Caseworker

Texas Rio Grande Public Defender; Beeville (TX); On-site; USD 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Texas Rio Grande Public Defender is seeking a caseworker to serve as a peer-support advocate for individuals involved in the criminal legal system. You will work with attorneys to collect social histories, connect clients with mental health resources, and assist in navigating court proceedings, probation, and alternatives to incarceration.

Ideal candidates bring lived experience with mental health, substance use, or trauma, plus knowledge of the criminal justice process.

Qualifications

• High School diploma or GED required.
• At least one year of sobriety.
• No current open cases with law enforcement.
• Must be off parole.
• Lived experience with mental health, substance use, disabilities, and/or trauma.
• Lived experience with the criminal legal system.

Responsibilities

• Provide peer support for individuals navigating incarceration, bond, probation, and court conditions.
• Assist attorneys by gathering client social histories and mitigating information.
• Coordinate with mental health authorities and social services to connect clients to resources.
• Maintain privacy and confidentiality in peer relationships.
• Complete all required documentation promptly.
• Work with attorneys to advocate for clients in court with the Court, Prosecutors, Probation, and other entities.
• Demonstrate nonjudgmental listening and positive interactions.
• Use trauma-informed, person-centered practices in client service.
• Support development of alternatives to incarceration.
• Testify in court when appropriate.

Skills

Sobriety experience

No open cases

Off parole

Lived experience - mental health

Lived experience - criminal system

Education

High School diploma or GED

Job description

Texas Rio Grande Public Defender is hiring caseworkers across its offices in South Texas. We are a legal non-profit dedicated to providing effective, zealous representation for people accused of crimes who cannot afford attorneys. Opportunities are available in the Coastal Bend Region (Beeville, Victoria), as well as Eagle Pass. Both opportunities are high-impact. Eagle Pass was recently exposed by the New York Times for failing to provide counsel altogether, and the area is a flashpoint for immigration.

Our Victoria office will represent the first "conflict" public defender office in Texas. Conflict offices represent indigent individuals that other defender agencies cannot due to professional conflicts of interest. Conflict offices are essential in ensuring everyone receives robust, client-centered representation, no matter their co-defendant.

The caseworker represents the heart of our practice--representing the whole person in front of us, not merely the charge. The caseworker works closely with people experiencing challenges around mental health, substance use, disabilities, incarceration, and the different iterations of the criminal legal system to assist attorneys with mitigation proposals and alternatives to incarceration. This role will focus on those individuals who are justice-involved or currently incarcerated. The caseworker will need to work with these individuals to reach their goals by engaging them through sharing lived experiences, providing education, being a supportive presence, helping them navigate the complex legal system, participating in in-court advocacy, such as testifying under oath, and/or providing outreach in the community. The caseworker works with individuals who may be currently incarcerated, who are facing obstacles such as mental health challenges and crises, substance abuse, and problems with addiction, as the individual moves from arrest to final adjudication.

This position would not require working over 40 hours, but may require working outside of 8 a.m.–5 p.m., Monday through Friday, as needed.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities

1. Provide peer support for individuals involved in the criminal legal system who may be experiencing behavioral health challenges as they navigate incarceration, bond, probation, and or court-ordered conditions.
2. Assist attorneys with gathering social histories of clients and developing mitigating information about our client.
3. Collaborate with local mental health authorities and other available social service providers to connect individuals to appropriate resources, including placements in rehabilitation programs, shelters for unhoused people, and other appropriate programs with the consent of the assigned attorney.
4. Ensure privacy and confidentiality of information learned or received within the peer relationship.
5. Complete all required documentation promptly.
6. Work with the assigned attorney and advocate for the client with the Court, Prosecutors, Probation, and other outside entities to ensure the best possible outcome for the client.
7. Exhibit a nonjudgmental approach, effective listening, and positive interactions.
8. Use person-centered and trauma-informed practices while serving clients.
9. Performs other job-related duties as assigned.
10. Assist attorneys in developing proposals for alternatives to incarceration in either the pretrial or post-conviction phase of the case for clients.
11. When appropriate, testifying in court on behalf of clients.

Qualifications and Skills

1. One year or more clean and sober.
2. No current open cases with law enforcement.
3. Must be off parole.
4. High School diploma or G.E.D.
5. Lived experience with challenges around mental health, substance use, disabilities, and/or trauma.
6. Lived experience with the criminal legal system.