Defensive Coordinator Jobs in Ridgewood, NJ (NOW HIRING)

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:

1. Operating Programs that pilot new ideas and address local challenges;
2. Conducting original research to evaluate what works—and what doesn’t; and
3. 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

Manhattan Justice Opportunities seeks to rethink justice in Manhattan and build a justice system that is more responsive to individuals’ and communities’ needs. Manhattan Justice is a centralized, court-based screening, resource, 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. Manhattan Justice offers onsite case management, psycho-educational groups, and restorative justice programming, and provides referrals to community-based service providers for mental health, substance use, employment, primary health care services and more. These services, which are open to anyone who needs them—including mandated participants’ families and friends, and others affected by the criminal justice system—help people address underlying issues in their lives, build stability, and decrease their likelihood of further justice involvement. 

Manhattan Justice is seeking a Resource Coordinator to provide coverage in various Criminal and Supreme Court courtrooms and to engage legal parties and participants. Reporting to the Court Operations Supervisor, the Resource Coordinator will be responsible for helping to explain Manhattan Justice’s services to legal parties, coordinating new referrals, orienting new participants to Manhattan Justice, 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 judges, clerks, defense attorneys, and prosecutors.
A key component of the Resource Coordinator's role will be close collaboration with the Manhattan Misdemeanor Alternative to Incarceration Court, a new problem-solving court.  The Resource Coordinator will coordinate referrals for new participants, engage participants in the courtroom, report on participants' compliance, and conference cases with the judge, prosecutors, and defense attorneys. Specialized problem-solving courts are an exciting, unique, and demanding area of practice, and the Resource Coordinator role involves navigating and constructively engaging with differing and, at times, competing stakeholder perspectives. 

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Cover Criminal and Supreme Court courtrooms and collaborate with defense attorneys, prosecutors, and judges to identify participants for Manhattan Justice services;
• Communicate with prosecutors, defense attorneys, judges and other court staff about Manhattan Justice’s services;
• Coordinate new referrals and schedule participants for intake and assessments;
• Ensure participants are connected with intake specialists, case managers, and/or social workers;
• Provide written and verbal case updates and compliance reports to defense, prosecution, and the court;
• Coordinate compliance reporting by tracking court dates and gathering updates from Manhattan Justice colleagues and community-based service providers;
• Enter and maintain accurate data entry in the electronic case management database, including outreach, case information, intakes, attendances and case outcome data;
• Manage a caseload of participants mandated to community service, as necessary;
• Collaborate and communicate professionally with all participants, legal parties, and other project stakeholders;
• Conduct intakes and needs-based screenings for newly mandated participants, as necessary;
• Participate in staff meetings and trainings;
• Attend evening court and community events and meetings, as needed; and
• Perform other relevant duties as necessary.

Qualifications: The ideal candidate will have:

• A Bachelor’s degree and at least one year of experience working in a criminal court setting and/or human service field or 3-4 years of equivalent experience;
• Knowledge and/or lived experience related to the criminal justice system and its impacts on communities;
• Excellent writing skills and attention to detail required;
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to work in multi-disciplinary settings and collaborate with multiple agencies and organizations;
• Openness to constructive 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.

Position Location: Manhattan, NY

Compensation: The compensation range for this position is $28.57 - $35.33 per hour, annually equivalent to $52,000 - 64,300 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.

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