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

Launched in 1993, the award-winning Midtown Community Justice Center 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 Justice Center 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 Justice is seeking a Bilingual Case Manager for the Intake team. Reporting to the Coordinator of Court Operations, 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 the Midtown Community Justice Center, and scheduling participants for services. The Case Manager will also be responsible for providing one-on-one case management support to participants 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.

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Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Conduct comprehensive needs-based intakes and assessments for clients referred to Midtown Community Justice Center and from other Center project sites;
• Schedule participants for mandated social services and/or community engagement sessions;
• Maintain caseload of CJA participants and provide support with completing court mandates, including care coordination with outside providers;
• Conduct case management sessions and make referrals for a variety of social service needs including linkages to harm reduction/substance use and mental health services, housing, employment, benefits, and more;
• Maintain a comprehensive and up-to-date list of referral resources that offer a wide range of programs and services;
• Enter and maintain accurate data entry in CJA’s electronic case management database including outreach, case information, intakes, attendances, and case outcome data;
• Provide written updates for court stakeholders for all court-involved participants; Provide resource coordination coverage in the courtroom, as needed;
• 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;
• Manage administrative functions of the front desk and greet guests, as needed;
• Participate in group supervision, staff meetings, site visits, and trainings;
• Actively create, promote, and maintain a respectful, inclusive, and anti-racist work environment;
• 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; and
• Additional tasks as necessary.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or a minimum of 3-4 years of experience working in a social service setting;
• Must be fluent in English and Spanish, with proficiency in both written and verbal communication is required;
• 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; and
• Knowledge of community-based resources throughout New York City.

Position Type: Full time, Monday - Friday from 9:00am - 5:00pm.

Position Location: Midtown Manhattan.

Compensation: The compensation range for this position is $52,000 - $65,400 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 is unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa. 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.

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.