Court Representative; Day Shift

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.

The Night Shift QSRP Court Representative role is based at Queens Criminal Court during evening and weekend arraignment hours (Friday through Tuesday, 9AM to 5PM). This role serves as primary CJA contact during night arraignments and provides critical support to participants following a highly challenging period- immediately following arrest, detention and arraignment. This position works collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team of court representatives, court-based social workers, and acts as a vital link between the court and the CJA Case Management team.

Success in this role requires the ability to perform effectively in a fast-paced, high-stakes environment, both independently and within a team structure.

• 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…