About the role
THE ORGANIZATION
The Center for Justice Innovation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing community safety and racial justice. Since 1996, we’ve worked alongside communities, courts, and those most directly affected by the justice system to build stronger, healthier, and more equitable neighborhoods. With a team of over 900 staff and an annual budget of $130 million, the Center carries out its mission through three core strategies:
1. Operating Programs that pilot new ideas and address local challenges; 2. Conducting original research to evaluate what works—and what doesn’t; and 3. Providing expert assistance and policy guidance to reformers across the country and beyond.
Backed by decades of on-the-ground experience and nationally recognized expertise, we bring innovative, practical, and lasting solutions to justice systems nationwide. Learn more about our work at www.innovatingjustice.org.
THE OPPORTUNITY
The Supervised Release Program (SRP) offers an alternative to jail by providing pre-trial supervision, case management, and voluntary social services to people at risk of pretrial detention. Program participants are monitored to ensure their appearance at court dates, compliance with mandated programming, as well as referrals to community-based programming such as job training, drug treatment, and mental health counseling. Following legislative changes in New York State that curtail the use of cash bail and pre-trial detention, the Center has seen dramatic growth in the population served through Supervised Release. The Center runs SRP operating sites in Brooklyn and Staten Island, with several locations throughout.
The Staten Island Justice Center is seeking a Court Liaison for the borough’s Supervised Release Program (SRP) which provides supervision, case management, and social service connections to thousands of court-mandated participants each year. Reporting to the Associate Director of Court Operations, the Court Liaison will facilitate the program referral process for pretrial release after a defendant is arraigned. The Court Liaison will conduct an immediate orientation for participants who are released to the Supervised Release Program and escort participants to the Staten Island Justice Center office when needed. Once participants are enrolled in the program, the Court Liaison will provide written and verbal updates to the court including defense attorneys, Assistant District Attorneys, and Judges on a regular basis. This position is also responsible for providing court coverage to various Criminal and Supreme Court parts, including specialized court initiatives and conducting screenings and assessments. Additionally, this role will effectively communicate and collaborate with the various departments within the Supervised Release Program, such as; Clinical, Case Management, Community Engagement and Compliance teams to ensure accurate court reporting and facilitate participant engagement with the program and other community services.
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Responsibilities include but are not limited to: * Communicate with prosecutors, defense attorneys, and other court staff about participants’ compliance and program information; * Review misdemeanor, non-violent, and violent felony cases at arraignments and gather necessary information from participants released; * Provide participants with an immediate orientation pre- or post-arraignment as appropriate; * Assist participants in court with immediate connection to the Clinical Department when appropriate; * Ensure that all participants who are released to pretrial supervision are scheduled for an intake with Clinical staff; * Provide written and verbal case updates to the court and other court staff, including compliance reporting, as needed; * Assist with participant intakes; * Track cases and manage multiple court room assignments; * Maintain appropriate participant information in electronic databases and hard files, including court assessment, screening and outcome information; * Maintain good courtroom relationships with all participants and partners; * Assist the Court Operations department with data entry; * Participate in staff meetings and trainings; * Attend evening community events and meetings, as needed; and * Perform other relevant duties to support the Staten Island Justice Center and department activities, as needed.
Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of one year in a related area, preferably as a criminal justice practitioner or 3-4 years' experience in the criminal justice field as an equivalent. Excellent writing skills and attention to detail are required. Candidate must be a skilled communicator able to work in multi-disciplinary settings and maintain strong relationships with multiple agencies and organizations, both onsite and in the community. The candidate must also enjoy working with a diverse population and be a team player. Court-based work is a unique and demanding area of practice, and candidates must be open to constructive engagement with other professionals who have differing and, at times, competing perspectives.
Position Type: Full-time; weekday evenings and weekends required
Position Location: Staten Island, New York.
Compensation: The compensation range for this position is $29.39 - $37.36 per hour, annually equivalent to $53,500 - $68,000 based on a 35-hour work week and is commensurate with experience.
Benefits: 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%.