Community Engagement Specialist

The Center for Court Innovation is a non-profit organization that works to create a more effective and humane justice system by performing original research and helping launch reforms by guiding justice innovators, nationally and internationally. The Center creates operating projects that have been documented to reduce the use of jail and prison, assist victims of crime, and strengthen communities.

Brooklyn Justice Initiatives (BJI) seeks to reengineer the experience of criminal court in Brooklyn, New York by providing judges and attorneys meaningful alternatives to bail, fines, and jail sentences. Operating out of Kings County Criminal Court, Brooklyn Justice Initiatives is a team of social service providers, court-based resource coordinators, and others who seek to improve the quality of justice. By providing meaningful pre-trial supervised release and post-conviction sentencing options, Brooklyn Justice Initiatives seeks to use an arrest as a window of opportunity to change the direction of a participant’s life and avoid the harmful effects of incarceration. 

Brooklyn Justice Initiatives is seeking a Community Engagement Specialist. Reporting to the Community Affairs Manager, the Community Engagement Specialist will be responsible for supporting participants enrolled in alternative to detention and incarceration programming and will assist in implementing various community engagement initiatives. The Community Engagement Specialist will also engage clients within their communities through escorting clients to appointments at community-based agencies, coordinating the retrieval of property, court accompaniment and conducting home visits.

Individuals who are formerly incarcerated or have other experience in the criminal justice system are particularly encouraged to apply.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Support BJI’s care package delivery initiative, including organization of supplies, delivery confirmation calls, and operation of delivery vehicle;
• Assist the Community Affairs Manager in the creation of one-pagers and other public information materials to keep the community informed of BJI's mission and community-based initiatives;
• Engage in the planning and execution of community and participant events;
• Liaise with the organization’s Community Development and Crime Prevention department and sister projects in Brooklyn to support community work within the organization and department;
• Maintain and update Brooklyn Justice Initiative’s Resource Guide;
• Work closely with the Community Affairs Manager to develop and implement new initiatives and strategies for community engagement;
• Assist the Community Affairs Manager with identifying new funding or donation opportunities to launch community-based initiatives, such as toy drives or other events;
• Co-facilitate group-based sessions, as needed;
• Represent the Center for Court Innovation and Brooklyn Justice Initiatives at community events and meetings;
• Participate in evening and weekend community meetings, events and programming, when necessary;
• Maintain and strengthen partnerships with community-based agencies that provide voluntary and mandated services to participants;
• Utilize engagement techniques to support participants in fulfilling mandated supervision requirements through home visits, and family engagement, when appropriate;
• Provide supportive services and referrals for participants’ families, as needed;
• Accompany participants to court appearances, property retrieval, community-based treatment, and other appointments, as needed;
• Assist participants with obtaining identification and vital documents;
• Provide case management services to participants and where appropriate, community members, in various community-based offices, homes, public spaces and other locations;
• Complete intake, screenings, and assessments, as needed;
• Maintain a caseload of Supervised Release participants, as needed and when appropriate;
• Additional relevant tasks, as needed.

Qualifications:

The ideal candidate will have a high school diploma with two years of work experience in a related area or exceptional life experiences that qualify them for the position.

• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written are a must;
• Knowledge of community-based resources throughout New York City, and especially Brooklyn;
• A valid drivers’ license and fewer than six points on the driving record;
• Interest or skill in graphic/flyer design.

Position Type: Full-time, some nights and weekends, as needed.