Mitigation Specialist, Miller Center for Special Mitigation

Hours: Full-Time (40 hours/week)

Reports to: Director, Miller Center

Supervisory Responsibilities: None

Location: NY Citywide

Organization:

Youth Justice Network (YJN) was founded in 1990 to anchor, support and build capacity among young people released from jail in New York City. We break cycles of incarceration and promote an equitable justice system by providing young people with opportunities to grow, thrive, and lead. Through a combination of individualized advocacy, mentorship and services, our network of advocates develops relationships with young people whose lives intersect with the justice system.We leverage authentic relationships and local resources so that young people can forge their pathways to wellbeing and positive development.

Position:

The Miller Center for Special Mitigation provides case expediting, reintegration planning, and defender-based advocacy and mitigation supports on behalf of adolescents and young adults. The Miller Center is named after Dr. Jerome Miller (1931-2015) who inspired a revolution in America’s juvenile justice system by transforming Massachusetts’ system of reformatories for youth in the early 1970’s to regionally-based smaller centers throughout the state, to bring young people closer to their homes. Dr. Miller coined the term Client Specific Planning: the development of individually tailored release plans which emphasize creative and flexible dispositions to meet the needs of public safety and reduce the reliance on imprisonment, particularly for youth in the justice system. Mitigation specialists develop individualized plans for each youth focused on minimizing length of stay, reducing likelihood of readmission and/or further penetration into state correctional system.

Role and Responsibilities:

• Provide defender-based advocacy services and planning for young people at different points along the criminal justice case process;
• Collaborate with defense counsel, develop and oversee the preparation of supporting documentation and individualized plans for release on recognizance, pre-pleading and pre-sentence supports/planning;
• Plan Development
  • Collaborate with Youth Advocates/YJN staff in the development of comprehensive community based plans to present to courts/prosecutors;
  • Participate in once weekly Miller Team meetings to review and troubleshoot cases and review court calendar;
  • Participate in weekly Borough/community team meetings to evaluate youth progress towards objectives, reassess strategies, and respond to any difficulties arising in the youth’s case or life;
  • Craft effective individualized sentencing options for court consideration that combine YJN supports with relevant alternatives such as tailored community service placements.
• Interface and advocate on behalf of youth with courts, court personnel, defense bar, prosecutors and with New York City’s array of community-based organizations;
  • Work in direct partnership with YJN staff, any community based organizations, and families to ensure progress during periods of release/on bail throughout the case process, serving as an organizing thread;
  • Build and maintaining strong relationships of trust with youth and families, provide ongoing support and mentorship, and being available to respond to evolving needs of youth during the case process;
  • Gather educational, medical, and other records;
  • Attend court (in person and virtual) on behalf of youth, presenting plans, and testifying as needed;
  • Collaborate with existing array of supervised release and alternative to detention/incarceration programs and organizations City-wide to support youth needs and opportunity for release;
• Maintain data and metrics to review and drive outcomes
  • Maintaining careful records on project efforts and outcomes, documenting all work performed, court decisions, etc.

Qualifications

Required

• BA in relevant field.
• Exceptional written and oral communication skills;
• Excellent, professional interpersonal skills, including the ability to develop rapport with a very wide range of people;
• Strong work ethic, resourceful, motivated;
• Creative and nimble in navigating barriers and solving problems;
• Strong collaborative, organizational and time management skills;
• Commitment to and passion for young people, regardless of legal circumstances;
• Understanding and belief in strengths-based youth development practices;

Preferred

• Bilingual/ Spanish
• Professional experience working with young people involved in the justice system or in similar settings with at-risk youth;
• Understanding of relevant law and of the criminal/juvenile systems in New York;
• Collaborate with existing array of supervised release and alternative to detention/incarceration programs and organizations City-wide to support youth needs and opportunity for release;

Youth Justice Network is privileged to have a profoundly committed and caring staff – one which believes unconditionally in our youth members’ ability to do right and do well. We take our work very seriously, but we strive to make time for self-care and joy.We look for staff from all walks of life who have integrity, humor, a strong work ethic, are passionate about young people and committed to address the harms caused by mass incarceration.

Benefits include competitive vacation/sick leave policy including 3 days off between Christmas and New Year, generous health insurance, 403b employer match.

Salary Range: Range $50,000 – $54,000

Bilingual in Spanish preferred