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 Court, 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

Researchers at the Center conduct independent evaluations, documenting how government systems work, how neighborhoods function, and how reform efforts change things. We believe in the “action research” model; accordingly, our researchers provide regular feedback on the results of the Center’s own operating programs. The Center has published studies on topics including youth in the sex trade, reentry, gun violence, and drug treatment as an alternative to incarceration. Our researchers have been published in numerous peer-reviewed journals.

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

Brooklyn Justice Initiatives and the Staten Island Justice Center are each seeking social workers for the Supervised Release Program. Supervised Release offers an alternative to jail, providing pretrial supervision, case management, and voluntary social services to people charged with misdemeanor and felony offenses. Program participants are monitored to ensure their appearance at court dates, compliance with mandated programming, and receive referrals to community-based programming such as job training, drug treatment, and mental health counseling. Following passage of the New York State bail reform law that curtails the use of cash bail and pre-trial detention, the Center has seen dramatic growth in the population served through Supervised Release, offering social workers and other staff the opportunity to contribute to an exciting program at an unprecedented scale.

The Social Worker will be responsible for monitoring a caseload of program participants by providing individual counseling sessions, referring participants to voluntary social service interventions, and helping promote compliance with pretrial release conditions. The Social Worker will stay in regular contact with participants, including facilitating in-person and remote engagement sessions and sending frequent court date reminders. They will facilitate groups and assist in the development and implementation of onsite and remote services for participants. Additionally, the Social Worker will be in communication with attorneys’ offices, community-based providers, and will draft memos to keep the court informed of participants’ compliance.

The Center for Justice Innovation strongly encourages and seeks applications from women, people of color, LGBTQI community members, as well as individuals with lived experience with the justice system.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Complete intakes of participants and administer risk and need assessment tool;
• Provide comprehensive, clinically-informed case management services to participants including regular in-person meetings and phone calls; this may include communication with clients on nights and weekends;
• Perform voluntary individual counseling sessions as needed;
• Facilitate group sessions for program participants;
• Conduct outreach to collateral sources as needed to provide supervision and court monitoring;
• Communicate with community-based service providers to facilitate, follow-up and assist participants with voluntary service referrals;
• Complete all necessary documentation and input data into computer database;
• Monitor and report compliance to court stakeholders and work with defense and prosecution to bring program participants into compliance as needed;
• Attend staff meetings and on-going trainings as well as participate in community events;
• Provide Alternative to Incarceration (ATI) clinical services to mandated clients, as needed;
• Assist with the development of on-site programming that is responsive to participants’ needs;
• Assist with data collection;
• Assist with other programming as needed.

Qualifications: The ideal candidate:

• Will possess a Master’s in Social Work (MSW) or an equivalent Master’s level counseling degree; recent MSW graduates are encouraged to apply;
• Must either be currently licensed or able to obtain LMSW licensure in New York State within 90 days of hire;
• Must have excellent writing skills;
• Must be a skilled communicator able to work in a multi-disciplinary setting and maintain strong relationships with multiple agencies and organizations both onsite and in the community;
• Will have prior experience working with the criminal justice system and/or justice-involved communities; in particular, experience working with youth and young adults, individuals experiencing domestic violence, mental health issues, substance use disorder, and/or homelessness;
• Will have an ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds in a culturally-competent manner;
• Bilingual (English-Spanish) preferred.

Position Type: Full-time.

Compensation: The compensation range for this position is $59,190 - $71,200 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%.

Timeline to Apply: The Center is accepting applications on a rolling basis. We encourage interested applicants to apply as soon as possible.

HPAPP

The Center for Justice Innovation is an equal opportunity employer. The Center does 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 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.

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. Only applicants under consideration will be contacted. No phone calls or emails please.

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