THE ORGANIZATIONThe Center for Justice Innovation is a community justice organization that centers safety and racial justice. Since our founding in 1996, the Center has partnered with community members, courts, and the people most impacted to create stronger, healthier, morejust communities. Our decades of experience in courts and communities, coupled with our field-leading research and practitioner expertise, help us drive justice nationwide in innovative, powerful, and durable ways. For more information on how and where we work, please visit www.innovatingjustice.org. The Center is a 900-employee, $100 million nonprofit that accomplishes its vision through three pillars of work: creating and scaling operating programs to test new ideas and solve problems, performing original research to determine what works (and what doesn't), and providing expert assistance and policy guidance to justice reformers around the world.Operating ProgramsThe Center's operating programs, including the award-winning Red Hook Community Justice Center and Midtown Community Justice Center, test new ideas, solve difficult problems, and attempt to achieve systemic change within the justice system. Our projects include community-based violence prevention programs, alternatives to incarceration, reentry initiatives, and court-based initiatives that reduce the use of unnecessary incarceration and promote positive individual and family change. Through this programming, we have produced tangible results like safer streets, reduced incarceration, and improved neighborhood perceptions of justice.ResearchThe Center's research teams are staffed with social scientists, data analysts, and lawyers who are academically-trained or have lived experience and who conduct research in the U.S. and globally on diverse criminal-legal system and justice issues. Their work includes evaluating programs and policies; conducting exploratory, community-based studies; and providing research translation and strategic planning for system actors. The Center has published studies on topics including court and jail reform, intimate partner violence, restorative justice, gun violence, reentry, sixth amendment rights, and progressive prosecution. The research teams strive to make their work meaningful and actionable to the communities they work with, policymakers, and practitioners.Policy & Expert AssistanceThe Center provides hands-on, planning and implementation assistance to a wide range of jurisdictions in areas of reform such as problem-solving courts (e.g., community courts, treatment courts, domestic violence courts), tribal justice, reducing incarceration and the use of fines/fees and reducing crime and violence. Our current expert assistance takes many forms, including help with analyzing data, strategic planning and consultation, policy guidance, and hosting site visits to its operating programs in the New York City area. Center SupportA dedicated support team within the Center ensures the smooth functioning of operations across various domains, including finance, legal, technology, human resources, fundraising, real estate, and communications. Comprising 15% of the organization's staff, these teams provide essential infrastructure support and innovative solutions aligned with the Center's mission and values. THE OPPORTUNITYNewark Community Solutions (NCS) is a community justice initiative based in Newark, New Jersey. NCS seeks to create a more fair, effective, and humane justice system through court-based alternative sentencing, pretrial social services, victim services, and youth diversion. With over a decade of court-based social service experience, NCS specializes in public-private partnerships which allows anchor institutions like the courts to respond to the community while simultaneously building public confidence in justice. NCS builds on lessons learned from successful community courts and justice centers throughout the country which have increased public safety and strengthened the connections between courts and communities.Newark Community Solutions seeks an Intake and Compliance Specialist as part of its Eviction Diversion Initiative. Reporting to the Senior Resource Navigator, the Intake and Compliance Specialist is responsible for identifying participants, monitoring the tenant hotline, completing intake screenings, monitoring and tracking data in our Homeless Management Information System, and making initial housing and legal service referrals for participants in the Comprehensive Defense and Diversion Program. This position will be located at Newark Community Solutions' offices within the Essex County Veterans Courthouse in Newark, New Jersey. This is a part-time (21 hour per week) position.Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- Recruit eligible participants by conducting proactive tenant outreach via court calendars and attending community events;
- Monitor the NCS tenant hotline which includes the NCS-EDI email account and phone line;
- Conduct intake screenings for program participants, using a joint intake with program partner Volunteer Lawyers for Justice;
- Maintain client records in files and electronic case management system (HMIS);
- Complete weekly Eviction Diversion Initiative chart and data audits and provide summaries to program leadership;
- Participate in professional development and training regarding New Jersey's anti-eviction and homelessness prevention programs;
- Identify patterns of data deficiencies and areas for improvement;
- Work with NCS Eviction Diversion Initiative staff to properly close cases within its electronic data management systems; and
- Additional tasks as necessary.
Qualifications: The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor's degree and a minimum of 1 year in a related area, preferably as a criminal justice practitioner or 3-4 years' experience in the criminal justice field as an equivalency. Experience within the legal system and/or local social service system required. Candidate must be a skilled communicator and team player able to work in a multidisciplinary setting. Familiarity with Essex County is required and bilingual Spanish is a plus.Position Type: Part-time, 21 hours per week.Position Location: Newark, NJ.Compensation: The compensation range for this position is $28.57 - $34.62 per hour based on a 35-hour work week and is commensurate with experience. The Center for Justice Innovation offers an excellent benefits package including comprehensive healthcare with a national network, free basic dental coverage, vision insurance, short-term and long-term disability, life insurance, and flexible spending accounts including commuter FSA. We prioritize mental health care for our staff and offer services like Talkspace and Ginger through our healthcare plans. We offer a 403(b) retirement plan with a two-to-one employer contribution up to 5%.The Center for Justice Innovation is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace, and as such, we do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, national origin, age, military service eligibility, veteran status, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, or any other category protected by law. We strongly encourage and welcome applications from women, people of color, members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities, as well as individuals with prior contact with the criminal justice system. Our aim is to create a supportive and respectful environment where every individual, irrespective of their background or identity, feels valued and included.As of February 10, 2023, New York City Executive Order 25 rescinded the requirement of the COVID-19 vaccination for City workers, new hires, and contracted employees. Accordingly, the Center does not require all new hires be vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus; however, the Center recommends all staff, interns, and volunteers stay up-to-date on the vaccination. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete an employment eligibility verification document form upon hire. Kindly refer to the job posting for the relevant contact information. If the contact details are not provided, we kindly ask that you refrain from making inquiries via phone or email, as only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.