Intake Specialist, 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:

- Operating Programs  that pilot new ideas and address local challenges;
- Conducting original research to evaluate what works—and what doesn’t; and
- Providing expert assistance and policy guidance to reformers across the country and beyond.

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 at www.innovatingjustice.org .

THE OPPORTUNITY
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.

The Center for Justice Innovation operates Project Reset, New York City's pre-arraignment diversion program, city-wide. Operating in collaboration with the District Attorney’s Offices and the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice, Project Reset seeks to create a proportionate response to low-level crime by avoiding the use of incarceration and the potential harms associated with the traditional criminal justice process. Project Reset participants can complete programming in advance of their court date in lieu of prosecution, or through 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 Intake Specialist. The Intake Specialist will serve as the first point of contact for Project Reset-eligible individuals and their legal representation. The Intake Specialist will lead the program’s efforts to engage clients eligible for pre-arraignment diversion referred by the District Attorney's Office prior to their arraignment date or by the court for same day programming. The Intake Specialist will conduct intakes and assessments, schedule programming, update compliance, and facilitate off-ramps from programming, as well as build awareness of the program among potential participants and legal and court stakeholders. The Intake Specialist will also support the Project Reset team with regular operations, including conducting outreach, case management sessions, and/or facilitation of group workshops. While supporting Project Reset programming at the Midtown Community Justice Center, the Intake Specialist will work closely with Midtown’s alternative-to-incarceration and court operations teams.

The Intake Specialist will report to the Project Reset Program Coordinator.
 
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Responsibilities include but are not limited to :
- Connect with Project Reset-eligible individuals who appear at arraignments and describe the diversion option, conduct an initial intake and screening, and connect them to same-day programming;
- Coordinate diversion operations and on-ramps into programming for participants eligible to complete Rapid Reset and same-day programming in collaboration with Alternative-to-Incarceration, Project Reset, and court-based staff;
- Liaise with court stakeholders;
- Work with the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office (DANY), defense agencies, court partners, and Midtown’s Court Operations staff to identify eligible Project Reset participants;
- Communicate regularly with Manhattan District Attorney’s Office and defense attorneys, and other court staff regarding participant eligibility, program placement, and case status
- Conduct outreach to participants to conduct intakes and schedule for traditional Project Reset programming, remind scheduled participants of their appointments, and troubleshoot barriers to compliance;  
- Assess clients for needs and group readiness, and schedule them for the appropriate group-based or individual programming; 
- Establish and maintain relationships with on-site and community-based social service providers to support participant referrals and engagement
- Maintain organized records of outreach attempts, daily attendance sheets, program completion, and other project details;
- Maintain accurate electronic records in the Center’s internal case management system and in a database shared with project partners; 
- Prepare and circulate outreach materials and certificates of program completion; 
- Work with Midtown Community Justice Center’s clinical staff and Case Managers to refer participants to voluntary social services; 
- Facilitate or co-facilitate group-based programming and case management sessions, as needed;
- Identify and cultivate potential referral sources for program participants; 
- Participate in staff meetings, team-building exercises, trainings, and site visits; 
- Participate in limited evening and weekend community meetings, events, and programming, as needed; and;
- Additional tasks as necessary.
Qualifications: The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor' degree or a high school diploma or equivalent with at least 2-3 years of experience working in social service and/or criminal justice settings. Other qualifications include: 
- Experience in a court or criminal justice setting preferred; 
- Experience and/or comfort working with both adolescents and adults required; 
- Candidates must be willing and able to work collaboratively with colleagues and a variety of court personnel and partner agencies in a high-pressure/fast paced work environment. Court-based work is a unique and demanding area of practice, and candidates must be open to constructive engagement with differing and, at times, competing perspectives;
- Knowledge and/or lived experience related to the criminal justice system and its impacts strongly preferred; 
- Highly organized, with a strong commitment to systems, process and data collection; 
- Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written; 
- Human services or customer service experience preferred;
- Bilingual (Spanish-English) preferred but not required;
- Knowledge of community-based resources throughout New York City is helpful; 
- Must also be self-motivated and able to complete responsibilities independently; and;
- Experience and commitment to creating, promoting, and maintaining a respectful, inclusive, and anti-racist work environment.

Position Type: Full time.

Position Location:  Manhattan, NY, specifically the Midtown Community Justice Center (314 W 54th Street, New York, NY 10019).

Compensation:  The compensation range for this position is $28.57 - $35.44 per hour, annually equivalent to $52,000 - $64,500 based on a 35-hour work week and is commensurate with experience.

Benefits: The Center for Justice 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. 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.

At this time, the Center is unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa. All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of application and throughout the duration of employment.

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.

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.