Program Associate, Project Reset

THE ORGANIZATION

The Center for Justice Innovation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing community safety and racial justice. Since 1996, we've worked alongside communities, courts, and those most directly affected by the justice system to build stronger, healthier, and more equitable neighborhoods. With a team of over 900 staff and an annual budget of $130 million, the Center carries out its mission through three core strategies:

Operating Programs that pilot new ideas and address local challenges;

Conducting original research to evaluate what works-and what doesn't; and

Providing expert assistance and policy guidance to reformers across the country and beyond.

Backed by decades of on-the-ground experience and nationally recognized expertise, we bring innovative, practical, and lasting solutions to justice systems nationwide.
Learn more about our work ovatingjustice.org.

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 Justice Center's court responds creatively to low-level offending, seeking sentences that are restorative to the defendant and community. In addition, the Justice Center works upstream and outside the courtroom through diversion initiatives, street outreach, and community engagement.

Midtown Community Justice Center is seeking a Program Associate to provide support to the site's pre-arraignment diversion program, Project Reset. Reporting to the Program Coordinator, the Program Associate will be responsible for conducting outreach to eligible individuals, conduct intakes, schedule programming, enter data, update compliance and lead completion protocols, close cases and distribute completion letters. Additionally, the Program Associate will support efforts connecting participants to voluntary resources.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Lead outreach efforts to Project Reset- eligible people and describe the opportunity to engage in pre-arraignment diversion programming;
• Conduct needs-based intakes and schedule participants for programming;
• Provide comprehensive, strengths-based case management to help participants address issues such as substance use, mental health, trauma, domestic violence, housing, and vocational goals;
• Liaise with program partners and link participants to community-based organizations and social services within the Midtown Community Justice Center's network of partner providers;
• Facilitate group-based programming, as needed;
• Follow-up with participants to remind them of upcoming programming and encourage compliance;
• As needed, support Rapid Reset programming by conducting intakes and screenings, updating compliance, and facilitating group workshops;
• Contribute to front desk coverage in Midtown's intake area and lobby;
• Help manage data collection, including from subcontractors, ensuring programmatic outcomes are updated in real time and communicated to Reset and District Attorney's Office of New York staff;
• Distribute program completion and decline to prosecute letters upon the completion of workshops and individual sessions;
• Maintain organized records of outreach attempts, daily attendance sheets, completion, and other project details;
• Maintain accurate computer records in both the Center's internal case management tool and Salesforce database that is shared with project partners;
• Participate in staff meetings, team-building exercises, trainings, and site visits;
• Participate in limited evening and weekend community meetings, events, and programming, as needed;
• Perform other relevant duties as needed to support Project Reset, the Midtown Community Justice Center, and the Center for Justice Innovation.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree and preferably 1-2 years of related experience working in at risk communities or a high school diploma or equivalent and at least 5-6 years of relevant experience
• Bilingual proficiency in an additional language preferred;
• Experience in a court, criminal justice, or social service setting preferred;
• Experience and/or comfort working with both adolescents and adults required;
• Highly organized, with a strong commitment to systems, process and data collection;
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to collaborate with multiple agencies and organizations including court personnel;
• Knowledge of community-based resources throughout New York City is helpful;
• Candidates must be willing and able to work collaboratively with colleagues and a variety of court personnel and partner agencies in a high-pressure/fast paced work environment
• Ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds in a culturally responsive…