Coordinator, Jail Diversion

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 Court, 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

Researchers at the Center conduct independent evaluations, documenting how government systems work, how neighborhoods function, and how reform efforts change things. We believe in the “action research” model; accordingly, our researchers provide regular feedback on the results of the Center’s own operating programs. The Center has published studies on topics including youth in the sex trade, reentry, gun violence, and drug treatment as an alternative to incarceration. Our researchers have been published in numerous peer-reviewed journals.

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.

New York Legal Policy

The New York Legal Policy Team (NYLP) is an interdisciplinary team comprised of court practitioners, clinical staff, and research and policy experts focused on developing and implementing critical operational and policy reforms and improving coordination between justice system stakeholders. Only in its first year of operations at the Center, the New York Legal Policy team is launching two transformative initiatives to improve case processing efficiency in criminal cases and to reduce the jail population, all while improving the public safety impact of the criminal legal system. 

Background on Jail Population Review Initiative

Nationally, some jurisdictions have implemented population review teams, which bring together the critical decision makers of a case – including judges, prosecutors, and defense attorneys – to review jail admissions as early as possible and identify candidates for rapid pre-and post-plea diversion options. The urgency of the situation in Rikers Island requires a similar collaborative approach in New York City to identify as many opportunities as possible for pretrial jail diversion without compromising public safety. In May 2023, City Council passed bill 806-A, requiring population review teams be operational citywide no later than July 1, 2024. 

The Center is launching an ambitious Jail Population Review initiative in New York City by establishing dedicated interdisciplinary teams that will review every incarcerated individual increase the use of alternatives to incarceration (ATI) and alternatives to detention (ATD). The team will present its findings to judges, prosecutors, and defense attorneys at the earliest possible juncture so they can engage in meaningful negotiations and make an informed decision before an individual spends weeks or months in jail. 

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Center for Justice Innovation is seeking a Jail Diversion Coordinator to assist in launching its Jail Population Review initiative in New York City, which is designed to reduce the daily jail population at Rikers Island, with the goal of closing Rikers Island by 2027. The Jail Diversion Coordinator will work closely with an interdisciplinary team including social workers, case managers, lawyers, and researchers who will be dedicated to identifying and screening individuals currently held at Rikers Island to be considered for diversion options across the city.

Reporting to the Senior Policy Advisor for Alternatives to Incarceration, the Jail Diversion Coordinator will be responsible for identifying incarcerated individuals who may be eligible for diversion, screening behavioral health needs assisting legal parties in determining the best treatment track, referring to appropriate community-based ATI or treatment providers, and conducting independent clinical assessments and drafting treatment recommendations as needed.

The Jail Diversion Coordinator will work regularly with the judges and court staff across all New York City’s specialized problem-solving courts, including Drug Court, Mental Health Court, Veteran’s Court and Felony Alternative to Incarceration Court. This includes the District Attorney’s Offices, Citywide defense organizations, Department of Correction, Correctional Health Services, and an array of community-based alternative to detention and alternative to incarceration providers. 

This role presents a unique opportunity to be a part of a groundbreaking systematic reform initiative.
The Jail Diversion Coordinator will have a substantial opportunity in developing and implementing key policies and operational case flow designed to drastically enhance efficiency in how felony cases are processed. This position will also contribute to improved systemic and cultural shifts within the criminal legal system, as well as improved outcomes for individuals and their communities.

Court-based clinical work is an exciting, and demanding area of practice, and the Jail Diversion Coordinator role involves navigating and constructively engaging with differing and, at times, competing stakeholder perspectives. We strongly encourage and seek 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.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Assist with identifying individuals currently at Rikers Island who may be eligible for pretrial diversion and exploring every possible diversion option within the city-wide Supreme Court landscape;
• Coordinate and collaborate with all legal stakeholders, including, but not limited to prosecutors, defense attorneys, Office of Court Administration, Department of Correction, Correctional Health Services, and an array of community-based alternative to detention and alternative to incarceration programs;
• Review screenings from Correctional Health Services and make appropriate referrals to community-based ATI providers;
• Collaborate with an array of community-based providers for potential pre- and post-plea participation that address issues such as substance use, mental health, trauma, domestic violence, housing, education, and employment, among other needs;
• Troubleshoot operational, procedural, and administrative challenges as they arise to advance the clinical review process simultaneously with the legal process and reduce delays in jail diversion;
• Coordinate and collaborate with all treatment court parts in each borough, including, but not limited to the Felony ATI Court, Drug Courts, Mental Health Court, and Veterans Court;
• Conduct individualized clinical assessments for cases as needed;
• Present treatment recommendations to legal stakeholders (judge, defense counsel, prosecutor, and court staff);
• Coordinate and participate in interdisciplinary case conferences with court stakeholders while cases are pre-plea, as needed;
• Attend court on calendar days, as needed, to help clients navigate court and collaborate with court staff and stakeholders;
• Collaborate and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, including the resource coordinator, prosecutors, defense attorneys, and other court and programmatic staff;
• Enter and maintain appropriate up-to-date participant information, including all pre-plea screening and assessment information and case information;
• Assist the New York Legal Policy team with the refinement of existing policies and procedures;
• Participate in staff meetings, and trainings;
• Participate in regular conversations with Population Review Initiative funders; and
• Additional tasks as assigned.

Qualifications: The ideal candidate will have:

• LMSW or Masters in Psychology with at least four (4) years’ experience post-graduation and/or LMHC with two (2) years’ experience post licensure. Experience in a court or criminal justice setting strongly preferred;
• Candidates must have willingness and ability to work collaboratively with a variety of court personnel and on-site partner agencies in a high-pressure/fast paced work environment;
• Experience working with individuals experiencing mental health issues, substance use, co-occurring disorders, and/or homelessness is a plus strongly preferred;
• Candidates must have ability openness to engage with differing and, at times, competing stakeholder perspectives;
• Candidates must have a commitment to, and experience with, trauma-informed holistic and strengths-based approaches, and ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds in a culturally competent manner;
• Knowledge and/or lived experience related to the criminal justice system and its impacts on communities preferred;
• Excellent organization and time management skills;
• Strong writing and verbal communication skills; 
• Knowledge and/or lived experience related to the criminal justice system and its impacts on communities, and
• Bilingual (English-Spanish) preferred.

Position Type: Full-time

Position Location: Manhattan, NY

Compensation: The compensation range for this position is $60,950 -$73,510 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.