Facilitator, Restorative Justice

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

Manhattan Justice Opportunities seeks to rethink justice in Manhattan and build a justice system that is more responsive to individuals’ and communities’ needs. Manhattan Justice is a centralized, court-based screening, resource, and referral hub that provides judges, prosecutors and defense attorneys at New York County Criminal Court and Supreme Court with a wide array of social service-based sentencing options in misdemeanor and felony cases. Manhattan Justice offers onsite case management, psycho-educational groups, and restorative justice programming, and provides referrals to community-based service providers for mental health, substance use, employment, primary health care services and more. These services, which are open to anyone who needs them—including mandated participants’ families and friends, and others affected by the criminal justice system—help people address underlying issues in their lives, build stability, and decrease their likelihood of further justice involvement.

Manhattan Justice is seeking a Restorative Justice Facilitator to provide restorative justice programming for misdemeanor and felony cases that involve harm or conflict, as well as for voluntary participants. Cases range from disputes between neighbors, to family conflict, to conflict between strangers, and other instances of interpersonal harm; cases may involve serious harm, including fatalities. Restorative justice processes aim to address the relational nature of harm, focusing on healing through accountability. Processes bring together all people impacted by the harm to share their respective experiences of what happened, for the responsible people to ex-press remorse, and for the group to agree on a path forward to prevent future harm. Reporting to the Restorative Justice Program Manager, the Facilitator will be responsible for screening referred cases, conducting intakes and preparation sessions, and facilitating restorative dialogues. The Facilitator will also be responsible for facilitating other restorative processes designed to respond to harm, offer support, or build community, as well as conducting intakes and providing case management sessions and services referrals to a caseload of mandated and voluntary participants.

The Center for Justice Innovation strongly encourages and seeks 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.

• Facilitate pre-plea and post-plea restorative justice processes in response to misdemeanor and felony cases involving harm or conflict from Manhattan Criminal and Supreme Court, including car crash cases resulting in serious injuries or fatalities;
• Facilitate a range of restorative justice processes including harm, healing, support and community-building circles and community conferences for participants, stakeholders and staff as needed;
• Assist with identifying eligible cases, including conferencing cases with judges, prosecutors, and defense attorneys;
• Conduct outreach, screenings and preparatory conversations with participants and support them throughout their engagement in restorative justice processes;
• Conduct intakes and needs-based screenings for newly mandated and voluntary participants;
• Provide comprehensive, clinically-informed case management and individual counseling services to a caseload of participants charged with misdemeanor and felony offenses;
• Facilitate and help to develop and/or revise curricula for a range of on-site psycho-educational groups and individual case management sessions;
• Provide referrals to community-based services that address issues such as substance use, mental health, trauma, domestic violence, housing, and educational/vocational needs; and other challenges in participants’ lives (e.g. family court cases and other civil legal issues);
• Assist with outreach to participants and defense attorneys to ensure that all mandated participants are effectively engaged;
• Provide written and verbal compliance reports to legal parties and coordinate responses to non-compliance issues, including re-engaging participants and arranging return on war-rants;
• Provide crisis intervention and de-escalation, as needed;
• Enter and maintain appropriate up-to-date participant information, including assessment, case management, attendance, and case outcome data in the project’s case management system;
• Provide services as described above to program participants on a voluntary basis post-mandate;
• Collaborate closely with intake specialists, case managers, and social workers on Manhattan Justice's clinical team;
• Collaborate closely with staff at other Center for Justice Innovation operating projects;
• Assist with restorative justice trainings for Center for Justice Innovation staff, stakeholders and community members;
• Assist the Restorative Justice Program Manager and Clinical Coordinator with the development and implementation of new initiatives; including best clinical practices, and appropriate evidence-based interventions;
• Participate in clinical group supervision, staff meetings, and trainings, as scheduled;
• Attend evening court and community-based events and meetings, as needed; and
• Perform other programmatic and administrative tasks to support Manhattan Justice’s activities as needed, as assigned by the Restorative Justice Program Manager and other project leadership.

Qualifications: The ideal candidate will have:

• Bachelor’s degree and at least one year of experience working in a criminal court setting or 3-4 years’ experience working in criminal justice or a related social service field required;
• Prior experience with restorative justice and circle facilitation strongly preferred;
• Experience managing complex conversations around a diverse set of issues including but not limited to violence, conflict, relationships, healing, and racial justice;
• Knowledge and/or lived experience related to the criminal justice system and its impacts on communities;
• Experience facilitating psycho-educational and skills development groups and developing curricula preferred;
• A deep listener and skilled communicator who connects easily with people and views conflict as an opportunity for transformation;
• Experience working with individuals impacted by violence or trauma and familiarity with trauma-informed practices preferred;
• Experience with substance use treatment, mental health services, co-occurring disorders, and strengths-based approaches preferred;
• Commitment to being participant-centered and using holistic and strengths-based approaches, as well as the cultural humility to work with people from diverse backgrounds;
• Willingness and ability to work collaboratively with judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, court staff and on-site partner agencies in a high-pressure and fast paced work environment;
• Commitment to constructive engagement with differing and, at times, competing stake-holder perspectives;
• Excellent organization and time management skills; 
• Strong writing and verbal communication skills; and
• Bilingual (English-Spanish speaking) preferred.

Position Type: Full-time.

Position Location: New York, NY

Compensation: The compensation range for this position is $52,000 - $65,500 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.