Court Based Social Worker

New York City Criminal Justice Agency; New York (NY); On-site; USD 72,412 - 97,937; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement plan

Four weeks vacation

Paid holidays

Job summary

The New York City Criminal Justice Agency (CJA) seeks a licensed social worker or mental health counselor to join the Queens Supervised Release Program at the courthouse. The Court-Based Social Worker collaborates with a multidisciplinary team to advocate for behavioral health needs and assist in outreach and intake at arraignment.

Responsibilities include screening, coordinating with attorneys and judges, and referrals to treatment services with a focus on crisis management and reducing risk,

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in social work or mental health counseling; LMSW or LMHC required within 6 months of start date.
• Three or more years of related experience with court-involved populations.
• Knowledge of criminal justice system procedures and ability to communicate this knowledge.
• Familiarity with ATD/ATI or other advocacy program models.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate on an interdisciplinary team of Social Workers, Court Representatives and Peer Specialists to advocate for participants with behavioral health needs.
• Use court procedures to facilitate release into the Supervised Release Program with clients, attorneys, judges and stakeholders.
• Support high-risk clients and those at risk of recidivism or failure-to-appear.
• Employ motivational interviewing and evidence-based practices in pretrial supervision and case management.
• Initiate intake assessments at release and explain supervision conditions to participants.
• Arrange referrals from arraignment or as ordered by the judge (e.g., detox, outpatient treatment).
• Coordinate with defense attorneys and court partners on program expectations and referrals.
• Collaborate with community programs to implement court-m mandated programming.
• Attend court appearances to relay compliance information when needed.
• Ensure timely flow of information to case management and administrative staff.

Skills

Criminal justice knowledge

Communication with attorneys

Crisis-intervention

Education

Master’s degree in social work or mental health counseling

LMSW or LMHC eligibility within 6 months

Job description

POSTED: 6/24/2026

Are you a Licensed Social Worker or Mental Health Counselor who is interested in providing support in arraignment court for potential clients eligible for Supervised Release? Are you an experienced professional who is interested in helping us implement a more focused strength-based and community-engaged approach? Join our team of mental health and social work professionals seeking to improve the experience of justice involved individuals in the NYC Courts!

About the New York City Criminal Justice Agency (CJA)

The New York City Criminal Justice Agency is a not‑for‑profit service and research organization that operates in partnership with the New York City Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice. CJA is the city’s main pretrial services agency, combining operations, pilot projects, and research under one roof. CJA utilizes procedural justice practices to provide pretrial services to over 100,000 arrested annually in New York City. Information collected about arrestees and subsequent case processing is maintained in internal and externally shared database systems, which are used to conduct descriptive and evaluation research on arrestee characteristics, case processing and court outcomes, and on issues and potential reforms to criminal justice policy. CJA’s programs operate in the criminal courts and detention facilities 24 hours a day seven days a week within the five boroughs of NYC, employing more than 300 employees citywide.

Program Summary – Queens Supervised Release Program

CJA operates a supervised release program in Queens Criminal Court. The program operates during day and night court in Queens, screening targeted defendants for release at criminal court arraignment, subject to specific conditions including maintaining face‑to‑face and telephone contact with the program, participating in an assessment process to identify needs such as substance use and mental health, and agreeing to program monitoring of court appearances and re‑arrests.

Position Summary – Court‑Based Social Worker

The Court‑Based Social Worker is a licensed social worker or mental health counselor who works collaboratively on a multidisciplinary team stationed in the courthouse to contribute clinical experience and knowledge and assist in appropriately advocating for participants with behavioral health needs, especially those that might be in crisis. The role engages in difficult cases, requires coaching, counseling, and discussions with potential clients and their attorneys, and is responsible for securing consent to begin a mobile intake assessment at the courthouse immediately upon release under supervision. Mobile intake assessment involves engaging evidence‑based techniques and motivational interviewing to engage individuals in the process.

Primary Responsibilities

• Collaborate on an interdisciplinary team of Social Workers, Court Representatives and Peer Specialists to contribute clinical experience and knowledge, screen and advocate for participants with behavioral health needs, those in crisis, and individuals who screen as high risk.
• Use a full understanding of court procedures to facilitate release into the Supervised Release Program in collaboration with clients, attorneys, judges and other court stakeholders.
• Work alongside the Intensive Case Management team to support clients at high risk of recidivism and/or failure‑to‑appear in court or who are arraigned and would typically be seen in the community.
• Employ problem‑solving techniques, motivational interviewing and other evidence‑based practices as a critical part of the pretrial supervision and case management process, helping to motivate and engage individuals in any needed process of change.
• Initiate a full or partial intake assessment immediately upon release, explaining program supervision conditions (including reporting schedule and mandatory methods of communication) to newly released participants presenting as “in crisis”, high risk, or high needs.
• Initiate necessary referrals directly from arraignment or other court parts as needed, or as ordered by the judge (e.g., detox, outpatient substance abuse treatment and mental health).
• Communicate and collaborate with defense attorneys and other court partners regarding program expectations, coordination of client service referrals, and program compliance.
• Collaborate closely with community programs to ensure that referrals and court mandates are translated into programming.
• Be present at court appearances to relay compliance information on and off the court record, as needed.
• Ensure timely flow of information and other necessary documentation to all case management, administrative and managerial staff to meet program goals and objectives.

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree in social work or mental health counseling; LMSW or LMHC required within 6 months of start date.
• Three or more years of related experience working with court‑involved populations of diverse age ranges presenting a wide variety of needs including mental health, substance abuse, education, or family or socioeconomic challenges.
• Knowledge of criminal justice system procedures and ability to communicate this knowledge to justice‑involved individuals (bail procedures, court appearances, etc.).
• Familiarity with Alternative to Detention (ATD), Alternative to Incarceration (ATI) or other advocacy program models.

Preferred Qualifications

• LCSW, LMSW or LMHC.
• Bi‑lingual (Spanish speaking) preferred.

CJA Values

• Commitment: We are committed to being active partners in criminal justice reform through initiatives and creative problem‑solving that evaluates different methods and strategies for alternatives to detention.
• Fairness: We are guided by fairness and the presumption of innocence for those who are detained and work with integrity and without bias to protect the privacy and interest of court‑involved people and their families.
• Innovation: We value curiosity as a driving force to lead the way in pretrial services. We use innovative techniques in research, pilot programs, and engaging justice‑involved communities to execute our mission of reducing unnecessary pretrial detention.

Location and Schedule

Location: Kew Gardens, Queens.

Hours: 5 PM–1 AM, Sunday to Thursday (Friday and Saturday off).

Salary and Benefits

Salary: $85,249 annually plus night differential if assigned to a shift that starts after 5 PM.

Benefits: CJA offers a generous benefit plan including health, dental and vision insurance, a comprehensive mental health and wellness (EAP) plan, four weeks’ vacation, paid holidays and a retirement plan with employer matching contributions. CJA is strongly committed to professional learning and development for its staff members and offers varied opportunities for learning and development through partnerships and vendor services for web‑based, in‑person professional development training, as well as in‑house job training and development.

Note: This role is 100% in person. Terms and conditions are subject to change based on business needs and prevailing public health guidelines.

Only candidates being considered will be contacted.

Internal applicants must be in good standing with the agency and have been in their current roles for at least one year.

The New York City Criminal Justice Agency is an Equal Opportunity Employer. CJA is committed to creating a diverse work environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, disability, parental status, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable laws. We encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply.