Jobs

Senior Policy Advisor, New York Legal Policy

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 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

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.

THE OPPORTUNITY

Led by the New York Legal Policy Team—court practitioners, clinical staff, and research and policy experts focused on developing and implementing critical operational and policy reforms and improving coordination between justice system stakeholders—the Center for Justice Innovation is launching two transformative initiatives to improve case processing efficiency in criminal cases and to reduce the jail population, all while improving the public safety impact of the criminal legal system.

Reporting to the Director of New York Legal Policy, and in close collaboration with the program operations, intergovernmental affairs, communications, data analytics and applied research, and research teams, the Senior Policy Advisor, New York Legal Policy will support these initiatives and the Center’s other policy projects in New York City and State.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Assist in the planning of a major citywide project to reduce pretrial case delays in close collaboration with the New York State Unified Court System and all New York City criminal justice system stakeholders;
• Conduct quantitative analyses related to case processing, criminal sentences, jail population trends, arrests, and other relevant subjects;
• Assist with the development of a first of its kind program to review all individuals in custody for eligibility for jail alternatives;
• Answer critical policy questions in real-time using quantitative methods;
• Liaise with all relevant system stakeholders, agencies, and organizations to communicate observed trends to advance policy and operational reforms;
• Give presentations on the New York Legal Policy Team’s efforts to reduce case delays
• Prepare written materials and publications;
• Assist in expanding the Center’s work on relevant policy issues, including grant proposals and relevant activities;
• Additional relevant tasks, as needed.

Position Type:  Full-time, salaried exempt.

Location:  Midtown Manhattan

Qualifications: The ideal candidate will have:

• M.A. or Ph.D. in Criminology, Data Science, Data Analytics, Sociology, or other related field involving the intersection between quantitative and qualitative research and policy;
• Extensive expertise with New York City and State criminal justice data and related information networks;
• Detailed familiarity with the New York City criminal justice policy landscape, including all relevant stakeholders and their relationships to the legal system;
• Demonstrated experience quickly translating complex data into actionable policy positions;
• Intergovernmental affairs experience, or a demonstrated history communicating complex data trends to non-researchers.

Compensation: The compensation range for this position is $120,000 – $140,000 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. 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 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. Only applicants under consideration will be contacted. No phone calls or emails please.

Learn more here

Job posted: 2023-08-21