The Center for Court Innovation is a non-profit organization that works to create a more effective and humane justice system by performing original research and helping launch reforms by guiding justice innovators, nationally and internationally. The Center creates operating projects that have been documented to reduce the use of jail and prison, assist victims of crime, and strengthen communities.

Launched in early 2020, Manhattan Justice Opportunities (Manhattan Justice) seeks to rethink justice in Manhattan and to build a justice system that is more responsive to individuals’ and communities’ needs. Manhattan Justice is a centralized, court-based screening and referral hub that provides judges, prosecutors and defense attorneys at New York County Criminal Court and Supreme Court with a wide array of social service-based sentencing options in misdemeanor and felony cases. It also supports the Manhattan Felony Alternative to Incarceration (ATI) Court, which seeks to forge a new response to individuals charged with felonies by linking them to community-based social services. Bringing together a consortium of service providers led by the Center for Court Innovation, Manhattan Justice offers onsite case management, psycho-educational groups, restorative justice, and other programming options. Manhattan Justice also provides referrals to community-based service providers for mental health, substance use, employment, primary health care services and more. These services are open to anyone who needs them — including court participants’ families and friends, and others affected by the criminal justice system. These services, which are both mandated and voluntary, help participants address underlying issues in their lives, build stability, and decrease their likelihood of further justice involvement.

Manhattan Justice is seeking a Case Manager to support its alternative to incarceration work with both misdemeanor and felony cases. The Case Manager will be responsible for conducting intakes, providing referrals to community-based services, offering comprehensive case management, and monitoring compliance.

Manhattan Justice strongly encourages and seeks 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.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Conduct intakes for newly mandated and voluntary participants;
• Support a caseload of court-mandated misdemeanor participants, as well as a caseload of Felony ATI Court participants,
• Provide comprehensive, clinically-informed case management services for both misdemeanor and felony participants to address needs such as substance use, mental health issues, trauma, domestic violence, housing, employment, and educational and vocational needs, as well as and other challenges in a participant’s life (e.g. new arrests, family court cases and other civil legal issues);
• Make appropriate community-based referrals to address a variety of social service needs;
• Assist with scheduling and rescheduling participants for on and offsite services;
• Manage and monitor compliance with service mandates, including care coordination with providers;
• Provide written updates for court stakeholders for all court-involved participants;
• Participate in regular interdisciplinary case conferences with court stakeholders;
• Coordinate with court stakeholders on any non-compliance issues and assist clients in getting back into compliance, including re-engaging clients, arranging return on warrants, and implementing graduated responses to encourage future compliance;
• Attend court on calendar days, as needed, to help clients navigate court and collaborate with court staff and stakeholders;
• Collaborate and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, including the resource coordinator, prosecutors, defense attorneys, and other court and programmatic staff;
• Request and review records, and otherwise assist with clinical assessments;
• Assist with data entry and ensure the accuracy of information in the electronic case management system, including entering case notes and assessment, case management, programming and case outcome data;
• Assist with toxicology reporting, as needed;
• Provide crisis intervention and de-escalation, as needed;
• Provide voluntary referrals to community-based services, as needed;
• Assist project leadership with the development and implementation of new initiatives; including best clinical practices, and appropriate evidence-based interventions;
• Provide case management services as described above to program participants on a voluntary basis post-mandate;
• Participate in clinical group supervision, staff meetings, and trainings, as scheduled;
• Attend evening community-based meetings and events, as needed; 
• Assist with other programmatic and administrative tasks to support Manhattan Justice’s activities, as needed.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or 3-4 years of experience working in a social service setting;
• Experience working in a court or criminal justice setting strongly preferred;
• Strong organizational and time management skills;
• Experience working with drug/alcohol treatment, mental health, co-occurring disorders, and trauma-informed approaches strongly preferred;
• Commitment to, and experience using, holistic and strengths-based approaches, meeting participants where they are, as well as the ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds in a culturally responsive manner;
• Strong writing and verbal communication skills;
• Knowledge of community-based resources throughout New York City; and
• Bilingual (English-Spanish) preferred.

Compensation: Hourly rate begins at $26.18 per hour and is commensurate with experience. This position is eligible for overtime at 1.5x the hourly rate above 40 hours per week. Excellent benefits package including comprehensive health, dental, vision, and life insurance, four weeks paid vacation, paid sick time, confidential online therapy and mental health coaching via TalkSpace and Ginger, commuter benefits, Flexible Spending Account plans for health and dependent care, and a 403(b) retirement plan with a generous employer match.

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.