Program Associate, Diversion Programs

THE ORGANIZATION

The Center for Justice Innovation is a community justice organization that centers safety and racial justice. Since our founding in 1996, the Center has partnered with community members, courts, and the people most impacted to create stronger, healthier, more just communities. Our decades of experience in courts and communities, coupled with our field-leading research and practitioner expertise, help us drive justice nationwide in innovative, powerful, and durable ways. For more information on how and where we work, please visit www.innovatingjustice.org.  

The Center is a 900-employee, $130 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. 

Center Support

A dedicated support team within the Center ensures the smooth functioning of operations across various domains, including finance, legal, technology, human resources, fundraising, real estate, and communications. Comprising 15% of the organization's staff, these teams provide essential infrastructure support and innovative solutions aligned with the Center's mission and values. 

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Staten Island Justice Center (Justice Center; SIJC) offers an array of programming for both youth and adults in Staten Island, focusing on engaging those with current or past justice involvement. The Justice Center provides judges, prosecutors, and defense attorneys with alternative community sentencing options that hold individuals accountable in a way that is meaningful, proportionate, and restorative. The goal is to provide participants with individual and group services that help them to avoid future contact with the justice system and promote swift case resolutions that bolster public confidence in justice.

The Staten Island Justice Center is seeking a Program Associate for its Diversion programming. Reporting to the Coordinator of Client Engagement, the Program Associate will support the engagement of Diversion-eligible individuals by conducting initial outreach, preliminary intakes, schedule programming, update compliance and lead completion protocols, facilitate off-ramps from programming, connect participants to resources and referrals, manage case files and records, and build awareness of the program among potential participants and legal and court stakeholders. The Program Associate will also support the Diversion team with regular
operations, as needed.

• Contact potential Diversion participants and describe the diversion option, conduct an initial intake and screening, and schedule them for programming;  
• Explain program requirements and expectations to clients;
• Assist with conducting client and attorney outreach to ensure all mandated clients are effectively engaged;
• Provide written and verbal case updates to the court and other court staff including compliance reporting;
• Assist the Court Operations department with data entry;
• Ensure that all defendants who are mandated to services are connected with a case manager;
• Coordinate with stakeholders and clients to notify the court of non-compliance and re-arrests;
• Maintain organized records of outreach attempts, daily attendance sheets, completion, and other project details;
• Maintain accurate computer records in both the Center’s internal case management tool and a database that is shared with project partners; 
• Prepare and circulate outreach materials and certificates of program completion;  
• Assist with the development and implementation of new programs, protocols, initiatives, and/or interventions;
• Work with the clinical team to refer participants to voluntary social services;  
• Facilitate and co-facilitate group-based programming;
• Research, identify and develop potential referral sources for program participants;  
• Oversee documentation of program data the Data Analytic and Applied Research department to maintain quality of data;
• Participate in staff meetings, in-service trainings, and on- and off-site visits;
• Participate in staff evening and weekend community meetings, events, and programming, when necessary; and
• Additional relevant tasks, as necessary.

• Bachelor's degree and preferably 1-2 years of related experience in a related area or a high school diploma or equivalent and at least 5-6 years of relevant experience;
• Seeking a highly organized candidate with an ability to multi-task, and work in a fast-paced environment;
• Must be able to provide service in a strengths-based manner and understand the importance of meeting clients where they are;
• Willingness and interest in engaging individuals with mental health and substance abuse needs;
• Ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds in a culturally-competent manner required;
• Professional demeanor and ability to communicate appropriately with building stakeholders;
• Excellent organizational and interpersonal, communication and writing skills required; and
• Bilingual preferred (English-Spanish).

Position Type: Full-time, Monday - Friday from 9:00am - 5:00pm.

Position Location: Staten Island, NY.

Compensation: The compensation range for this position is $52,000 - $66,400 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 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.

As of February 10, 2023, New York City Executive Order 25 rescinded the COVID-19 vaccination requirement for City workers, new hires, and contracted employees. While the Center does not require vaccination, we strongly recommend that all staff, interns, and volunteers stay up to date.

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.