Overview

THE ORGANIZATION
The Center for Court Innovation is committed to reducing crime and incarceration, addressing violence, supporting survivors, and building communities while strengthening public trust in justice. The Center seeks justice for marginalized groups, bringing an equity lens – particularly a racial and gender equity lens – to its work. For 25 years, the Center has worked to foster justice and equity to create safe, healthy, and thriving communities and, ultimately, to transform the justice system.

The Center is an 800-employee, $100 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 Court, 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
Researchers at the Center conduct independent evaluations, documenting how government systems work, how neighborhoods function, and how reform efforts change things. We believe in the “action research” model; accordingly, our researchers provide regular feedback on the results of the Center’s own operating programs. The Center has published studies on topics including youth in the sex trade, reentry, gun violence, and drug treatment as an alternative to incarceration. Our researchers have been published in numerous peer-reviewed journals.

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.

THE OPPORTUNITY

Neighborhood Safety Initiatives (NSI), a program of the Center, is seeking an Outreach Worker to support the Mayor’s Action Plan for Neighborhood Safety (MAP) and the Bureau of Justice Assistance crime prevention grant. Underway since 2015 and led by the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice (MOCJ), MAP is a comprehensive strategy to enhance public safety and strengthen community well-being in public housing developments across New York City, currently working in 17 sites, soon to be expanded to 33.

The Center is a key implementation partner in NeighborhoodStat, which is a resident-driven; community organizing initiative in partnership with the Mayor’s Action Plan for Neighborhood Safety (MAP). Underway since 2015, MAP is a comprehensive strategy to enhance public safety and strengthen community well-being in 15 public housing developments across New York City. The initiative aims to enhance safety and overall quality of life by strengthening collaboration and capacity among public housing residents. Since 2016, citywide meetings have been convened to share information and data, facilitate community engagement to identify neighborhood priorities, enhance the quality of life and spur collaboration and accountability among city agencies and local stakeholders.

NSI is working to advance the advocacy process by assisting each of the designated MAP communities to convene local stakeholder groups. Stakeholder teams activities include collaboratively identify community conditions, prioritize local initiatives, access and analyze data, identify and leverage resources, improve resident capacity through trainings; and implement participatory placekeeping projects and policy recommendations that address structural racism, local concerns and enhance public safety, reduce victimization, promoting healing and improves well-being. The initiative’s overarching goal is to build community agency in policy change within a social, racial, and spatial justice framework.

Reporting to the Deputy Director and working with the East Harlem Program Coordinator, the Outreach Worker will assist in the outreach and implementation of the Center’s Neighborhood Safety Initiative (NSI) work in East Harlem. 

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

  • Identify and form relationships with individuals who are at high risk of involvement in crime/shootings to help them rethink the impulse to act violently and redirect their lives in more positive directions and wellbeing;
  • Build and maintain a caseload of high-risk participants, and develop and implement a personalized risk reduction plan with each participant;
  • Work with community partners and the rest of the NSI team to identify and diffuse “hot spots” for shootings and violence;
  • Intervene in local conflicts to try to prevent an outbreak of violence, and work to prevent retaliations when violence does occur; and also work with partners to provide support and interventions.
  • Provide participants/community members with support and linkages to programs and opportunities in the community (e.g., job programs, GED, drug treatment, mental health services, trainings, employment opportunities and mentoring);
  • Conduct outreach to the community (individually and as a team member) to build strong relationships with youth, residents, businesses, and community based organizations;
  • Participate in organizing responses to shootings and interventions to denounce violence or retaliation;
  • Increase visibility when shootings or act of violence take place in the target and surrounding areas;
  • Keep supervisor informed of all relevant community activities/concerns;
  • Document all work including shootings and other acts of violence prevented, case notes, referrals, contacts with participants, and changes in participant’s status as directed by the Program Associate and Deputy Project Director;
  • Refer participants to programs that are a part of the New York City “Crisis Management System” including therapeutic services, legal services, mental health services, and employment services, and other;
  • Plan events to activate community space to promote unity, community cohesion, and denounce violence;
  • Attend and participate in all mandatory staff meetings, trainings, workshops and other team meetings as required, which may include non-traditional business hours;
  • Attend weekly supervision and keep Program Associate informed of all work-related activities and community concerns/needs;
  • Develop long-term community-based support systems for participants and community members.
  • Make referrals to community partners to ensure participants and community members are supported and liaise with referral organizations to ensure that services being rendered meet the participants needs.
  • Monitor and draft notes on activities and participants’ individual progress, including internships, parole/probation status(if applicable), mental health, employment opportunities, and other as needed.
  • Familiarity with the East Harlem community of NYC and knowledgeable about the major drivers for Gun violence within the community served.
  • Additional relevant tasks, as needed.

Position Location: East Harlem, Manhattan, candidate may occasionally travel to all 15 designated sites and a range of other locations in and around the city.

Position Type: Full-time, evenings and weekends. Schedule may be flexible, changing, and include late nights.

Qualifications: Candidates who are formerly incarcerated or have other experience in the criminal justice system are particularly invited to apply, but must have no pending criminal cases or prior convictions for sexual assault, child abuse, or domestic violence. The ideal candidate will have a high school diploma as well as a minimum of 2 years’ experience OR the equivalent in a related area, knowledge of mental health illness and understanding of psychosocial triggers, strengths and personal needs. The candidate should reside in or have an in-depth knowledge of East Harlem, especially the target area (Wagner, Jefferson, and Johnson.). Experience working with at-risk youth and gang members, and knowledge of the street sets, crews, gangs, and or groups is a must. Candidates must be able to walk 30 blocks or more on a regular basis, pass a drug screening, and work a flexible schedule that includes late evenings, weekends, and holidays. Must be willing to work in inclement weather. Excellent communication skills, commitment to working towards positive community change, and interest in learning new skills and information are a must for this position.

Compensation:  Salary range starts at $45,000 and is commensurate with experience. The Center for Court Innovation offers an excellent benefits package including comprehensive healthcare with a national network, free basic dental 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. The Center offers 4 weeks of vacation and 3 weeks of sick leave each year with carryover options. Our generous 403(b) plan focusses on making retirement accessible to all staff; all employees can contribute anywhere from 1-5% and receive a two-to-one employer contribution. Any contribution an employee makes to their retirement fund up to 5% will be doubly matched. The Center also proactively assists all employees in completing their certification for public service loan forgiveness.

The Center for Court Innovation is an equal opportunity employer. The Center does not discriminate on the basis of 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 seek applications from women, people of color, members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities as well as individuals with prior contact with the criminal justice system.

As of September 9, 2021, all new hires are required to be vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus, unless they have been granted a reasonable accommodation for medical, disability or religious reasons by the Center’s Human Resources Department.

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete an employment eligibility verification document form upon hire. Only applicants under consideration will be contacted. No phone calls please.

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