Jail Diversion Specialist

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, $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. 

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. 

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 at Rikers Island requires a similar collaborative approach in New York City. In fall of 2023, the Center launched the Jail Population Review Program in Manhattan and has recently expanded to Brooklyn. As required by Local Law 75 of 2023, the program will be operational citywide by July 1, 2024. 

The Jail Population Review Program is an ambitious initiative in New York City that is led by the Center’s New York Legal Policy (NYLP) Team–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. The Jail Population Review Program reviews incarcerated individuals for opportunities for pretrial release or case resolution.  The team provides critical information to prosecutors, defense attorneys and judges at the earliest possible juncture so they can engage in meaningful before an individual spends weeks or months in jail.

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Center for Justice Innovation is seeking two Jail Diversion Specialists to work with the Jail Population Review Program to identify incarcerated individuals who might be eligible for pretrial release and alternative to incarceration programming. 

Reporting to the Senior Legal Policy Advisor, the Jail Diversion Specialist will be responsible for supporting and coordinating the logistics necessary to explore alternative to detention and alternative to incarceration options for individuals currently incarcerated at Rikers Island. 

The Jail Diversion Specialist will work with stakeholders, including judges, defense attorneys, prosecutors, special jurisdiction courts, ATI programs, Correctional Health Services, and the Department of Correction. This role involves navigating and constructively engaging with differing and, at times, competing stakeholder perspectives.

This role presents a unique opportunity to be part of an innovative systemic reform initiative. The Center strongly encourages 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:

• Support the Senior Legal Policy Advisor and Legal Policy Advisor with outreach to defense attorneys and collection of relevant information needed to evaluate cases for rapid diversion and case resolution;
• Coordinate and collaborate with Correctional Health Services, including, but not limited to, requesting weekly screenings, and submitting records requests;
• Organize and consolidate behavioral health information into master tracking list;
• Manage internal case tracking system, including initial case entry, subsequent case updates and case closure;
• Assist with troubleshooting 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 treatment court parts and community-based service providers throughout New York City; 
• Identify appropriate community-based services and initiate referrals for incarcerated individuals, as needed; 
• Collaborate with consulting psychologists, as needed; 
• Develop and revise materials for presentations given to court stakeholders, including prosecutors, defense attorneys, and judges, and other relevant parties; 
• Contribute to regular NYLP team meetings, as well as participate in Center-wide staff meetings and trainings, as scheduled; 
• Assist with other programmatic and administrative tasks to support the Jail Population Review initiative;
• Assist the NYLP Team with the refinement of current processes and the development and implementation of new initiatives; and
• Additional tasks as necessary.

• A Bachelor' degree and at least 1-2 years of experience working in social service and/or criminal justice settings;
• Candidates must have willingness and ability to work collaboratively with a variety of court personnel and partner agencies;
• Experience working with individuals experiencing mental health issues, substance abuse, co-occurring disorders, and/or homelessness is a plus strongly preferred;
• Candidates must have ability to manage competing demands and prioritize accordingly based on information presented to them; 
• Knowledge and/or lived experience related to the criminal legal system and its impacts on communities preferred;
• Must be able to work effectively both independently and as part of a highly interdependent, multi-disciplinary team within a fast-paced and dynamic work environment;
• Excellent organization and time management skills; and 
• Strong writing and verbal communication skills.

Position Type: Full-time.

Position Location: Midtown, Manhattan.

Compensation: The compensation range for this position is $55,410 - $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.