Court Representative (Day Shift

Court Representative (Day Shift)

Queens, New York

Queens Supervised Release Program

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.

The Queens Supervised Release Program is the first program launched by the City of New York's Supervised Release Initiative in 2009 and is the model for which Supervised Release Programs have evolved citywide.

CJA operates the QSRP in Queens Criminal Court seven days a week, during both the day and night court. The program serves individuals of all ages who are released at criminal court arraignments, who are charged with felonies and misdemeanors, and who present a substantial likelihood of detention but are at risk of failing to appear in court if released on recognizance.

QSRP provides pretrial supervision and voluntary social service referrals to a wide array of community-based organizations which offer services including job training, employment, substance misuse treatment, and mental health counseling. Participants remain in the community and are monitored to ensure they attend all court appearances and avoid rearrest with the goal of successful reconnection to their community.

Court Representatives are the first point of contact with CJA services. They coordinate release with court partners, orient newly released participants, and present program eligibility and obligations to both court stakeholders and participants.

Primary Responsibilities

• Screen court calendars, court related documents and Office of Court Administration (OCA) databases to identify prospective clients, including high-risk/high needs participants, pending arraignment.
• Appear at night arraignments (including weekends and holidays) to provider Supervised release program information, eligibility criteria and obligations to courts, including responding to on-the-record questions regarding re-arrest and CJA pre-trial Release Assessments.
• Maintain strong professional relationships with night shift personnel including defense attorneys, prosecutors, judges, and court officers to maintain CJA credibility.
• Collect and organize all court documents needed for case records.
• Orient new participants immediately following arraignment ensuring they understand the conditions of their Supervised Release mandate, court conditions and responsibilities through a trauma-informed, culturally sensitive approach.
• Conduct comprehensive orientation intakes for newly released participants, flagging risk factors, immediate needs, and behavioral health concerns. Provide crisis support, as needed.
• Distributing metro-cards and/or cell phones to clients as needed and maintaining accurate documentation for these processes.
• Collaborate with CJA case management, Program Analyst, and daytime Court Representatives teams to ensure seamless transition and comprehensive participant information sharing.
• Ensure timely and accurate documentation in database case record and court tracking systems including entering participants demographics, contact information, court-imposed conditions, special circumstances, and next court proceeding information.
• Track program compliance for participants who have been rearrested, via case manager and provide verbal compliance updates to the courts at arraignment, as requested.
• Appear during subsequent court dates to provide compliance updates to the Court and collect information regarding any updated conditions or mandates imposed post-arraignment.
• Participate in regular team meetings, supervision and professional trainings identified by management
• Perform other related duties as assigned by Supervising Court Representatives and Senior Manager of Court Operations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree, required.
• Minimum of 2 years' experience working within the criminal legal system, direct service delivery or working with those impacted by the legal system. Current CJA employees with at least 2 years of experience as a Pretrial Associate or Court Services Coordinator are encouraged to apply
• Ability to obtain Office of Court Administration (OCA) Secure Pass for court access
• Strong understanding of the criminal legal…