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 1993, the award-winning Midtown Community Court 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 Court works with neighborhood stakeholders to improve Midtown Manhattan, and to serve the vibrant Midtown community, specifically those in need of services. The court responds creatively to low-level offending, seeking sentences that are restorative to the victim, defendant, and community. Further, the Midtown staff engages in ongoing community engagement events to promote community wellness and to help connect people in need to voluntary services. 

Midtown Community Court is seeking a Resource Coordinator to serve as the primary courtroom liaison and to engage legal parties and participants on alternatives to incarceration. Reporting to the Program Coordinator, the Resource Coordinator will be responsible for helping explain Midtown’s services to legal parties, coordinating new referrals, conducting intakes and screenings, reengaging former and existing participants to complete mandated services, orienting new participants to Midtown Community Court, and scheduling participants for services. Once a participant is enrolled in programming, the Resource Coordinator will provide regular written and verbal updates and compliance reports to the court, including to the judge, clerks, defense attorneys, and prosecutors. In addition, the Resource Coordinator must establish close connections with other departments, criminal justice agencies, and community organizations on behalf of Midtown Community Court. 

Midtown Community Court 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:

• Actively create, promote, and maintain a respectful, inclusive, and anti-racist work environment; 

• Work with all program staff and teams to ensure continuity of services for participants; 

• Conduct intakes and needs-based screenings; 

• Schedule participants for mandated social services and/or community engagement sessions 

• Communicate with and make recommendations to prosecutors, defense attorneys, judges, and other court staff about Midtown Community Court’s services; 

• Provide case management services and linkages to community-based services; 

• Manage a caseload of participants mandated to community service, as necessary; 

• Coordinate compliance reporting: track court dates and gather updates from colleagues and community-based service providers; 

• Provide written and verbal case updates and compliance reports to defense, prosecution and the court; 

• Engage the public and participants in the courtroom to promote procedural justice and a client-centered environment; 

• Enter and maintain accurate data entry in the electronic case management database and hard files, including outreach, case information, intakes, attendances, and case outcome data; 

• Provide information on Midtown Community Court programs and services and respond to questions or concerns by courtroom staff, visitors, or the public; 

• Participate in, and at times facilitate, staff meetings, team-building exercises, trainings, and site visits; 

• Participate in occasional evening and weekend community meetings; 

• Perform other relevant duties as assigned 

Qualifications:

• The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor’s degree and at least 2 years of experience working in a criminal court setting and/or human service field is preferred.

• Ability to effectively work with diverse client populations, as a team member in a multiracial setting; 

• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to work in multi-disciplinary settings and collaborate with multiple agencies and organizations including court personnel is required; 

• Experience with drug/alcohol treatment, mental health services, co-occurring disorders, trauma-informed, and anti-oppressive practices preferred.

• Ability to be highly organized with excellent time management skills; 

• Excellent writing skills and attention to detail required; 

• Openness to effective engagement with other professionals in the court setting who have differing and, at times, competing perspectives; 

• Ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds in a culturally responsive manner; 

• Bilingual (English-Spanish) preferred. 

Position Type: Full-time, some evening and weekend hours are required. 

Compensation: Hourly rate begins at $26.18 per hour and is commensurate with experience Excellent benefits package including comprehensive health, dental and life insurance, four weeks paid vacation, paid sick time, TransitChek, Flexible Spending Account plans for health and dependent care, a 403(b) retirement plan and a 401(k) 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.