The Center for Court Innovation is a non-profit organization that works to create a more effective and humane justice system by performing original research and helping launch reforms by guiding justice innovators, nationally and internationally. The Center creates operating projects that have been documented to reduce the use of jail and prison, assist victims of crime, and strengthen communities.
Brooklyn Justice Initiatives (BJI) seeks to reengineer the experience of criminal court in Brooklyn, New York by providing judges and attorneys meaningful alternatives to bail, fines, and jail sentences. Operating out of Kings County Criminal Court, Brooklyn Justice Initiatives is a team of social service providers, court-based resource coordinators, and others who seek to improve the quality of justice. By providing meaningful pre-trial supervised release and post-conviction sentencing options, Brooklyn Justice Initiatives seeks to use an arrest as a window of opportunity to change the direction of a participant’s life and avoid the harmful effects of incarceration.
Brooklyn Justice Initiatives is seeking a Resource Coordinator. Reporting to a Senior Resource Coordinator, the Resource Coordinator will facilitate the program referral process for BJI’s Supervised Release and Alternative to Incarceration programming. They will review all available information about each potentially eligible participants to determine their specific suitability for all BJI programming. Once participants are enrolled in programming, the Resource Coordinator will provide written and verbal updates to the court including defense attorneys, assistant district attorneys, and judges on a regular basis. The Resource Coordinator is also responsible for providing court coverage to various Criminal and Supreme Court parts, including specialized court initiatives and arraignments. Specific responsibilities include conducting screenings and assessments with participants for all programming, facilitating participant releases and other processes with court stakeholders, and troubleshooting any issues that arise.
Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
- Serve as a coordinator in the Brooklyn arraignment, all purpose, treatment and trial court parts, to determine eligibility for BJI operating programs;
- Conduct preliminary in-court mental health screenings, program outreach and/or referrals for clinical assessments to determine appropriate treatment options;
- Provide written and verbal case updates in multiple court parts and to court staff;
- Communicate with judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, and court staff about eligible individuals’ suitability for specific BJI programming;
- Collaborate with a broad range of criminal justice, city government, and community partners;
- Assist with clinical assessments and screenings, as needed;
- Complete intakes and assessments for mandated participants;
- Assist with scheduling and rescheduling mandated participants for both on and offsite groups and community service;
- Ensure that all participants who are mandated to services are connected with their assigned case manager upon their release;
- Provide direct services to program participants or voluntary participants, including group facilitation, as needed;
- Execute crisis intervention protocols to ensure participant safety and connection to appropriate services post-arraignment;
- Escort participants to community-based treatment providers, as needed;
- Provide written and verbal case updates to the court and other court staff, as needed, including compliance reporting;
- Maintain appropriate participant information in electronic databases and hard files, including court assessment, screening, and outcome information;
- Assist with outreach and scheduling regarding participant compliance requirements;
- Assist senior staff with the development and implementation of new programs, protocols, initiatives, and interventions;
- Assist with data collection and management;
- Provide training to participants for overdose response;
- Provide weekday, weeknight, weekend day, and weekend night arraignment coverage on a regular rotating basis;
- Attend required staff meetings and trainings;
- Attend Brooklyn Justice Initiatives’ events after hours, as needed;
- Other relevant responsibilities.
Qualifications: The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor’s degree and at least one year of experience working in a criminal court setting and/or human service field or 3-4 years of equivalent experience. Ability to communicate appropriately with varying levels of stakeholders. Highly organized, excellent communication skills, and strong writing ability with the capacity to be detail-oriented within a fast-paced, dynamic environment highly desired. Candidate must be proficient in Microsoft and Google Suites, and be able to use Skype for Business. The ideal candidate will have the ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds in a culturally-responsive manner, and work independently and collaboratively, both in-person and remotely. Bilingual (English-Spanish) preferred.
Position Type: Full-time, hourly, non-exempt rotating schedule of day (9:00am-5:00pm), swing (12:00pm-8:00pm), night (5:00pm-1:00am), weekend (day and night) shifts, and some holidays.
Compensation: The hourly rate is $29 and is commensurate with experience. Center for Court Innovation offers an excellent benefits package including comprehensive health, free basic dental coverage, vision insurance, short-term and long term disability, and life insurance. All healthcare benefits are effective on the date of hire. Paid time off includes 20 days of paid vacation per year, 15 paid sick days, Flexible Spending Account plans for health and dependent care, commuter FSA and offers a 10% employer match on the 403(b) retirement plan.
The Center for Court 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 September 9, 2021, all new hires are required to be vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus, unless they have been granted a reasonable accommodation for medical, disability or religious reasons by the Center’s Human Resources Department.
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 please.