THE ORGANIZATION

The Center for Justice Innovation is a community justice organization that centers safety and racial justice. Since our founding in 1996, the Center has partnered with community members, courts, and the people most impacted to create stronger, healthier, more just communities. Our decades of experience in courts and communities, coupled with our field-leading research and practitioner expertise, help us drive justice nationwide in innovative, powerful, and durable ways. For more information on how and where we work, please visit www.innovatingjustice.org.

The Center is a 900-employee, $130 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 Justice Center, 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

The Center's research teams are staffed with social scientists, data analysts, and lawyers who are academically-trained or have lived experience and who conduct research in the U.S. and globally on diverse criminal-legal system and justice issues. Their work includes evaluating programs and policies; conducting exploratory, community-based studies; and providing research translation and strategic planning for system actors. The Center has published studies on topics including court and jail reform, intimate partner violence, restorative justice, gun violence, reentry, sixth amendment rights, and progressive prosecution. The research teams strive to make their work meaningful and actionable to the communities they work with, policymakers, and practitioners.

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.

Center Support

A dedicated support team within the Center ensures the smooth functioning of operations across various domains, including finance, legal, technology, human resources, fundraising, real estate, and communications. Comprising 15% of the organization's staff, these teams provide essential infrastructure support and innovative solutions aligned with the Center's mission and values.

THE OPPORTUNITY

Through its Alternative to Incarceration (ATI) program, the Queens Community Justice Center (QCJC) offers meaningful responses to low-level offenses such as shoplifting, reckless driving, and illegal drug use. Individuals charged with misdemeanor offenses often struggle with underlying issues such as substance use disorder, mental illness, unemployment, and trauma. In response to low-level charges, judges may mandate participation in a range of social services designed to assist participants with their needs. These services take a trauma-informed and strengths-based approach.

Queens Community Justice Center is seeking a Program Facilitator whose primary focus will be working with individuals who engage in ATI programming. Reporting to the Associate Director of Adult Court Programs, the Program Facilitator is primarily responsible for leading psychoeducational groups and restorative justice-based circles for participants engaged in programming with Queens Community Justice Center. The Program Facilitator will provide one-on-one case management to program participants. The Facilitator may also be called upon to provide general support needed for program participants and QCJC operations.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Provide comprehensive, clinically informed case management services and service referrals to individuals to help address issues such as substance use, mental health, trauma, housing, and educational/vocational needs;
• Provide individual and group counseling services to a caseload of short-term court-mandated clients;
• Assist with data entry and ensure the accuracy of the information in the electronic case management system, including entering case notes and assessment, case management, programming, and case outcome data;
• Supervise and monitor participants admitted to ATI programming through regular in-person or virtual meetings, phone calls, emails, and text messages;
• Coordinate with service providers to facilitate, follow up, and assist participants with service referrals;
• Provide connections to resources related to housing, health insurance, educational, and vocational needs;
• Conduct intakes and needs-based screenings for newly mandated clients;
• Co-facilitate and develop skills-based groups for participants based on presenting needs as determined by a thorough needs assessment;
• Establish and maintain linkages with community partners who can provide age-appropriate interventions and services to court-involved individuals;
• Assist with data management and grant reporting, compliance monitoring, and courtroom coverage when needed;
• Participate in interdisciplinary treatment meetings;
• Provide clinical services as described above to program participants voluntarily post-mandate;
• Support Resource Coordinator with court coverage and intake of Alternative to Incarceration (ATI) referrals;
• Assist with other programmatic and administrative tasks to support the Queens Community Justice ATI program as needed;
• Attend all required staff meetings and training;
• Attend community-based events after hours, as needed; and
• Additional relevant tasks, as needed.

Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree or 2- 3 years of group facilitation experience, preferably with court-involved population. Previous experience facilitating restorative justice-based programming, and/or a familiarity with principles of restorative justice, preferred. Experience in a court or criminal justice setting preferred, particularly experience with drug/alcohol treatment, mental health services, co-occurring disorders, adolescent development, trauma-informed, and strength-based approaches. Candidate must be willing and able to work collaboratively with various court personnel and on-site partner agencies in a high-pressure/fast-paced work environment. Candidates must also be comfortable working with adolescents, adults, and families. Highly organized, excellent time management skills, and strong writing ability required. Ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds in a culturally competent and gender-affirming manner required. Bilingual (Spanish/English) strongly preferred.

Position Type: Full-time, Monday-Friday from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm, may be required to work a rotating schedule, including day and some evening hours, as needed.

Position Location: Jamaica, Queens.

Compensation: The compensation range for this position is $52,000 - $59,500 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%.

The Center for Justice Innovation is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. We do not discriminate based on 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 welcome applications from women, people of color, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and individuals with prior contact with the criminal justice system. Our goal is to create a supportive and respectful environment where everyone, regardless of background or identity, feels valued and included.

At this time, the Center does not sponsor or support any immigration status, which includes supporting or completing any foreign student training plan. All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of application and throughout the duration of employment.

Candidates are expected to provide accurate and truthful information throughout the hiring process. Any misrepresentation, falsification, or omission of material facts may result in disqualification from consideration, withdrawal of an offer, or termination of employment, regardless of when discovered.

As of February 10, 2023, New York City Executive Order 25 rescinded the COVID-19 vaccination requirement for City workers, new hires, and contracted employees. While the Center does not require vaccination, we strongly recommend that all staff, interns, and volunteers stay up to date.

In compliance with federal law, all hires must verify their identity and eligibility to work in the United States and complete the required employment verification form upon hire. Please refer to the job posting for relevant contact information. If contact details are not provided, we kindly ask that you refrain from inquiries via phone or email, as only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.