Case Manager, Diversion Programs

Center for Justice Innovation; New York (NY); On-site; USD 52,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a dynamic community justice organization dedicated to transforming lives through innovative programs. As a Case Manager for Diversion Programs, you will play a crucial role in guiding individuals through the legal process, helping them avoid incarceration while providing essential support and resources. This position offers the opportunity to make a meaningful impact in the community, collaborating with various stakeholders to promote justice and rehabilitation. If you're passionate about social change and have experience in case management or social services, this is the perfect opportunity for you to contribute to a mission-driven organization focused on creating safer, healthier communities.

Benefits

Comprehensive Healthcare

Free Basic Dental Coverage

Vision Insurance

Short-term and Long-term Disability

Life Insurance

Flexible Spending Accounts

403(b) Retirement Plan

Mental Health Care Services

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or 3-4 years of experience in social services required.
• Experience in case management and community advocacy preferred.
• Strong understanding of the criminal legal system is essential.

Responsibilities

• Provide individualized case management and referrals to social services.
• Facilitate intake assessments and group-based work for participants.
• Maintain detailed case notes and track participant progress.

Skills

Interpersonal Skills

Communication Skills

Problem-Solving Skills

Crisis Intervention

Community Advocacy

Education

Bachelor's Degree

3-4 Years Experience in Social Services

Tools

Case Management Databases

Slack

Zoom

Google Suite

Microsoft Office

Job description

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, $130 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

Brooklyn Justice Initiatives offers people an opportunity to change the direction of their lives. The program transforms how people navigate the legal process of criminal court in Brooklyn, NY, and helps them avoid the harmful effects of incarceration. It provides meaningful early diversion, supervised release for people awaiting trial, and alternative sentencing options.

Brooklyn Justice Initiatives is seeking a Case Manager, Diversion Programs to join the team. The Case Manager will be primarily responsible for facilitating individual and group based participant work for pre-court and post court-based diversion programs at BJI. This currently includes Project RESET, the Brooklyn Young Adult Court, and adult Alternatives to Incarceration providing voluntary, pre and post-plea services. The Case Manager may be called upon to support intakes and session facilitation for new court-based initiatives, assist with community-based events and attend offsite Brooklyn Justice Initiative/Center for Justice Innovation (CJI) events.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Provide individualized case management, including referrals to social services, mental health support, legal services, employment resources, and other needs-based interventions;
• Conduct outreach to and facilitate intake assessments with eligible participants, explaining program expectations and requirements and determine whether participant is suitable for group-based work or merits an individualized session ;
• Facilitate and help to develop and/or revise curricula for a range of on-site psychoeducational groups, workshops, and restorative justice circles;
• Conduct follow-up with program participants to provide additional voluntary referrals, as needed;
• Maintain detailed case notes, attendance records, and track participant progress using BJI’s case management system;
• Provide written and verbal compliance reports to legal parties and coordinate responses to non-compliance issues, including re-engaging participants and arranging return on warrants;
• Create program completion letters for participants;
• Provide crisis intervention and de-escalation, as needed;
• Assist with outreach to participants, district attorney office, defense attorneys, and community partners, and when appropriate, family members, to ensure all participants are effectively engaged;
• Collaborate with NYPD, district attorneys, defense attorneys, and other stakeholders to ensure smooth program operations;
• Assist with data collection and reporting to evaluate program effectiveness and outcomes;
• Attend and participate in required supervisions, team meetings, events, and trainings; and
• Perform other relevant duties, as needed.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or a minimum of 3-4 years of experience working in a social service setting;
• Experience working in a court or criminal justice setting strongly preferred;
• Experience in case management, community advocacy, diversion programs, or social services, strongly preferred;
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and problem-solving skills;
• Ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders, including law enforcement, attorneys, and community organizations;
• Strong understanding of the criminal legal system and the impact of incarceration on individuals and communities;
• Familiarity with technology, case management databases, Slack, Zoom, Google Suite, and Microsoft; and
• Fluency in Spanish preferred, but not required.

Position Type:Full-time.

Position Location:Brooklyn, NY.

Compensation:The compensation range for this position is$52,000 - $63,500 and is commensurate with experience. The Center for Justice Innovation offers an excellent benefits package including comprehensive healthcare with a national network, free basicdental 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 committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. We do not discriminate based on 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 LGBTQ+ community, and individuals with prior contact with the criminal justice system. Our goal is to create a supportive and respectful environment where everyone, regardless of background or identity, feels valued and included.

Candidates are expected to provide accurate and truthful information throughout the hiring process. Any misrepresentation, falsification, or omission of material facts may result in disqualification from consideration, withdrawal of an offer, or termination of employment, regardless of when discovered.

As of February 10, 2023, New York City Executive Order 25 rescinded the COVID-19 vaccination requirement for City workers, new hires, and contracted employees. While the Center does not require vaccination, we strongly recommend that all staff, interns, and volunteers stay up to date.

In compliance with federal law, all hires must verify their identity and eligibility to work in the United States and complete the required employment verification form upon hire. Please refer to the job posting for relevant contact information. If contact details are not provided, we kindly ask that you refrain from inquiries via phone or email, as only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.