Court Advocate

## Description
*
* Title:

** Court Advocate
** Unit:
** Court Advocacy
*
* Reports to:

** Queens Senior Court Advocate
** Status:
** Full Time;
Regular;
Non-Exempt
** Salary Range:** $27.48 per hour (approximately $50,000 annually)
*
* Location:

** Queens Criminal Court, 125-01 Queens Blvd, Kew Gardens, NY, 11201
** Days/

Hours:

** Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pmThis position is represented by OPEIU Local 153
** Organization Overview:
** The Fortune Society, Inc. (Fortune) has been working for over 57 years in service to our mission: to support successful reentry from incarceration and promote alternatives to incarceration, thus strengthening the fabric of our communities. The organization has evolved into one of the nation's preeminent reentry and justice-informed service organizations, providing formerly incarcerated people with the skills and wrap-around services needed to break the cycle of crime and incarceration and to build productive lives in their communities.

Fortune has grown steadily over the years to an agency with over $90 million in annual budget with approximately 600 staff. We anticipate that we will keep growing, both in size and depth of service. Fortune has a dual mission: both advocacy and service. The advocacy portion of our mission focuses on building a more just criminal legal system and reducing the barriers to reentry into society.

The service side of Fortune has evolved to encompass a broad range of programs that started with employment and education and now includes a robust array of services, among them: alternatives to incarceration, supervised release, court advocacy, discharge planning within correctional facilities, licensed substance use and mental health treatment, a housing continuum ranging from emergency and transitional through permanent congregate and scattered site housing, assistance in obtaining benefits, a care management unit, HIV services, a food and nutrition program, and an arts program.

Each service we provide is informed by the needs of the population we serve. Fortune currently serves approximately 18,000 people a year. Our program models are recognized, both nationally and internationally, for their quality and innovation. We have locations in Brooklyn, The Bronx, Manhattan, and Queens.
*
* Position Summary:

** The Court Advocate is responsible for working with court stakeholders to identify, assess, screen, and advocate for individuals to be placed in Fortune's Alternative to Detention (ATD) or Alternative to Incarceration (ATI) programs; managing assigned referrals and cases from initial referral through screening, enrollment or placement, active court advocacy, and case completion or closure; coordinating with internal programs and external stakeholders;

and providing timely, accurate reports to the court regarding clients' engagement and participation in programming.
** Core Competencies
**** Mission and Fit:
** The Court Advocate needs to match the mission and fit of Fortune, including, meeting a client there they are; engaging participants with a non-judgmental, inclusive attitude; holding space for trauma associated with criminal justice involvement and incarceration; and helping them to believe in their power to change.
** Communication & Stakeholder Relations:
** The Court Advocate must be able to communicate effectively, both in writing and orally, with defense attorneys, district attorneys, judges, other court stakeholders, internal program staff, and participants. The Court Advocate must understand the role of each stakeholder, adapt communication to the audience, provide timely, accurate, and proactive updates, handle difficult or sensitive conversations professionally, build collaborative relationships, and recognize when an issue requires…