Court Advocate

Center for Community Alternatives•Brooklyn, NY

30d

About The Position

Responsible for liaising and working with criminal court stakeholders to assess, screen and advocate for individuals (youth and adults) to be placed in CCA’s alternative to incarceration and alternative to detention programs (ATI/ATD); develop written, client specific ATI/ATD plans and prepare written court reports detailing clients’ progress and participation in ATI/ATD programming. This job provides exposure to all criminal justice stakeholders and permits regular courtroom appearances. The Court Advocate needs to match the mission and culture of CCA, including meeting participants where they are at; engaging participants with a non-judgmental, inclusive attitude; holding space for trauma associated with criminal legal system involvement and incarceration; and helping participants to believe in their ability to transform their lives.

Requirements

Demonstrated commitment to working with disenfranchised individuals from all walks of life. Relevant personal experience is a plus
Ability to get access to the courts through an Office of Court Administration Secure Pass
High school diploma or GED/HSE required
Computer literacy (word processing, e-mail, internet research, data entry) required
Knowledge of the structure and procedures of the Criminal Legal System and its terminology required
Strong oral and written communications skills required

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s Degree or MSW, preferred
Previous court advocacy experience preferred
Bilingual English/Spanish a plus

Responsibilities

Screen court related documents to identify eligible candidates for CCA’s ATD/ATI programs
Liaise with defense attorneys, prosecutors and judges
Interview prospective clients, both currently incarcerated and in the community
Collect and review additional information through interview of family members and other collateral sources
Advocate before the court for the release of clients to CCA’s ATD/ATI programs
Prepare and present written and verbal reports to the court regarding clients ’ participation in ATD/ATI programming
Participate in interdisciplinary case conferences and collaborate with counselors /case managers, support staff , and clinical team, to assist clients in achieving their individualized goals and satisfying court mandates
Assist with the coordination of services to clients, ensuring that all court appearances are covered and the necessary plans and follow-up reports are timely submitted.
Record accurate information on all activities , including court proceeding s and appearance outcomes related to clients’ cases
Track displacement, referral, intake and other related statistics for program reporting.
Promote CCA’s ATI/ATD programs and explain program requirements to clients and criminal justice stakeholders
Establish and maintain collaborative relationships with defense attorneys, prosecutors, judges, and other criminal justice stakeholders
Perform other duties as needed.

Benefits

12 paid holidays per year
20 days of earned time off (ETO) for full-time staff, with the ability to use it after 90-days of employment. Time off is earned starting on your first day.
7 days of paid sick time
100% paid family leave
Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program

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