Program Associate

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, $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

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 engages in ongoing community engagement events to promote community wellness and to help connect people in need to voluntary services. 

Reporting to the Senior Resource Coordinator, Midtown Community Justice Center is seeking a Program Associate for the Community Justice Alternatives (CJA) team. The Program Associate will support CJA by conducting intakes and screenings, providing case management to court-based clients, drafting documentation for the court, providing front desk support, orienting new participants to Midtown Community Justice Center and CJA services, scheduling participants for programming. As needed, the Program Associate may serve as the first point of contact in the courtroom, liaise with legal parties and court staff, document courtroom outcomes, and coordinate referrals.  

• Conduct comprehensive needs-based intakes and assessments, case management, and service linking for a caseload of Midtown’s CJA clients and those referred to Midtown from downtown Center for Justice Innovation's sister site, Manhattan Justice Opportunities; 
• Coordinate court reporting: track court dates and compile updates from Midtown colleagues and community-based service providers;  
• Maintain appropriate client information in electronic databases and an Excel tracker, including court screening/assessment outcome information; 
• Oversee court room data collection and management, ensure courtroom outcomes are updated in real time and communicated to CJA staff to ensure rapid engagement in services; 
• Contribute to Midtown’s repository of community-based resources and referral partnerships that meet client needs and interests; 
• Support administrative tasks for the CJA team, including drafting case conferences notes and compliance memos; 
• Contribute to front desk coverage in Midtown’s intake area; 
• As needed, support the Resource Coordinator with liaising in the courtroom with prosecutors, defense attorneys, judge, and other court staff and make recommendations about Midtown’s services;  
• Explain Midtown’s services to participants in the courtroom, conduct screenings, and connect clients to relevant MCJC staff; 
• Report on client engagement to judges and attorneys, and provide detailed case information when needed; 
• Participate in community outreach as necessary, including attendance at community meetings and site visits; 
• Actively create, promote, and maintain a respectful, inclusive, and anti-racist work environment;  
• Participate in occasional evening and weekend community meetings; and
• Additional relevant tasks, as needed.  

Qualifications: 

• Bachelor's degree and 1-2 years of related experience working in a criminal court setting and/or the human services field or a high school diploma or equivalent and at least 5-6 years of relevant experience;
• Ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds in a culturally responsive manner;  
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to collaborate with multiple agencies and organizations including court personnel;  
• Experience with drug/alcohol treatment, mental health services, co-occurring disorders, trauma-informed, and anti-oppressive practices preferred; 
• Ability to be highly organized with excellent time management skills;  
• Excellent writing skills and attention to detail;  
• Openness to effective engagement with other professionals in the court setting who have differing and, at times, competing perspectives; and
• Bilingual (English-Spanish) preferred 

Position Type: Full-time, some evening and weekend hours are required. This position is temporary for two years. 

Position Location: Manhattan, NY.

Compensation: The compensation range for this position is $52,000 - $64,500 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. 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.

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