Social Worker, 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:

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.

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 2023, Midtown Community Justice Center celebrated 30 years of operation and was renamed to Midtown Community Justice Center to reflect the work we do in the community. The work has continued to move upstream and beyond the walls of our physical space through expanded diversion initiatives, street outreach, and community engagement.

Midtown Community Justice Center offers a diversion program that provides people who are arrested an off‑ram from criminal prosecution:
Project Reset. The Center for Justice Innovation operates Project Reset, New York City's pre‑arraignment diversion program, in all five boroughs and the Midtown Community Justice Center operates the program in Manhattan. In collaboration with the District Attorney’s Offices, the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice, the defense bar and the New York Police Department, Project Reset seeks to create a proportionate response to low‑level crime outside of the traditional criminal justice process.

Project Reset‑eligible community members receive the option to participate in a one‑session program in advance of their court date. Upon completion of the session, the District Attorney’s Office will decline to prosecute the case. The Midtown Community Justice Center also offers Rapid Reset, which offers the same diversion opportunity to Project Reset‑eligible people who show up to court.

Midtown Community Justice Center is seeking a Project Reset Social Worker. Reporting to the Project Reset Program Coordinator, the Social Worker will facilitate psycho educational group‑based curricula and provide individual counseling and case management to Project Reset and Rapid Reset participants. When appropriate, the Social Worker will work with clients on a voluntary basis and make referrals to additional services. The Social Worker will also provide clinical support to direct service staff on the Project Reset team and collaborate with Midtown's Clinical Director to ensure quality clinical care through Project Reset.

The Social Worker may also be called upon to provide general support to other clinical programs at Midtown Community Justice Center, as needed.

• Conduct group‑based programming for Project Reset and Rapid Reset programming for Midtown’s Court Parts, including AP6 and the Emerging Adult Court which serves ages 18–25;
• Conduct case management and individual counseling sessions for Project Reset and Rapid Reset clients that address issues such as substance use, mental health issues, trauma, domestic violence, housing, and vocational needs;
• Offer voluntary short term counseling sessions upon participant…