Training Specialist, Pretrial Services

THE ORGANIZATION

The Center for Justice Innovation (formerly the Center for Court Innovation) is a non-profit organization that works with communities and justice systems to advance equity, increase safety, and help individuals and communities thrive. The Center's goal is to identify and resolve as early as possible the challenges that bring people into the criminal and civil legal systems. It does this in a number of ways—by developing and running programs that reduce the need for incarceration and enhance economic opportunity, conducting original research to identify what works, and sharing what we learn from our programming and research with those seeking to transform the justice system around the world.

The Center is an approximately 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 Programs

The 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.

Research

The 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 Assistance

The 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 Support

A 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 OPPORTUNITY

Following recent legislative changes in New York State that curtail the use of cash bail and pre-trial detention, the Center has seen dramatic growth in the population served through Supervised Release. The Supervised Release Program (SRP) offers an alternative to jail, by providing pre-trial supervision, case management, and voluntary social services to people at risk of pretrial detention. Program participants are monitored to ensure their appearance at court dates and compliance with mandated programming. Additionally, voluntary referrals to community-based programming such as job training, drug treatment, and mental health counseling are made based on participant goals and an assessment of need.

The SRP Court Reform team provides guidance and support to SRP operating sites through policy and protocol development, quality assurance tools and resources, and operational support, including the provision of SRP staff training. The Pretrial Services Training Specialist will report to the Pretrial Services Training Coordinator within the SRP Court Reform team.

The Training Specialist will assist in the SRP onboarding and continuing education training portfolio for program staff. The role will require programmatic knowledge, administrative expertise, as well as exemplary facilitation skills. The role will be responsible for aiding in the maintenance of a program specific training calendar to ensure that all SRP staff are prepared for their roles as case managers, community engagement specialists, and court-based resource coordinators. The Training Specialist will help to develop program specific training modules and provide facilitation and training evaluation.

Trainings will cover a variety of topics as they apply within a pre-trial context. Specific topics will include a program overview, requirements and best practices for clinical intake assessment and case management, Intimate Partner Violence, and crisis prevention. Many training topics will be clinically oriented and all will be program specific. Additionally, the Training Specialist will distribute and analyze training program evaluation forms to ensure that trainings evolve in response to program and staff needs. To this end, the Training Specialist will be tasked with helping to develop evaluation tools, analyzing feedback, and collaborating closely with the Pretrial Services Training Coordinator and Court Reform team to evolve, refine, and deliver trainings of the highest quality to site staff throughout the year.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Work with the Pretrial Services Training Coordinator, other members of the SRP Court Reform team, sub-contracted subject matter experts, and other SRP colleagues to co-develop and maintain a calendar of program-specific onboarding and professional development trainings for new and existing SRP staff;
  • Provide input and assistance to develop training materials and direct practice tools; 
• Work with the Pretrial Services Training Coordinator to coordinate program-wide communication pertaining to training requirements and opportunities through a variety of mediums, including Innovation Station, staff meetings, annual priority memos, and other communication platforms;
  • Ensure that Innovation Station maintains up-to-date program-specific training information, including training summaries, dates, times, locations, registration information, and supplementary training materials; 
• Provide facilitation for program-specific trainings and coordinate with other members of the Court Reform team and direct practice site leadership to co-facilitate trainings as appropriate and possible;
  • Work with the Pretrial Services Coordinator and other program-specific training facilitators to ensure that trainings are facilitated with consistency across sites and cohorts, even as trainings evolve and are revised;
  • Provide in-person, virtual, and hybrid trainings;
• Assist the Pretrial Services Training Coordinator to manage relationships with external subject matter experts for the purpose of subcontracting program-specific training development, including training curriculum and materials, facilitation, training dates and locations, and other logistical details; 
• Work with the Pretrial Services Training Coordinator and site leadership to schedule trainings; 
• Work with the Pretrial Services Training Coordinator to conduct staff outreach and enrollment in required trainings in a proactive, consistent, timely, and effective manner; 
  • Assist staff in registering for program-specific trainings, as needed; 
• Work with the Pretrial Services Training Coordinator to ensure that staff attendance and completion of program-specific trainings is accurately tracked in Litmos within a timely fashion, including working with the Center’s technology teams to ensure that supervisors have access to program-specific training attendance information related to their direct reports; 
• Distribute the program-specific training evaluation to participants after each training;
• Manage an ongoing evaluation of program-specific training efficacy by integrating facilitator and staff feedback based on training participation and evaluation data; 
  • Work with the Pretrial Services Training Coordinator to compile and analyze training evaluation feedback; 
  • Report feedback back to the SRP Court Reform team for consideration; 
  • Work with the Deputy Director of Pretrial Policy and Practice, Associate Director of Pretrial Clinical Practice, and Senior Pretrial Services Advisor to integrate feedback into training revisions;
• Maintain training contract information in Agiloft and Netsuite; 
  • Work with the Center’s fiscal, legal, and contracting departments as needed to ensure all parties have accurate and up-to-date information related to contracts and payments due to subcontractors; 
• Additional tasks as necessary.

Qualifications: The ideal candidate will have:

• MSW or master’s level mental health degree required;
• Three years' experience working within criminal legal system required;
• Clinical or case management experience working in pretrial services or court-based direct practice required;
• Two years training, teaching, or supervisory experience required;
  • Preference for candidates with experience training or teaching pretrial services; 
• Must be a highly skilled communicator, able to work in a multi-disciplinary setting, with excellent writing and facilitation skills;
• Highly organized with excellent time management skills;
• Ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds in a culturally-responsive manner is a must;
• Prior experience working with individuals experiencing mental health issues, substance abuse, and/or homelessness is a must; and
• Carry all the necessary qualifications, is goal-oriented, highly organized, takes initiative, can work independently, follows through, and is a strong team player.

Position Type: Full-time; in-person work required.

Position Location: Manhattan, NY with frequent travel to program sites across all 5 boroughs.

Compensation: The compensation range for this position is $60,000 - $80,000 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.