---

---

Location

New York, NY | United States

---

Job description

THE ORGANIZATION

The Center for Justice Innovation (formerly the Center for Court Innovation) is a non-profit organization that works with communities and justice systems to advance equity, increase safety, and help individuals and communities thrive. The Center's goal is to identify and resolve as early as possible the challenges that bring people into the criminal and civil legal systems. It does this in a number of ways—by developing and running programs that reduce the need for incarceration and enhance economic opportunity, conducting original research to identify what works, and sharing what we learn from our programming and research with those seeking to transform the justice system around the world.

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 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. 

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Center for Justice Innovation is seeking a Peer Specialist to join a team of staff—including social workers and case managers—who work with defendants participating in the Manhattan Felony Alternative to Incarceration (ATI) Court. The ATI Court, which is led by Administrative Judge Ellen Biben, seeks to forge a new response to individuals charged with felonies by linking them to community-based social services. The Court is the first of its kind, providing an innovative model for other jurisdictions seeking to develop and implement meaningful post-conviction sentencing options for individuals facing felony charges.

Reporting to the Senior Social Worker, the Peer Specialist will be part of a team that provides independent, holistic clinical assessments, treatment planning, and case management services to mandated participants in the ATI Court. The Peer Specialist will engage new participants in court to ensure successful connection to community-based services and support existing participants in their programming. An essential feature of the Peer Specialist’s role is close collaboration with the participants’ assigned social worker/case manager, service providers, and community contacts. The Peer Specialist will communicate regularly with members of the participants’ team to support the participant’s engagement in services and successful program completion.

The Center 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:

• Use lived experience to connect with participants, support them in their goals, and serve as a role model of personal progress and/or recovery;
• Attend court appearances to help engage newly mandated participants in services, as well as to help participants navigate the court process more generally;
• Engage participants who have been released from custody and motivate them to engage in services;
• Accompany participants from court to intakes/appointments;
• Perform community outreach to participants, including meeting participants in the community to accompany them to intakes/appointments and assist with connections to needed resources;
• Coordinate with the participant’s assigned social worker/case manager to facilitate individual education that is responsive to the specific interests and needs of the participant, which may include a focus on treatment, harm reduction, and/or relapse prevention;
• Communicate with the participant’s assigned social worker/case manager, service providers, and community contacts to coordinate engagement in services and follow up on participant’s progress;
• Inform the participant’s assigned social worker/case manager of any non-compliance issues and assist participants in getting back into compliance, including re-engaging participants;
• Administer and provide training on use of Narcan, as needed;
• Provide crisis intervention and de-escalation, as needed;
• Enter and maintain accurate and up-to-date participant information, including outreach and case management data, and document work with participants in electronic case management system;
• Participate in individual and group supervision, staff meetings, and trainings;
• Attend community-based meetings and events in the evening, as needed;
• Assist with other programmatic and administrative tasks to support the Felony ATI Court’s activities, as needed.

Qualifications: The ideal candidate will have: a high school diploma or equivalent and at least 2 years of relevant experience required. The ideal candidate will also have the following qualifications:

• 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;
• Experience in criminal justice and/or substance use treatment settings, lived experience preferred;
• Certified Recovery Peer Advocate (CRPA) preferred;
• Ability to communicate and listen accurately, empathically, and under time constraints;
• Ability to maintain professional demeanor when handling difficult conversations;
• Strong work ethic and organization and time management skills;
• Experience using Microsoft Office programs, particularly Microsoft Outlook for regular email correspondence;
• Comfort working within the court setting and with participants who are mandated to services;
• Experience working in a team setting;
• Bilingual (English-Spanish) preferred.

Position Type:  Full-time.

Position Location:  Manhattan, NY

Compensation: The compensation range for this position is $27.48 - $31.59 per hour based on a 35-hour work week 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. We are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace, and as such, we do 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 welcome 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. Our aim is to create a supportive and respectful environment where every individual, irrespective of their background or identity, feels valued and included.

As of February 10, 2023, New York City Executive Order 25 rescinded the requirement of the COVID-19 vaccination for City workers, new hires, and contracted employees. Accordingly, the Center does not require all new hires be vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus; however, the Center recommends all staff, interns, and volunteers stay up-to-date on the vaccination.

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. Kindly refer to the job posting for the relevant contact information. If the contact details are not provided, we kindly ask that you refrain from making inquiries via phone or email, as only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

---

Job tags

---

---

Salary