Court Advocate

Title: Court Advocate

Unit: Court Advocacy

Reports to: Bronx Senior Court Advocate

Status: Full Time; Regular; Non-Exempt

Salary Range: $27.47 per hour (approximately 50,000 annually)

Location: Criminal Court, 215 E. 161st Street, 1st Floor, Room 1-3A

Days/Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm

Organization Overview:

The Fortune Society, Inc. (Fortune) has been working for over 57 years in service to our mission: to support successful reentry from incarceration and promote alternatives to incarceration, thus strengthening the fabric of our communities. The organization has evolved into one of the nation’s preeminent reentry and justice-informed service organizations, providing formerly incarcerated people with the skills and wrap-around services needed to break the cycle of crime and incarceration and to build productive lives in their communities.

Fortune has grown steadily over the years to an agency with close to $90 million in annual budget with just under 600 staff. We anticipate that we will keep growing, both in size and depth of service. Fortune has a dual mission: both advocacy and service. The advocacy portion of our mission focuses on building a more just criminal legal system and reducing the barriers to reentry into society. The service side of Fortune has evolved to encompass a broad range of programs that started with employment and education and now includes a robust array of services, among them: alternatives to incarceration, supervised release, court advocacy, discharge planning within correctional facilities, licensed substance use and mental health treatment, a housing continuum ranging from emergency and transitional through permanent congregate and scattered site housing, assistance in obtaining benefits, a care management unit, HIV services, a food and nutrition program, and an arts program. Each service we provide is informed by the needs of the population we serve. Fortune currently serves approximately 14,000 people a year.. Our program models are recognized, both nationally and internationally, for their quality and innovation. We have locations in Brooklyn, The Bronx, Manhattan and Queens.

Position Summary:

The Bronx Court Advocate will be responsible for working with court stakeholders to assess and screen and advocate for individuals to be placed in Fortune’s Alternative to Incarceration (ATI) programs, and report to the court regarding clients’ participation in programming.

The Bronx Court Advocate will split their time between court advocacy and managing a caseload of current clients and potential referrals.

Core Competencies:

Mission and Fit: Embodies Fortune’s mission and values and will be an effective member of the team in furthering both. The candidate should exhibit compassion and understanding for our participants (wherever they are in their re-entry process) and embrace Fortune’s core value that none of us should be measured against the worst things we have done.

Communication: The Court Advocate must be able to communicate effectively, both written and orally with defense and district attorneys, judges, other court parties, internal program staff and participants. The Court Advocate must understand the role of each of these stakeholders and how to communicate with all.

Time Management: Court can be a fast paced, unpredictable, chaotic environment. Court Advocates are tasked with communicating with court parties, managing multiple court appearances, some of which occur at the same time, conducting client screenings and assessments, fielding calls from active clients and internal and external program staff and participating in case conferences. Prioritizing the above is imperative in being able to manage the work and do it effectively.

Initiative: Court Advocates are the doorway for many of our Fortune clients. It takes initiative to get cases, follow them through to plea and finally completion and sentencing. While many cases are brought to the Court Advocate by the defense or district attorney, often, the Court Advocate needs to take the lead by going after appropriate cases and then approaching the attorneys and potential participants. This takes confidence, drive, and ambition. Additionally, as a Court Advocate, data entry in internal databases must be up to date to ensure court report status and progress and tracking and centrally recording information in internal database related to client court matters, is imperative.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Screen court calendars and court related documents to identify eligible candidates for Fortune’s ATI programs;

• Liaise with defense attorneys, prosecutors and judges;

• Interview prospective clients, both currently incarcerated and in the community;

• Advocate before the court for the release of clients to Fortune’s ATI programs;

• Present written and verbal reports to the court regarding client’s participation in ATI programming;

• Collaborate with Fortune’s counselors, case managers, and other staff including clinical team, to assist clients in achieving long and short-term goals;

• Record accurate information on all activities including court proceedings related to clients’ court cases in agency database;

• Provide up to date information regarding Fortune’s ATI service to all external stakeholders;

• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Ability to get access to the courts through an Office of Court Administration Secure Pass;
• High school diploma or GED/HSE required; MSW or LMSW, preferred
• Previous court advocacy and/or court writing experience preferred
• Experience with databases for entering client information;
• Knowledge of the structure and procedures of the Criminal Justice System and its legalese required;
• Experience with ATI programs a plus;
• Strong oral and written communications skills required;
• Bilingual English/Spanish a plus;

We seek talented, dedicated individuals from all walks of life who possess a strong commitment to this mission. Relevant personal experience is a plus.

Physical Demands:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The responsibilities and requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skills, minimum education, training, licensing, experience and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

The Fortune Society is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will be afforded equal employment opportunities without discrimination because of conviction history, race, religion/creed, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, military status, predisposing genetic characteristics, victim of domestic violence status or marital status.