Criminal Justice Specialist

Center for Alternative•New York, NY

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

CASES is seeking a motivated and justice-informed Criminal Justice Specialist to join its Forensic Assertive Community Treatment (FACT) team. FACT is an evidence-based, community-based treatment model serving adults (18+) with serious mental illness, co-occurring substance use disorders, and histories of involvement in the criminal legal system whose needs have not been adequately met through traditional service delivery approaches. Services are delivered by a mobile, multidisciplinary team using a highly individualized approach to support recovery, community stability, and successful system navigation. The FACT Criminal Justice Specialist is a Bachelor’s-level mental health professional who provides outreach-based services in community settings with strong fidelity to the ACT model. In this role, the Criminal Justice Specialist engages participants through direct support and psychoeducation while serving as a liaison and advocate within the criminal legal system. Responsibilities include coordinating care during periods of incarceration, providing court updates, drafting advocacy letters for defense counsel, and supporting continuity of care across systems. As a member of an interdisciplinary team, the Criminal Justice Specialist functions as both a generalist and a specialist, contributing to a broad range of clinical and rehabilitative services while applying specialized expertise in criminal legal system navigation and advocacy.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree
Experience working with individuals with serious mental illness, and/or co-occurring substance use disorders;
Experience with various evidence-based models pertaining to treatment of substance use, and mental illness;
Experience working with individuals involved in criminal legal system preferred;
A team player, highly organized and self-motivated;
Proficient in computers;

Nice To Haves

Bi-lingual candidates strongly preferred.
Individuals with lived experience are encouraged to apply.

Responsibilities

Provide at least 80 percent of treatment contacts in the community and complete expected minimum monthly treatment contacts, including leading groups when clinically indicated;
Attend and participate in daily team meetings to discuss clients’ clinical and case management issues and needs;
Complete documentations required by the NYS Office of Mental Health (OMH) and NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s (DOHMH) licensing guidelines, NYS Medicaid billing guidelines as well as per CASES ACT Policy and Procedures;
Liaise with other stakeholders who are involved in clients’ justice involvement (e.g. Correctional Health Services, defense attorney, judge, court diversion programs, etc) to advocate for client care and services;
Collaborate with client’s support network and other service providers on treatment planning, service coordination, and case management support with the goal of promoting client’s recovery and stability in the community;
Provide clinical services that are anti-racist, gender-responsive, culturally humble, trauma-informed, recovery-oriented, client-centered, and evidence-based.
Complete required documentations and toxicology tests for clients with active Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) order;
Provide 24-hour crisis intervention on-call services on rotating basis;
Provide culturally competent services in accordance with CASES policies and practice.
Help ensure we maintain a safe working environment by reporting any hazards or unsafe conditions, e.g., liquid spill in hallway, to the appropriate facilities staff member or supervisor