Night Court Support Specialist

Center for Alternative•New York, NY

8d•Hybrid

About The Position

CASES is a New York City agency working at the intersection of behavioral health and the criminal justice system. Its mission is to increase public safety through innovative services that reduce crime and incarceration, improve behavioral health, promote recovery and rehabilitation, and create opportunities for success in the community. The Court Services Department facilitates court-mandated or court-endorsed programming throughout the criminal legal process, including alternative-to-detention and alternative-to-incarceration programs. The Night Court Support Specialist supports a new initiative within CASES’ Manhattan Supervised Release Program. Working in court during arraignment hours, the specialist supports participants immediately after release and builds and maintains a caseload that extends from the courtroom into the community. The role is full-time, Wednesday through Sunday, from 5:00 PM to 1:00 AM, for 35 hours per week excluding breaks. The listed salary range is $63,000–$67,000 annually. The position is based at 100 Centre Street, New York, NY 10013. Staff may complete their workday from home or another suitable space, typically after reporting to the office and/or engaging in field or community-based work.

Requirements

Master’s degree in a related field.
At least 5 years of work experience providing peer support to individuals with serious mental illness and criminal justice involvement.
Proficiency with computers and electronic case records.

Nice To Haves

CASAC or CASAC-T certification.
Fluency in Spanish.

Responsibilities

Provide court and community-based support for Manhattan Supervised Release Program participants immediately following their court appearances and release.
Maintain a caseload of eligible participants and meet the minimum court-mandated contact frequency, along with other community-contact requirements.
Assist with de-escalation and crisis management after clients’ release, when appropriate.
Assess clients’ needs and provide services related to housing, income support, education, vocational training, social supports, employment, and primary care.
Provide transitional support to clients traveling to their homes, shelters, treatment programs, or other services, helping ensure connection to programming.
Connect clients with behavioral health, human services, and criminal justice resources and help them navigate those systems.
Provide mobile crisis response to clients in distress following court appearances and, when appropriate, assist with transport to a hospital.
Build and maintain relationships with human service providers across New York City who can accept CASES clients directly from arraignments.
Develop and maintain professional relationships with judges, prosecutors, defense counsel, and other court partners to facilitate program admissions and maintain CASES’ credibility in Manhattan Criminal and Supreme Courts.
Notify the court accurately and promptly about participant non-compliance, including missed reporting, absconding, and rearrest.
Provide culturally competent and anti-racist court services in accordance with CASES policies, responsive to participants’ needs and their race, ethnicity, sexuality, gender, and criminal legal history.
Work flexibly and innovatively in this first-of-its-kind court and community role at CASES.