Court Advocate - Day Shift

Title: Court Advocate (Day Shift)

Unit: Court Advocacy – Supervised Release Program

Reports to: Supervisor, Court Operations (Day)

Salary Range: $27.48 to $30.22 (approximately $50,000 - $55,000 annually)

Status: Full Time; Regular; Non-Exempt

Location: Bronx Criminal Court

Days/Hours: Monday-Friday with alternate weekends, 9:00am-5:00pm

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.

Under the Supervised Release Program (SRP), the Court Advocate (CA) will be responsible for identifying and screening potential program participants at arraignments in the Bronx Criminal Courthouse. The CA will liaise with defense attorneys, prosecutors, and other court actors to ensure those eligible for SRP are mandated to the program rather than detained. The CA will present on the court record to judges, primarily at arraignments, and occasionally when reporting to the court regarding clients’ participation in programming. The day shift CA will be responsible for working a 9am – 5pm schedule to be present for daytime court in the Bronx. Arraignment court operates 365 days a year including holidays.

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.

Arraignment court can be a fast paced, unpredictable environment. The CA is tasked with communicating with court parties, conducting client screenings, some of which occur at the same time, fielding calls from active clients and internal and external program staff, and coordinating with case managers. Prioritizing the above is imperative in being able to manage the work and do it effectively.

The CA must be able to communicate effectively with potential participants, defense attorneys and prosecutors, judges, other court parties, and internal program staff. The CA must understand the role of each of these stakeholders and how to professionally communicate with all. Additionally, the CA is the first face of the organization for clients. Thus, supportive, empathetic, and enthusiastic communication with clients is also essential to create a welcoming atmosphere for the client.

The CA is the doorway for many of our Fortune clients. It takes initiative to review and acquire cases, and place clients on the path to follow through to release and completion. The CA will be expected to review paperwork at arraignments to identify SRP-eligible participants and review those identified with court stakeholders. This requires confidence, drive and ambition.

Travel Requirements: May require travel to community-based sites.

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.