Senior Counselor, Jail Diversion

About the Center for Justice Innovation The Center for Justice Innovation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing community safety and racial justice. Since 1996, we’ve worked alongside communities, courts, and those most directly affected by the justice system to build stronger, healthier, and more equitable neighborhoods. With a team of over 900 staff and an annual budget of $130 million, we carry out our mission through programs, research, and policy guidance. The Opportunity We are seeking a Senior Counselor, Jail Diversion to lead a team of counselors who assess the clinical and services needs of defendants currently being held in pretrial detention. The role involves coordinating closely with the Manhattan Felony Alternative to Incarceration (ATI) Court, supervising clinical assessments and treatment recommendations, designing workflows, and collaborating with key external stakeholders. Responsibilities Manage and provide support to a team of social workers, counselors, and interns, in coordination with the Clinical Director. Clinical supervision will be provided by the Clinical Director. Manage the referral, assessment, and treatment planning process for people held in pretrial detention. Design and revise internal workflows for this initiative and ensure that the initiative meets all required timelines and deliverables. Coordinate with the Center’s Jail Population Review team to ensure an efficient referral and assessment process for potential participants held in pretrial detention. Conduct individualized clinical assessments for people incarcerated in pretrial detention. Develop treatment recommendations that address substance use, mental health, trauma, domestic violence, housing, education, employment, and other needs. Ensure that all assessments are completed and all recommendations are submitted according to a strict timeline, including closely tracking deadlines for supervisees. Share and review treatment recommendations with defense counsel. Present treatment recommendations to legal stakeholders when necessary. When defendants are referred to the Felony ATI Court, make appropriate community‑based referrals for social service needs. Participate in regular interdisciplinary case conferences with court stakeholders while cases are pre‑plea. Attend court, as needed, to help clients navigate court and collaborate with court staff and stakeholders. Conduct warm handoffs to case management staff prior to participants entering their plea. Collaborate and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders such as prosecutors, defense attorneys, the Felony ATI Court’s resource coordinators, community‑based service providers, the Department of Correction, and Correctional Health Services staff. Oversee all data entry related to referrals, assessments, and treatment recommendations for people held in pretrial detention. Enter and maintain up‑to‑date participant data in a case management system. Assist the Clinical Director with refining existing practice and developing new initiatives, including improving assessment and treatment planning processes and implementing clinical best practices. Identify internal training needs and coordinate the delivery of trainings for staff. Support social work internship recruitment, placement, and training, and provide supervision to interns. Provide crisis intervention and de‑scalation, as needed. Participate in clinical group supervision, staff meetings, and trainings, as scheduled. Attend evening community‑based meetings and events when needed. Assist with other programmatic and administrative tasks to support Manhattan Justice’s activities. Additional tasks as necessary. Qualifications MHC or LMSW required with at least 5‑7 years in criminal justice or a related field such as healthcare, substance use and mental health treatment, homelessness and housing services, education, job training/workforce development, child welfare and family services, youth services, elder care services, domestic violence programming, sex‑offense treatment, and services for people with developmental disabilities. Experience in a court or criminal justice setting, including working with incarcerated people, preferred. One year of supervisory experience strongly preferred. Experience collaborating with legal stakeholders to advance new initiatives and implement clinical programming in a high‑pressure/fast‑paced work environment. Ability and openness to engage with differing and, at times, competing stakeholder perspectives. Experience working with individuals experiencing mental health issues, substance use, trauma histories, co‑occurring disorders, and/or homelessness strongly preferred. Commitment to trauma‑informed, holistic, and strengths‑based approaches and ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds in a culturally competent manner. Experience working with and addressing the specific needs of young adults, LGBTQ+ people, and women strongly preferred. Knowledge and/or lived experience related to the criminal justice system and its impacts on communities preferred. Ability to track and meet strict deadlines. Excellent organization and time‑management skills. Strong writing and verbal communication skills. Knowledge of community‑based resources throughout New York City. Bilingual (English‑Spanish) preferred. Position Details Position Type: Full‑time. Location: Lower Manhattan. Compensation: $71,500 - $94,200, commensurate with experience. Benefits: Comprehensive healthcare (including national network, basic dental, vision, short‑term and long‑term disability, life insurance, and flexible spending accounts including commuter FSA), mental health care (Talkspace, Ginger), and a 403(b) retirement plan with a two‑to‑one employer contribution up to 5‑%. Equal Employment Opportunity Statement The Center for Justice Innovation is an equal‑opportunity employer committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. We do not discriminate based on 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 encourage and welcome applications from women, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, and those with prior contact with the criminal justice system. Our goal is to create a supportive and respectful environment where everyone, regardless of background or identity, feels valued and included. #J-18808-Ljbffr Center for Justice Innovation