Mentor
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 Queens Community Justice Center, launched in 2007, runs a diverse portfolio of programs for justice-involved youth, young adults and their families. Programming includes alternative-to-detention programs and leadership, clinical, mentorship, workforce development, gender responsive and family support initiatives. The Justice Center incorporates evidence-based methods for working with high-risk youth, including positive youth development and restorative justice principles, into its programming. Ultimately, the goal of the Justice Center is to provide off-ramps from the justice system, to help participants lead a more meaningful life, and to increase public safety.
The Queens Community Justice Center is seeking a Mentor for its Plus+ Mentoring program. Reporting to the Program Coordinator, the Mentor will provide one on one support as well as be responsible for facilitating evidence-based group sessions using the Power Source curriculum for participants in the Department of Probation funded Plus+ Mentoring program. Plus+ Mentoring is a transformative mentoring services program for young people on the ICM level of probation between the ages of 13 and 18 who reside in Queens. The Mentor will also provide administrative support to the Program Coordinator when needed.
Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
- Provide one-on-one mentoring and case management services to participants (service plan, referrals, and follow up) at minimum of once a week;
- Facilitate group sessions twice a week using the Power Source curriculum focused on skill development and goal setting;
- Ensure thorough and accurate file-keeping and reporting on progress and compliance of participants;
- Input data to ensure proper tracking of participants and measure program success;
- Participate in regular staff meetings to coordinate program needs and objectives;
- Provide enrollment and administrative coverage when necessary;
- Attend evening and weekend community events when necessary;
- Assist in special events and collaborate on larger QCJC projects as necessary;
- Perform other duties as assigned by Program Coordinator; and
- Additional tasks as necessary.
Position Type: 10 hours a week. Tuesdays and Thursdays 1:00-6:00 PM. Some nights and weekends when needed.
Position Location: Queens, New York.
Compensation: The compensation range for this position is $27.48 - $28.57 per hour based on a 35-hour work week and is commensurate with experience.
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.
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.