Night Clinical Court Liaison

About the role

CASES is a New York City agency at the forefront of the intersection between behavioral health and the criminal justice system. Our mission is to increase public safety through innovative services that reduce crime and incarceration, improve behavioral health, promote recovery and rehabilitation, and create opportunities for success in the community. The CASES Court services department services court mandates or endorsed programming at all points in the criminal legal process. CASES operates alternative to detention (ATD) and alternative to incarceration (ATI) community-based programs facilitated by the NYS Office of Court Administration (OCA) judiciary. CASES interfaces with multiple stakeholders to support these ATD and ATI program options for thousands of defendants in multiple boroughs.

Responsibilities

• Maintain excellent professional relationships with Judges, District Attorneys, defense counsel, Probation, and other Court partners to facilitate program admissions and maintain CASES’ credibility in Court.
• Review referrals to determine a person’s eligibility for CASES’ programs, including arrest case information, RAP sheet, attorney recommendations, and preliminary information about participant needs.
• Engage potential participants and their legal representation in and around the Courtroom.
• Undertake clinical screening interviews with potential participants to explain CASES’ program(s).
• Ensure participants are matched to the appropriate CASES program based on assessed needs and eligibility.
• Achieve monthly intake and other performance targets.
• Accompany participants to all Court appearances and advocate to judges, verbally and through written Court reports, for participants to be enrolled or maintained in CASES’ services.
• Complete all necessary intake paperwork, including entering participant information into the Salesforce databases.
• Ensure participants understand the conditions of their release or plea agreement and expectations regarding participation in CASES program.
• Collaborate with CASES colleagues in the community, who are providing services, to ensure the Court’s community supervision conditions are being met.
• Provide timely notification to the Court when participants are not in compliance, have gone missing (absconded), failed as required, or been rearrested.
• Collect and track information on participants’ intake and re-arrest cases, as well as warrants.
• Engage in cultural competency in accordance with CASES policies and the delivery of excellent Court services to address the needs of youth, young adults, adults, individuals with behavioral health needs, and the race and ethnicity, sexuality, gender, and criminal justice history of defendants and program participants.
• Mentor less experienced colleagues in the intricacies of Court procedures and CASES programs, especially eligibility and clinical criteria.
• Participate in supervision, case review and staff meetings, and in-service trainings to develop clinical, motivational interviewing, trauma-informed, and legal system competence.
• Work a regular and obscure schedule and adhere to schedule changes to ensure CASES consistently maintains coverage for all court shifts.
• Perform other related duties as assigned by supervisors.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in clinical field (social work, substance abuse, mental health).
• NYS licensure (LMSW, LCSW, MHC-LP, LMHC) or ability to obtain one of the listed licenses within 1 year upon hire.
• Highly articulate, resourceful, and professional – able to stand up in court and present detailed information.
• Proven ability to function effectively in a high-paced and stressful environment.
• Ability to work effectively with a diverse group of participants and staff.
• Interest in, and sensitivity to, issues facing justice-involved individuals.
• Ability to quickly gather and evaluate the accuracy of information and use good judgement within time constraints and high volume courtrooms.
• Excellent public speaking skills and ability to formulate persuasive arguments for eligible defendants to be placed in CASES programs.
• Excellent analytical and written skills.
• Ability to work autonomously.

Preferred but not required: Bi-lingual candidates strongly preferred.

Benefits

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Vacation and Paid Time Off – starting at 25 days
• 12 Paid Holidays per year
• Retirement 403(b) with competitive matching up to 6%
• Employee Referral Program

Pay

The salary for Night Clinical Court Liaison is $78,213 ($73,213 + $5,000 night differential) per year.

Schedule

Full-time, Thursday–Monday, 5:00 PM–1:00 AM (35 hours per week excluding breaks). On-site at 100 Centre Street, New York, NY 10013.