Court Advocate - Day Shift
About The Position
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 and Fit: Embodies Fortune’s mission and values and will be an effective member of the team in furthering both. The candidate should exhibit compassion and understanding for our participants (wherever they are in their re-entry process) and embrace Fortune’s core value that none of us should be measured against the worst things we have done. 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.
Requirements
- Ability to get access to the courts through an Office of Court Administration Secure Pass
- High school diploma or GED/HSE required
- Knowledge of the structure and procedures of the Criminal Justice System and its legalese required
- Strong oral and written communications skills required
Nice To Haves
- Previous court advocacy experience preferred
- Experience with databases for entering client information
- Experience with SRP, ATD and ATI programs a plus
- Bilingual English/Spanish a plus.
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
- Perform other duties as assigned.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
High school or GED
Number of Employees
251-500 employees
