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
Operating out of Bronx County Criminal Court, Bronx Community Solutions (BCS) offers criminal justice programming in the areas of pretrial diversion programming thru regular monitoring and referral services to misdemeanor and non-violent felony defendants whose cases are pending; and alternative to Incarceration programming for non-violent crimes by providing additional sentencing options for non-violent offenders. These programs reduce the reliance on pre-trial detention and short-term jail sentences and offers defendants the assistance they need to avoid further criminal conduct.
Bronx Community Solutions is seeking an Intake Specialist. Reporting to the Coordinator of Intake and Community Initiatives, the Intake Specialist will perform administrative and programmatic duties to support operations for Bronx Community Solutions and play a key role in the client intake process.
Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
- Greet and serve as initial contact for all BCS first-time and returning clients;
- Manage front desk and waiting room through greeting all visitors, ensuring clients’ needs are addressed in a timely and professional manner, assisting with rescheduling needs and maintaining a professional and welcoming environment;
- Conduct intakes and needs-based screenings for newly mandated participants;
- Explain program requirements and expectations to participants;
- Assist with scheduling and rescheduling mandated participants for intakes and a variety of onsite and off-site services;
- Provide voluntary referral information for participants;
- Manage the flow of referrals to in-house interventions and programming sites;
- Ensure program participants are scheduled properly;
- Maintain appropriate paper files;
- Ensure accuracy of information input into electronic client database, including attendance lists from classes and community service sites;
- Assist with the DWI Initiative;
- Attend project events, community events, and meetings after hours, as needed;
- Attend all staff meetings and trainings as scheduled;
- Assist with other relevant programming and administrative tasks, as necessary.
Qualifications: The ideal candidate will have a minimum of an Associate’s Degree, Bachelor’s Degree preferred and at least one year of experience. Must be highly organized with an ability to multi-task and work in a fast-paced environment. The ideal candidates will have a willingness and interest in engaging individuals (youth and adult) with mental health and substance abuse needs. Experience in Motivational Interviewing is a plus. Candidates must have the ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds in a culturally-competent manner. Candidates must also be comfortable working with adolescents, adults, and families and be able to communicate appropriately with stakeholders. Excellent organizational, interpersonal, communication and writing skills required. Bilingual (English-Spanish, or other languages) preferred.
Compensation: The compensation range for this position is $27.99 - $34.01 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.