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 a 900-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. 

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

SIJC seeks a Community Engagement Coordinator for the borough’s Supervised Release Program (SRP). Reporting to the SRP Clinical Director, the Community Engagement Coordinator will oversee the development and implementation of housing, employment, and educational services and the expansion of community engagement services provided in-house for program participants. Specifically, the Coordinator will develop supports to maximize participants’ access to medical and mental health services, substance abuse treatment and other interventions, employment and educational services, youth programming, housing resources, and other community-based supports. The Coordinator will work closely with site leadership and the Center’s SRP Court Reform team to ensure that services and service linkages are developed and implemented aligned with the SRP program model and the Center’s organizational values.

The Community Engagement Coordinator will oversee and support a team of Community Engagement, Housing, and Education and Employment Specialists by providing consistent and clinically-informed task supervision, with the support of the Clinical Director. The Community Engagement Coordinator will ensure the team regularly engages in program-specific training and consistently and effectively communicates across all other SRP teams to build on program successes and proactively addresses challenges.

This position leverages significant supervisory, direct practice, and program development and management experience to support the team of Community Engagement, Housing, and Education and Employment Specialists in the execution of their responsibilities. Additionally, the Coordinator will have expert knowledge of local service providers to best utilize community-based services and ensure participants are provided with substantive support aligned with their needs and goals.

The Center for Justice Innovation strongly encourage and seek applications from women, people of color, LGBTQIA community members, as well as individuals with lived experience with the legal system.

• Plan and develop new and evolving in-house participant services in collaboration with the Clinical Director, site leadership, and the SRP Court Reform team;
• Support policy and protocol implementation in collaboration with the Clinical Director, other members of site leadership, and the SRP Court Reform team;
  • Develop and maintain policy and protocol for community-based work and travel with participants (i.e., work that is neither remote nor in the office) aligned with Center and program-wide policies and procedures;
• Work closely with the SRP Court Reform Training Specialist, Training Institute, and site training liaisons to ensure SRP staff are consistently trained as required;
• Provide individual task supervision to Community Engagement, Housing, and Education and Employment Specialists toward the goals of consistent quality service provision to participants, substantive staff supports, and professional growth and development opportunities for staff;
• Responsible for quality assurance, monitoring the team’s compliance with program requirements and court reporting obligations;
  • Oversee routine and accurate documentation to ensure best practices and court reporting obligations are consistently practiced;
  • Responsible for convening the team in response to deviations from the program model or other unfilled responsibilities;
• Oversee the development and facilitation of regular information sessions on local social service agencies, services, and resources;
• Responsible for consistent and effective communication and collaboration across all SRP teams to proactively identify successes, challenges, and opportunities to strengthen programming, create opportunities for meaningful collaboration, and maximize internal and external resources and expertise;
  • Develop and maintain effective communication and collaboration with Coordinators and the Compliance team to align direct practice with fidelity to the program model;
• Support the recruitment and hiring of and onboarding and training for new community engagement, housing, and employment and education team members;
• Ensure regular and equitable access to program-related external professional development and training opportunities for all staff;
• Work with the Clinical Director to establish and maintain relationships with community-based providers, organize presentations and site visits, and ensure appropriate linkages and referrals to providers;
• Identify pathways for civic engagement for SRP participants and alumni;
• Represent Staten Island Justice Center at community events and meetings, including on weekends or evenings;
• Work with site leadership to liaise with program funders and project visitors, as needed;
• Provide planning, administrative, and logistical support to SRP offices across Staten Island, as needed;
• Participate in regular staff trainings to develop program expertise and related skill sets, including refresher and management trainings;
• Please note that this role is not eligible for clinical hours; and
• Additional relevant tasks, as necessary.

• Master’s degree in a mental health field and five years direct practice experience required, or, BA degree and 7 years direct practice (i.e., therapeutic or case management) experience required;
• Minimum 1 year supervisory experience required;
• Expert knowledge of local service providers and resources required;
• Experience working with people impacted by the criminal legal system strongly preferred;
• Bachelor's degree required;
• Valid Driver's License required; and
• Bilingual (English-Spanish) preferred.

Position Type: Full-time in-person work required, weekend and evening hours required, as needed.

Compensation: The compensation range for this position is $65,500 - $82,000 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.