ICM Aftercare Peer Supervisor

PEER SUPERVISOR- AFTERCARE

QUEENS SUPERVISED RELEASE PROGRAM

Posted:12/9/2025

CJA's work seeks to reduce jail overcrowding and unnecessary detention in New York City.

Are you a certified Peer Specialist interested in assisting program participants in your community?

Are you interested in helping us implement a more person-centered, recovery-oriented, trauma-informed approach?

Would you like to help change how arrested individuals view the criminal justice system?

Join our team of multi-disciplined professionals! 

About CJA

CJA is New York City's primary pretrial service agency, providing services and solutions to reduce jail overcrowding and unnecessary detention in New York City. A non-profit agency funded through the Mayor's Office of Criminal Justice, CJA is uniquely positioned to provide the City's Criminal Justice leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders with information, technical expertise, and research about people arrested within the 5 boroughs of NYC.

We are committed to being active partners in criminal justice reform through initiatives and creative problem-solving that evaluate different methods and strategies for alternatives to detention.

We are guided by fairness and the presumption of innocence for those who are detained and work with integrity and without bias to protect the privacy and interest of court-involved people and their families.

We value curiosity as a driving force to lead the way in pretrial services. We use innovative techniques in research, pilot programs, and engaging justice-involved communities to execute our mission of reducing unnecessary pretrial detention. To learn more about CJA, visit www.nycja.org.

PROGRAM SUMMARY

The Criminal Justice Agency (CJA), a non-profit organization under contract with the City of New York to provide pre-trial and research services to the courts, operates a Supervised Release Program in Queens Criminal Court.

The program, which operates during the day and night court in Queens screens defendants charged with non-violent felony and misdemeanor offenses that present a substantial likelihood of detention. CJA screens targeted defendants for release at criminal court arraignment, subject to specific conditions including maintaining face-to-face and telephone contact with the program, participating in an assessment process to identify needs such as substance abuse and mental health, and agreeing to program monitoring of court appearances and re-arrests.

This is a great opportunity for a dynamic, resourceful, service-oriented individual with lived experience and a background in providing support to high-needs populations with criminal court involvement, and a commitment to helping participants avoid harmful behaviors leading to re-arrest and disconnection from community support systems.

POSITION SUMMARY

Reporting to the Director of Clinical and Peer Services, the Peer Supervisor is a dedicated, knowledgeable, and experienced individual with a strong human services background in recovery from mental health and substance use concerns, dedicated to helping make an impact on the ever-changing role of the court system and alternative initiatives aimed at reducing detention and crime rates in the city. The Peer Supervisor hired for this position will oversee a team of Certified Peer Specialists and Peer Recovery Advocates working with youth and adult participants (ages 16 years and older). The person filling this role will be responsible for providing person-centered, recovery-oriented, strength-based, and trauma-informed supervision to the team in ensuring that Peer services are being delivered appropriately and comprehensively, as well as providing support to a small caseload of high-needs participants that are involved in the criminal justice system.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES 

Peer Supervision

• Supervise the Aftercare Peer Specialist, ensuring adherence to aftercare protocols and evidence-based practices for voluntary engagement.
• Provide guidance on outreach strategies for participants in community settings and support the Aftercare Peer Specialist in addressing high-risk/high-needs concerns (e.g., mental health, substance use, housing instability).
• Review and approve documentation related to aftercare engagement, including progress notes, action plans and readiness assessments. 
  
  

Participant Support and Engagement

• Collaborate with the Aftercare Peer Specialist and multidisciplinary team to ensure smooth transitions from Supervised Release's ICM pilot to extended aftercare services.
• Monitor aftercare caseloads and assist in resolving barriers to participant engagement in voluntary services.
• Support the development of referral pathways to long-term care providers for participants completing aftercare
• Provide direct peer support to aftercare program participants
  
  

Technical and Administrative Support

• Ensure accurate data collection for aftercare program evaluation and research purposes.
• Coordinate with Clinical Services leadership to integrate aftercare into overall service delivery model
  
  

Leadership Responsibilities

• Team Development & Support: Provide guidance, mentorship, and professional development opportunities for peer staff to ensure high-quality service delivery.
• Modeling Best Practices: Demonstrate trauma-informed, recovery-oriented, and culturally responsive approaches in all interactions, setting the standard for the team.
• Performance Management: Conduct regular supervision sessions, monitor performance metrics, and implement improvement plans as needed.
• Collaborative Leadership: Foster a positive, inclusive team culture that promotes collaboration, accountability, and continuous learning.
• Operational Oversight: Ensure adherence to program policies, compliance standards, and documentation requirements while maintaining service excellence.
• Crisis Leadership: Lead the team in responding effectively to participant crises, ensuring safety and alignment with organizational protocols.
  
  

QUALIFICATIONS 

• OASAS/OMH Peer Specialist Certification (either NYS Certified Peer Specialist or NYS Certified Recovery Coach) required. Certifications must be maintained and kept current while employed in this position (not provisional)
• Demonstrated experience working with individuals impacted by the criminal legal system, homelessness, mental health, or substance use
• Minimum 5 years of experience as a Peer Specialist, Peer Advocate, Peer Navigator, or Peer Counselor in a Behavioral Health or Criminal Justice setting required
• History of lived experience in various systems, including but not limited to criminal justice, mental health, homelessness, or substance use, required
• Familiarity with a person-centered, strength-based, and holistic leadership approach
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Teams)
• Dedication to the professional and personal development of formerly incarcerated people
• Skilled at advocating for the needs of others
• Knowledge community-based recovery supports preferred.
• Ability to supervise staff providing mobile, community-based services in diverse community settings.
• Prior supervisory or team lead experience strongly preferred
• Experience coordinating care with multidisciplinary teams (clinicians, legal staff, case managers)
• Proven experience maintaining professional boundaries and modeling ethical peer support practices                                                          
• Excellent crisis intervention, conflict resolution, and de-escalation skills
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to oversee caseload distribution, documentation quality, and workflow
• Ability to represent the peer role professionally and collaborate with leadership and external partners                                                     
• Demonstrated commitment to recovery-oriented, person-centered, and trauma-informed approaches
  
  

The successful candidate will possess a combination of the following knowledge, skills, and experiences: 

• Familiarity with Pretrial/Supervised Release, Alternative to Detention (ATD), Alternative to Incarceration (ATI) or other advocacy program models 
• Working knowledge of community-based treatment programs (substance use, mental health, etc.) and other support services and resources (housing, education, employment, vocational, etc.) 
• Ability to maintain professional boundaries and confidentiality in compliance with agency and state guidelines 
• Must be willing to work evening and weekend hours, as operations expand 
• Ability to exercise sound and quick judgment
• Excellent communication skills
• Excellent time and self-management skills
• Computer proficient (Microsoft Office, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, ability to enter notes in a database system) with the ability to quickly adapt to changing technology
• Must be willing to work various shifts, including evening and weekend hours, when necessary
• Bilingual, a plus
  
  

Note: This position is expected to operate on a hybrid schedule with in-person work 4 days per week and one remote day. The successful hire must be able to assume responsibilities that are both remote and on-site, in accordance with CJA policy at the time of hire.

SALARY: $ 76,208.92

Location: Kew Gardens

• Internal Applicants must be in their current role for at least 1 year and in good standing (no disciplinary action within the last 90 days) to be eligible to apply.
  
  

CJA VALUES

Each employee at CJA is guided by these values in our work:

• Commitment: We are committed to being active partners in criminal justice reform through initiatives and creative problem-solving that evaluates different methods and strategies for alternatives to detention.
• Fairness: We are guided by fairness and the presumption of innocence for those who are detained and work with integrity and without bias to protect the privacy and interest of court-involved people and their families.
• Innovation: We value curiosity as a driving force to lead the way in pretrial services. We use innovative techniques in research, pilot programs, and engaging justice-involved communities to execute our mission of reducing unnecessary pretrial detention.
  
  

BENEFITS: CJA offers a very generous benefit plan including health, dental and vision insurance, a comprehensive mental health, and wellness, Employee Assistance Program (EAP) plan, four weeks' vacation, paid holidays, and a retirement plan with employer matching contributions.  CJA is also strongly committed to professional learning and development for its staff members and offers staff varied opportunities for learning and development through partnerships and vendor services for web based, in-person professional development training, as well as in-house job training and development. 

Note: Only those candidates being considered will be contacted.

CJA is seeking applicants who pursue professional development pathways by participating in educational opportunities, reading professional publications, maintaining professional networks, and engaging with professional associations

The New York City Criminal Justice Agency is an Equal Opportunity Employer 

CJA is committed to creating a diverse work environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, disability, parental status, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable laws. We encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply.