Counselor, Supervised Release Program

Company: Center for Justice Innovation
Location: Staten Island
Posted on: May 28, 2023

Job Description:

-THE ORGANIZATIONThe 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 ProgramsThe Center's operating programs, including the award-winning Red Hook Community Justice Center and Midtown Community Court, 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. -ResearchThe 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 AssistanceThe 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 OPPORTUNITYThe Staten Island Justice Center (the Justice Center) offers an array of programming for both youth and adults in Staten Island, focusing on engaging those with current or past justice involvement. - The Justice Center provides judges, prosecutors, and defense attorneys with alternative community sentencing options that hold individuals accountable in a way that is meaningful, proportionate, and restorative. - The goal is to provide participants with individual and group services that help them to avoid future contact with the justice system and promote swift case resolutions that bolster public confidence in justice.Staten Island Justice Center is seeking a Counselor -for its Supervised Release Program. Supervised Release offers -an alternative to jail, providing pretrial supervision, case management, and voluntary social services to people charged with misdemeanor and non-violent felony offenses. Defendants are monitored to ensure appearance at their court dates, and they receive referrals to community-based programming such as job training, drug treatment, and mental health counseling. Following legislative changes in New York State that curtail the use of cash bail and pre-trial detention, the Center is anticipating dramatic growth in the population it will serve through Supervised Release, offering social workers and other staff the opportunity to contribute to an exciting program expansion at an unprecedented scale. As part of this expansion, the Supervised Release Program will provide services to a growing youth population and take on bail-eligible felony and misdemeanor charges, including violent felony offenses.The Counselor -will be responsible for monitoring a caseload of program participants, referring participants to voluntary social service interventions, and helping promote compliance with pretrial release conditions. The Counselor -will stay in regular contact with participants, including facilitating in-person case management meetings and sending frequent court date reminders. The Counselor will also facilitate groups and assist in development of onsite services for participants. Additionally, they will be in communication -with attorneys' offices, community-based providers, and draft memos to keep the court informed of participants' compliance.Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Complete intakes of participants and administer risk and need assessment tool;
• Provide comprehensive, clinically-informed case management services to participants including regular in-person meetings and phone calls; this may include communication with clients on nights and weekends;
• Perform voluntary individual counseling sessions as needed;
• Facilitate group sessions for program participants;
• Conduct outreach to collateral sources as needed to provide supervision and court monitoring;
• Communicate with community-based service providers to facilitate, follow-up and assist participants with voluntary service referrals;
• Complete all necessary documentation and input data into computer database;
• Monitor and report compliance to court stakeholders and work with defense and prosecution to bring program participants into compliance as needed;
• Attend staff meetings and on-going trainings as well as participate in community events;
• Assist with the development of on-site programming that is responsive to participants' needs;
• Assist with data collection;
• Assist with other programming as needed;
• Attend Staten Island Justice Centers' events after hours, as needed; and
• Additional relevant tasks, as needed. -Qualifications: - The ideal candidate will possess a Master's in Social Work or an equivalent Master's level counseling degree. Candidates must either be currently licensed or obtain -licensure in New York State within 90 days of hire. Excellent written skills are a must. Candidate must be a skilled communicator able to work in a multi-disciplinary setting and maintain strong relationships with multiple agencies and organizations both onsite and in the community. Prior experience with the criminal justice system and/or justice-involved communities is a plus - in particular, experience working with youth and young adults, individuals experiencing domestic violence, mental health issues, substance use disorder, and/or homelessness. -Position Type: - Full-time, exempt with the ability to -work nights or weekends, as needed. -Compensation: -The compensation range for this position is $59,190 - $71,200 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. The Center does 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 seek 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.
  
  As of September 9, 2021, all new hires are required to be vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus, unless they have been granted a reasonable accommodation for medical, disability or religious reasons by the Center's Human Resources Department.
  
  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. Only applicants under consideration will be contacted. No phone calls or emails please.Powered by JazzHR

Keywords: Center for Justice Innovation, New York , Counselor, Supervised Release Program, Other , Staten Island, New York