Community Engagement Specialist, Brooklyn Supervised Release Program

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), the largest operating project of the Center, seeks to re-engineer 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 along with community-based offices, BJI is a team of social service providers, court-based resource coordinators, mental health practitioners, compliance specialists, and others who seek to improve the quality of justice. Supervised Release offers an alternative to jail by providing pretrial supervision, case management, and voluntary social services to people charged with misdemeanor and felony offenses, and in doing so, uses an arrest as a window of opportunity to change the direction of a participant’s life, avoiding the harmful effects of incarceration. Program participants are monitored to ensure their appearance at court dates and mandatory programming, and receive referrals to services like job training, drug treatment, and mental health counseling.

BJI seeks Community Engagement Specialists for the borough’s Supervised Release Program (SRP). Community Engagement Specialists will have comprehensive knowledge, understanding, and experience successfully addressing foundational needs through local service providers. Community Engagement Specialists will utilize this expertise to support participants’ attendance at court dates and engagement in services by meeting with participants in the community to provide navigation support and facilitating warm handoffs between Case Managers, SRP Clinicians, and local service providers when referrals are made or mandated by the court. Community Engagement Specialists will work closely with the Clinical Director to build and maintain relationships with and knowledge of local service providers. Community Engagement Specialists will leverage this expertise to help ensure case management staff are knowledgeable about local service providers by facilitating in-house information sessions.

The Center for Justice Innovation strongly encourages and seeks applications from women, people of color, LGBTQIA community members, as well as individuals with lived experience with the criminal legal system.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Provide support to participants seeking assistance or accompany them to and from court or social services in the community; 
• Work with the Clinical Director to develop and maintain relationships with and knowledge of local service providers to understand services, eligibility, intake requirements, and enrollment opportunities and challenges towards the goal of reducing referral barriers and optimizing participant access to services; 
• Explore additional service providers to assess quality and accessibility of services offered;  
• Develop and provide presentations on local social service agencies to the direct practice teams to share information and guidance to optimize successful, quality referrals; 
• Maintain accurate and timely data entry and case documentation aligned with the program model, court reporting obligations, and best practices; 
• Responsible for consistent and effective cross-team communication and collaboration to proactively identify successes, challenges, and opportunities to strengthen programming, create opportunities for meaningful collaboration, and maximize internal and external resources and expertise;
  • Substantive and comprehensive service to participant; 
  • Responsible for working effectively with the case management and compliance teams to ensure accurate and timely court reporting;  
• Conduct regular outreach efforts in the community to engage participants; 
• Maintain professional and positive relationships with court staff, judges, attorneys, and service providers;
• Participate in individual, group supervision, and regular staff trainings to develop program expertise and related skill sets; 
• Required to participate in designated trainings upon hire; 
• Attend project events, community events, and meetings after hours, as needed; 
• Please note that this role is not eligible for clinical hours; and
• Additional relevant tasks, as necessary. 

Qualifications: The ideal candidate will have:

• High school diploma or equivalent required; 
• Comprehensive knowledge of and/or experience with the criminal legal, housing, child welfare, and/or mental health systems preferred; 
• Must be detail-oriented with strong organizational and time management skills;
• Must be able to work effectively independently and as part of a highly interdependent, multi-disciplinary team within a fast-paced and dynamic work environment;
• Ability to work collaboratively and effectively with a variety of program stakeholders, including judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, court staff, and site partner agencies;
• Peer Navigator certification valued but not required; 
• Bilingual (English-Spanish) strongly preferred. 

Position Type: Full Time.

Position Location: Brooklyn, NY

Compensation: The compensation range for this position is $27.48 - $31.87 per hour based on a 35-hour work week 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.