Social Worker, Felony Alternative to Incarceration

Social Worker, Felony Alternative to Incarceration

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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;
• 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 Center for Justice Innovation is seeking a Social Worker to join a team of staff—including social workers, case managers, and a peer navigator—who work with defendants participating in the Manhattan Felony Alternative to Incarceration (ATI) Court. The Felony 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 Clinical Director of Felony ATI, the Social Worker will be part of a team that provides neutral, third‑party assessments and case management services to the Felony Alternative to Incarceration (ATI) Court.

The Social Worker will be responsible for conducting independent clinical assessments, providing referrals to community-based services, offering comprehensive clinical case management, and monitoring participant compliance. An essential and dynamic feature of the Social Worker’s role will be close collaboration with key stakeholders, working regularly with the judge and court staff from New York Country Supreme Court, as well as with other stakeholders, including the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office and New York City defense organizations.

• Conduct detailed risk‑need profiles and clinical assessments for potential Felony ATI Court participants;
• Develop treatment recommendations for services for potential Felony ATI participants to court stakeholders (judge, defense counsel, prosecutor and court staff);
• Provide comprehensive, clinically‑informed case management services to a caseload of pre‑plea and court‑mandated Felony ATI participants to help address issues such as substance use, mental health issues, trauma, domestic violence, housing and vocational needs, and other challenges in a participant’s life (e.g. new arrests, family court cases and other civil legal issues);
• Make appropriate community‑based referrals for a variety of social service needs;
• Manage and monitor compliance with treatment mandates, including care coordination with providers;
• Provide written treatment updates for court stakeholders for all court‑involved participants;
• Participate in regular interdisciplinary case conferences with court stakeholders;
• Coordinate with court stakeholders on any non‑compliance issues and assist clients in getting back into compliance, including re‑engaging clients, arranging return on warrants, and implementing graduated responses to encourage future compliance;
• Facilitate and help to develop and/or revise curricula for a range of on‑site psycho educational groups and individual case management sessions;
• Attend court on calendar days, as needed, to help clients navigate court and collaborate with court staff and stakeholders;
• Collaborate and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, including the resource coordinator, prosecutors, defense attorneys, and other court and programmatic staff;