Community Engagement Specialist, Brooklyn Supervised Release

THE ORGANIZATION

The Center for Justice Innovation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing community safety and racial justice. Since 1996, we’ve worked alongside communities, courts, and those most directly affected by the justice system to build stronger, healthier, and more equitable neighborhoods. With a team of over 900 staff and an annual budget of $130 million, the Center carries out its mission through three core strategies:

1. Operating Programs that pilot new ideas and address local challenges;
2. Conducting original research to evaluate what works—and what doesn’t; and
3. Providing expert assistance and policy guidance to reformers across the country and beyond.

Backed by decades of on-the-ground experience and nationally recognized expertise, we bring innovative, practical, and lasting solutions to justice systems nationwide.
Learn more about our work at www.innovatingjustice.org.

THE OPPORTUNITY

Brooklyn Supervised Release, 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 and detention. Operating out of community-based offices, Brooklyn Supervised Release is a team of social service providers, court liaisons, mental health practitioners, compliance specialists, and others who seek to improve the quality of justice. Supervised Release provides 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.

Brooklyn Supervised Release seeks a Community Engagement Specialist. Reporting to the Community Engagement Coordinator, the Community Engagement Specialist will have comprehensive knowledge, understanding, and lived experience successfully addressing foundational needs through local service providers. The Community Engagement Specialist 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. Additionally, Community Engagement Specialists will 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.;

• Provide support to participants seeking assistance or accompaniment to and from court or social services in the community;
• 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; 
• 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;
  • 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;
• 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: 

• High school diploma or equivalent required; 
• Comprehensive knowledge of and lived experience with the criminal legal, housing, child welfare, and/or mental health systems preferred; 
• Bilingual (English-Spanish) strongly 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; and
• Peer Navigator certification valued but not required.

Position Type: Full-time in-person work required.

Position Location: Brooklyn, New York.

Compensation: The compensation range for this position is $28.57 - $33.96 per hour, annually equivalent to $52,000 - $61,800 based on a 35-hour work week and is commensurate with experience. 

Benefits: 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%.

Note: This position is part of the NOLSW, UAW 2320 bargaining unit.

The Center for Justice Innovation is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. We do not discriminate based on 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 LGBTQ+ community, and individuals with prior contact with the criminal justice system. Our goal is to create a supportive and respectful environment where everyone, regardless of background or identity, feels valued and included.

At this time, the Center is unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa. All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of application and throughout the duration of employment.

Candidates are expected to provide accurate and truthful information throughout the hiring process. Any misrepresentation, falsification, or omission of material facts may result in disqualification from consideration, withdrawal of an offer, or termination of employment, regardless of when discovered.

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