Court Based Social Worker

Court Based Social Worker

Queens, New York

Court Based Social Worker

Queens Supervised Release Program

Are you a Licensed Social Worker or Mental Health Counselor who is interested in providing support in arraignment court for potential clients eligible for Supervised Release?

Are you an experienced professional who is interested in helping us implement a more focused strength-based and community-engaged approach?

Join our team of mental health and social work professionals seeking to improve the experience of justice involved individuals in the NYC Courts!

About CJA

The New York City Criminal Justice Agency (CJA) is a not-for-profit service and research organization that operates in partnership with the New York City Mayor's Office of Criminal Justice. CJA is the City's main pretrial services agency, combining operations, pilot projects, and research under one roof. CJA utilizes procedural justice practices to provide pretrial services to over 100,000 arrested annually in New York City.

Information collected about these arrestees and subsequent case processing is maintained in the agency's internal and externally shared database systems, which are used to conduct descriptive and evaluation research on arrestee characteristics, case processing and court outcomes, and on issues and potential reforms to criminal justice policy in New York City. CJA's programs operate in the criminal courts and detention facilities 24 hours a day seven days a week within the 5 boroughs of NYC, employing over 300 employees, citywide.

Program Summary

CJA operates a Supervised Release Program in Queens Criminal Court. The program, which operates during the day and night court in Queens, screens targeted defendants for release at criminal court arraignment, subject to specific conditions including maintaining face-to-face and telephone contact with the program, participating in an assessment process to identify needs such as substance use and mental health, and agreeing to program monitoring of court appearances and re-arrests.

This is a great professional development opportunity for a dynamic, knowledgeable individual, experienced in dealing with high-needs populations such as those with mental health diagnoses, at-risk youth, and others with social, emotional or developmental challenges, who have criminal court involvement.

Position Summary

The Court Based Social Worker is a licensed social worker or mental health counselor. They work collaboratively on a multidisciplinary team of social workers and court representatives stationed in the courthouse to contribute clinical experience and knowledge and assist in appropriately advocating for participants with behavioral health needs, especially those that might be in crisis. They engage in difficult cases where pre-program interviews require coaching, counseling, and discussions with the potential client and his/her attorney.

They are responsible for securing consent to begin a mobile intake assessment at the courthouse, immediately upon release under supervision; engaging evidence-based techniques and motivational interviewing to engage individuals in the process.

Primary Responsibilities

• Function collaboratively on an interdisciplinary team of Social Workers, Court Representatives and Peer Specialists, in order to contribute clinical experience and knowledge, to assist in appropriately screening and advocating for participants with behavioral health needs, those in crisis, and individuals who screen as high risk.
• Draw upon a full understanding of court procedures and work collaboratively with clients, attorneys, judges and other court stakeholders to facilitate release into the Supervised Release Program.
• Work alongside our Intensive Case Management team to support clients who are at high risk of recidivism and/or failure-to-appear in court or who are arraigned and would typically be seen in the community.
• Utilize problem solving techniques, motivational interviewing and other evidence-based practices as appropriate, as a critical part of the pretrial supervision and case management process approach, to help motivate and engage individuals in any needed process of change
• Immediatel…