Criminal Justice Liaison

CN Guidance and Counseling Services • Plainview, NY

4d

About The Position

The Criminal Justice Liaison works with the CN Guidance Forensic ACT Team to serve people diagnosed with severe mental illness whose needs have not been met through traditional service delivery. The role has lead responsibility for justice-involved clients, integrating dual-recovery treatment, family support, or vocational and employment training with the work of other team members. The liaison navigates the criminal justice system, advocates for Forensic ACT individuals, provides education and skill building, and serves as a supporting liaison to key criminal justice stakeholders.

The position includes conducting in-reach to incarcerated individuals, gathering information about criminal histories, spearheading jail-release planning, and coordinating reentry support. The liaison works with justice-system partners and the ACT team on assessments, service planning, quality assurance, utilization review, incident reporting, case management, crisis intervention, and discharge planning. Services may be provided face-to-face or through collateral contacts in the office, community, or other settings where problems arise. The role also includes documentation, periodic on-call coverage arranged in advance, participation in supervision and quality-improvement training, and adherence to safety protocols and agency regulations.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in a related field.
• Two years of experience working with people with chronic mental illness.
• At least one year of training and/or experience in integrated mental health and substance abuse assessment and treatment, demonstrating competency in substance abuse, family support, or vocational rehabilitation.
• Two years of experience working with formally incarcerated clients and/or justice-involved clients.

Nice To Haves

• Knowledge of violence risk assessments and court procedures.
• Familiarity with county-specific ATI programs.

Responsibilities

• Perform routine team duties and lead coordination of services for justice-involved clients, integrating dual-recovery treatment, family support, or vocational and employment training with other team members' work.
• Navigate the criminal justice system, advocate for Forensic ACT individuals, and provide education and skill building.
• Liaise with key criminal justice stakeholders and conduct in-reach to incarcerated people, including gathering information about criminal histories after initial referral.
• Lead jail-release planning to support individuals' transitions back into the community.
• Maintain familiarity with county-specific ATI programs.
• Complete required AOT, parole, probation, or court progress reports and escort consumers to related hearings and appointments.
• Involve families, significant others, housing providers, defense attorneys, and/or community corrections to support regulatory compliance and service coordination.
• Assist the ACT team and consumers in developing service-plan goals and objectives that reduce criminogenic risk and promote prosocial community living.
• Coordinate with jail and prison reentry coordinators and visit detained consumers to facilitate safe and successful reentry.
• Coordinate, advocate, and liaise with probation and parole officers.
• Provide assessment and service planning, quality assurance and improvement processes, utilization review, incident reporting, and coordination between Forensic ACT and other systems.
• Conduct assessments, case management, crisis intervention, and discharge planning.
• Maintain case records and complete documentation on time and in compliance with federal, state, and agency regulations.
• Provide direct face-to-face and/or collateral services in the Forensic ACT office or community settings where problems arise.
• Provide periodic on-call coverage as arranged in advance with the Program Director or Supervisor.
• Assist recipients in developing appropriate expectations of treatment and strengthen their ability to understand and use therapy and find resources after treatment through discharge planning and termination.
• Use supervision to develop practice skills, improve services, and maintain accountability to the agency.
• Facilitate sharing of relevant data with individuals to support partnered decision-making and keep clients informed of progress.
• Complete quality-improvement training during onboarding and participate in refresher training as needed.
• Help cultivate an inclusive culture that respects employees' strengths, views, and experiences.
• Follow safety protocols and procedures and contribute to a safe work environment.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Medical insurance, including a $0-deductible Platinum Plus plan with 90% employer-provided benefit.
• Dental insurance.
• Vision insurance.
• Flexible Spending Account.
• 403(b) retirement plan.
• Long-term and short-term disability insurance.
• Legal plan.
• Dependent Care Expense Account.
• Life and supplemental life insurance.
• Pet insurance.
• Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA).
• Training programs, including a mentorship program.
• Potential eligibility for Federal/Public Student Loan Forgiveness.
• Career growth and promotional opportunities.
• Employee perks and discounts, including Broadway shows.
• Five personal days, 10–20 vacation days, 12 sick days, and 12 company-paid holidays yearly.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time