available information about each potential participant to determine their suitability for each curriculum. Once participants are enrolled in programming, the Resource coordinator is responsible for regularly providing both written and verbal compliance updates to all court parties in the Brooklyn Criminal Court and Kings County Supreme Court. This includes defense attorneys, assistant district attorneys, and judges. Additionally, the Resource Coordinator is responsible for providing court coverage to both courthouses, including specialized court initiatives and arraignments. Specific responsibilities include conducting screenings and referrals with participants for all programming, facilitating compliance reporting other processes with court stakeholders, and troubleshooting any issues that arise.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Communicate with judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, and other court staff about eligibility for specific diversion programming; 
• Serve as a liaison in the arraignment, all-purpose, treatment, and trial court parts to determine eligibility for all operating programs between Kings County Criminal and Supreme Criminal Court;
• Work closely with defense attorneys and Assistant District attorneys to identify individuals who may avoid court or jail time by engaging in diversion programming; 
• Execute crisis intervention protocols to ensure participant safety and connection to appropriate services;
• Establish and maintain relationships with local social service providers present in the courthouse; 
• Collaborate with a broad range of criminal justice, city government, and community partners;

• Provide written and verbal case updates in multiple court parts and to court staff, including compliance and rearrest reporting;  
• Maintain accurate and appropriate participant information in electronic databases and hard files, including court assessment, screening, and outcome information;
• Collaborate with Compliance and Clinical staff to conduct routine audits to ensure accuracy of referral and court related information; 
• Assist with data collection and management;

• Work closely with the Associate Director and other managers to ensure smooth daily operations at BJI;
• Assist Associate Director with the implementation and maintenance of protocols and procedures;
• Collaborate with Supervised Release program staff in cross-program areas, as needed;
• Attend BJI meetings and events after hours, as needed;
• Attending all required staff meetings and trainings, as needed; 
• Support with other relevant tasks/responsibilities, as needed.

Qualifications: The ideal candidate will have:

• A Bachelor’s degree required or a high school diploma with 2-3 years of equivalent experience in a criminal justice and/or social service field;
• Proficiency in Microsoft Suite, Google Suites, and Outlook, and able to use Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Slack;
• Professional demeanor and ability to communicate appropriately with judges and other court personnel; 
• Highly organized, excellent communication skills, and strong writing ability with the capacity to be detail-oriented within a fast-paced, dynamic environment;
• Ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds in a culturally competent manner;  
• Knowledge of courthouse operations and legal proceedings/terminology is a plus; 
• Bilingual (English-Spanish) preferred.

Position Type: Full-time.

Position Location: Brooklyn, NY

Compensation: The salary range starts at $27.48 - $34.34 and is commensurate with experience. The Center for Justice Innovation offers an excellent benefits package including comprehensive healthcare with a national network, free basic dental coverage, vision insurance, short-term and long-term disability, life insurance, and flexible spending accounts including commuter FSA. We prioritize mental health care for our staff and offer services like Talkspace and Ginger through our healthcare plans. We offer a 403(b) retirement plan with a two-to-one employer contribution up to 5%.

The Center for Justice Innovation is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace, and as such, we do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, national origin, age, military service eligibility, veteran status, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, or any other category protected by law. We strongly encourage and welcome applications from women, people of color, members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities, as well as individuals with prior contact with the criminal justice system. Our aim is to create a supportive and respectful environment where every individual, irrespective of their background or identity, feels valued and included.

As of February 10, 2023, New York City Executive Order 25 rescinded the requirement of the COVID-19 vaccination for City workers, new hires, and contracted employees. Accordingly, the Center does not require all new hires be vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus; however, the Center recommends all staff, interns, and volunteers stay up-to-date on the vaccination.

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete an employment eligibility verification document form upon hire. Kindly refer to the job posting for the relevant contact information. If the contact details are not provided, we kindly ask that you refrain from making inquiries via phone or email, as only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.