THE ORGANIZATION

The Center for Court Innovation is committed to reducing crime and incarceration, addressing violence, supporting survivors, and building communities while strengthening public trust in justice. The Center seeks justice for marginalized groups, bringing an equity lens – particularly a racial and gender equity lens – to its work. For 25 years, the Center has worked to foster justice and equity to create safe, healthy, and thriving communities and, ultimately, to transform the justice system.

The Center is an 800-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 Court, 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

Researchers at the Center conduct independent evaluations, documenting how government systems work, how neighborhoods function, and how reform efforts change things. We believe in the “action research” model; accordingly, our researchers provide regular feedback on the results of the Center’s own operating programs. The Center has published studies on topics including youth in the sex trade, reentry, gun violence, and drug treatment as an alternative to incarceration. Our researchers have been published in numerous peer-reviewed journals.

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.

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Bronx Community Justice Center (BxCJC), one of the Center's newest projects, works to create a safer, more equitable Bronx through community-driven safety initiatives, violence prevention, youth opportunity, and economic development efforts.

The Bronx Community Justice Center is seeking multiple full-time Violence Interrupters for the Save Our Streets Bronx Program. Reporting to the Program Manager, Community Safety, the Violence Interrupter will work individually and as a team to prevent neighborhood shootings and killings. They provide conflict mediation services and serve as conduits to the program’s Outreach Workers.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Work to intervene in circumstances in which gun violence is likely, including possible retaliation;
• Identify youth who are at-risk for being involved in violent activities and assist them;
• Learn about the causes of shootings/killings in order to assist in mediating situations and preventing retaliation between individuals and groups (e.g., working with the community, outreach programs to gain information that may be helpful in preventing additional killings);
• Form relationships with the people who are at the highest risk to experience violence in the community, as well as the people who know them;
• Conduct outreach to the community (individually and as a team member) to build strong relationships with youth, residents, businesses, and community groups;
• Talk to residents in the area of Mott Haven or Morrisania, including public housing sites, about potential conflicts and assist in preventing them;
• Participate in organizing responses to shootings and increasing visibility when shootings/killings take place;
• Work with community partners to identify and diffuse “hot spots” for shootings and violence;
• Report to the S.O.S. Bronx Violence Interrupter Supervisor and Program Manager and keep them informed of all relevant community activities;
• Document all contacts with high-risk individuals;
• Document shootings and other acts of violence that are prevented;
• Respond to shootings in other communities, when necessary;
• Distribute public education materials to targeted audience;
• Distribute information about community events and important resources;
• Attend, participate and complete all program trainings;
• Attend and help facilitate community events and shooting responses;
• Attend weekly staff meetings and other team meetings, as required;
• Attend and participate in all S.O.S. Bronx and Center for Innovation trainings, meetings, workshops and conferences as required and assigned by supervisors;
• Facilitate workshops and make presentations at schools and secure detention centers a needed;
• Communicate with Supervisor and Team effectively;
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Individuals who are formerly incarcerated or have other experience in the criminal justice system are particularly invited to apply;
• Associates (or higher) in human services field or equivalent and satisfactory experience;
• An in-depth knowledge and familiarity of the South Bronx Mott Haven and Morrisania, with particular focus on Mott Haven: Adams, St. Mary’s, Moore and Betances Houses, Morrisania: Forest and McKinley is highly preferred;
• Reside within and are familiar with the South Bronx area preferred;
• Experience and knowledge of at-risk youth and gang involvement, with a commitment to stopping violence and working towards positive community change;
• Knowledge of street sets, crews, gangs and or groups;
• The ability to communicate with and build positive relationships with high-risk youth;
• Comfort managing a large number of diverse tasks;
• Able to walk 30 blocks or more on a regular basis;
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills;
• Able to pass drug screening.
• No current conflicts in the community that will hinder the job responsibilities from being carried out.
• No pending criminal cases or prior convictions for sexual assault, child abuse or domestic violence
• The ability to use a computer and Microsoft Office required
• Strong team skills and ability to work in a fast paced environment.

Position Location: South Bronx, NY

Position Type: Full-Time - 35 hours/week. Evenings and weekend hours (MUST be able to work a flexible schedule of late nights, over-nights, holidays and weekends.)

Compensation: The compensation range for this position is $24.84 - $30.41 per hour based on a 35-hour work week and is commensurate with experience. This position is eligible for overtime at 1.5x the hourly rate above 40 hours per week. The Center for Court 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. The Center does 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 seek 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.

As of September 9, 2021, all new hires are required to be vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus, unless they have been granted a reasonable accommodation for medical, disability or religious reasons by the Center’s Human Resources Department.

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. Only applicants under consideration will be contacted. No phone calls please.

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