Description

Title: Court Advocate (Day Shift)

Unit: Court Advocacy – Supervised Release Program

Reports to: Supervisor, Court Operations (Day)

Salary Range: $50,000 - $62,000

Status: Full Time; Regular; Non-Exempt

Location: Bronx Criminal Court

Days/Hours: Monday-Friday with alternate weekends, 9am-5pm

Position Summary:

Under the Supervised Release Program (SRP), the Court Advocate (CA) will be responsible for identifying and screening potential program participants at arraignments in the Bronx Criminal Courthouse. The CA will liaise with defense attorneys, prosecutors, and other court actors to ensure those eligible for SRP are mandated to the program rather than detained. The CA will present on the court record to judges, primarily at arraignments, and occasionally when reporting to the court regarding clients’ participation in programming. The day shift CA will be responsible for working a 9am – 5pm schedule to be present for daytime court in the Bronx. Arraignment court operates 365 days a year including holidays.

Mission, Culture and Fit

The CA needs to match the mission and culture of Fortune, including, meeting a client there they are at; engaging participants with a non-judgmental, inclusive attitude; holding space for trauma associated with criminal justice involvement and incarceration; and helping them to believe in their power to change.

Time Management

Arraignment court can be a fast paced, unpredictable environment. The CA is tasked with communicating with court parties, conducting client screenings, some of which occur at the same time, fielding calls from active clients and internal and external program staff, and coordinating with case managers. Prioritizing the above is imperative in being able to manage the work and do it effectively.

Communication

The CA must be able to communicate effectively with potential participants, defense attorneys and prosecutors, judges, other court parties, and internal program staff. The CA must understand the role of each of these stakeholders and how to professionally communicate with all. Additionally, the CA is the first face of the organization for clients. Thus, supportive, empathetic, and enthusiastic communication with clients is also essential to create a welcoming atmosphere for the client.

Initiative

The CA is the doorway for many of our Fortune clients. It takes initiative to review and acquire cases, and place clients on the path to follow through to release and completion. The CA will be expected to review paperwork at arraignments to identify SRP-eligible participants and review those identified with court stakeholders. This requires confidence, drive and ambition.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Screen arraignment cases and relevant court related documents to identify eligible candidates for Fortune’s SRP program;
• Liaise with defense attorneys, prosecutors and judges;
• Interview prospective clients;
• Advocate before the court for the release of clients into Fortune’s SRP program;
• Present written and verbal reports to the court regarding client’s participation in SRP programming;
• Collaborate with Fortune’s case managers, and other staff including clinical staff, to assist clients in achieving goals;
• Record accurate information on all activities including court proceedings;
• Provide up to date information regarding Fortune’s SRP service to external stakeholders, as appropriate;
• Establish and maintain collaborative relationships with defense attorneys, judges, and prosecutors that engender confidence in Fortune; and
• Perform other duties as needed.

Qualifications

Qualifications:

• Ability to get access to the courts through an Office of Court Administration Secure Pass;
• High school diploma or GED/HSE required;
• Previous court advocacy experience preferred;
• Experience with databases for entering client information;
• Knowledge of the structure and procedures of the Criminal Justice System and its legalese required;
• Experience with SRP, ATD and ATI programs a plus;
• Strong oral and written communications skills required;
• Bilingual English/Spanish a plus; and
• We seek talented, dedicated individuals from all walks of life who possess a strong commitment to this mission. Relevant personal experience is a plus.

Salary: $50,000 - $62,000 annual based on experience.

Travel Requirements: May require travel to community-based sites.

Physical Demands:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The responsibilities and requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skills, minimum education, training, licensing, experience and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

The Fortune Society is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will be afforded equal employment opportunities without discrimination because of conviction history, race, religion/creed, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, military status, predisposing genetic characteristics, victim of domestic violence status or marital status.