THE ORGANIZATION
The Center for Court Innovation is committed to reducing crime and incarceration, addressing violence, supporting survivors, and building communities while strengthening public trust in justice. The Center seeks justice for marginalized groups, bringing an equity lens – particularly a racial and gender equity lens – to its work. For 25 years, the Center has worked to foster justice and equity to create safe, healthy, and thriving communities and, ultimately, to transform the justice system.
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
Launched in 1993, the award-winning Midtown Community Court is one of the country’s first problem-solving courts. It provides alternatives to fines and jail as a response to low-level crime. Seeking to reduce crime and incarceration and increase public trust in justice, the Midtown Community Court works with neighborhood stakeholders to improve Midtown Manhattan, and to serve the vibrant Midtown community, specifically those in need of services. The court responds creatively to low-level offending, seeking sentences that are restorative to the victim, defendant, and community. Further, the Midtown staff engage in ongoing community engagement events to promote community wellness and to help connect people in need to voluntary services.
Midtown Community Court is seeking a Case Manager for the Intake team. Reporting to the ATI Program Coordinator, the Case Manager will be responsible for coordinating new referrals, conducting intakes and screenings, reengaging former and existing participants to complete mandated services, orienting new participants to Midtown Community Court, and scheduling participants for services. The Case Manager will also be responsible for providing one-on-one case management support to participants who are in need of services. Once a participant is enrolled in programming, the Case Manager will provide regular written updates and compliance reports to the court, including to the judge, clerks, defense attorneys, and prosecutors. In addition, the Case Manager must establish close connections with other departments, criminal justice agencies, and community organizations on behalf of Midtown Community Court.
Midtown Community Court strongly encourages and seeks 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:
- Conduct comprehensive needs-based intakes and assessments for clients referred to Midtown Community Court and from other CCI project sites;
- Schedule participants for mandated social services and/or community engagement sessions;
- Maintain caseload of ATI and voluntary participants by guiding them through their ATI mandates;
- Support the ATI team by conducting case management sessions, as a mandate or voluntarily, as needed;
- Make community-based referrals for a variety of social service needs including linkages to harm reduction/substance use and mental health services, housing, employment, and benefits
- Enter and maintain accurate data entry in the electronic case management database and hard files, including outreach, case information, intakes, attendances, and case outcome data;
- Manage and monitor compliance with service mandates, including care coordination with outside providers
- Provide written updates for court stakeholders for all court-involved participants;
- Provide courtroom coverage to substitute for the Resource Coordinator;
- Collaborate and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, prosecutors, defense attorneys, and other court and programmatic staff;
- Provide crisis intervention and de-escalation, as needed;
- Participate in group supervision, staff meetings, site visits and trainings;
- Assist with other programmatic and administrative tasks to support Midtown Community Court, as needed.
- Actively create, promote, and maintain a respectful, inclusive, and anti-racist work environment;
- Work with all program staff and teams to ensure continuity of services for participants;
- Participate in occasional evening and weekend community meetings;
- Additional relevant tasks, as needed.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree or a minimum of 3-4 years of experience working in a social service setting;
- Experience working in a court or criminal justice setting strongly preferred
- Experience with drug/alcohol treatment, harm reduction, mental health services, co-occurring disorders utilizing a trauma-informed and anti-oppressive practice required;
- Ability to effectively work with diverse client populations, as a team member in a multiracial setting;
- Ability to be highly organized with excellent time management skills;
- Excellent writing skills and attention to detail required;
- Strong organizational and time management skills;
- Commitment to, and experience using, holistic and strengths-based approaches, meeting participants where they are, as well as the ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds in a culturally responsive manner;
- Strong writing and verbal communication skills;
- Knowledge of community-based resources throughout New York City.
Compensation: The compensation range for this position is $26.18 - $31.87 per hour based on a 35-hour work week and is commensurate with experience. This position is eligible for overtime at 1.5x the hourly rate above 40 hours per week. The Center for Court 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 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.