Violence Interrupter, S.O.S Crown Heights

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

Neighbors In Action (NIA) is a unique neighborhood institution that works to improve community problem solving, collaboration, and inter-group relations in Bedford Stuyvesant and Crown Heights, Brooklyn. Operating out of a storefront since 1998, Neighbors in Action provides anti-violence programs, youth programs, and resource links to community residents. Its mission is to encourage communication and understanding, prevent future conflicts, and help foster stronger, healthier neighborhoods. Save Our Streets (S.O.S. Brooklyn) operates one site in Crown Heights and one site in Bed-Stuy. S.O.S. is a replication of the Cure Violence program, a gun violence prevention model that aims to reduce and prevent shootings through the use of public health strategies.

Neighbors in Action is seeking a Violence Interrupter for the Save Our Streets (S.O.S.) Crown Heights program. S.O.S. Brooklyn (which includes two sites in Crown Heights and Bed-Stuy) is a replication of the Cure Violence program, a gun violence prevention model that aims to reduce and prevent shootings through the use of public health strategies. Reporting to both Violence Interrupter Supervisor and the Outreach Worker Supervisor, the Violence Interrupter will work individually and as a team to prevent the escalation of violence that results in shootings and killings. They will provide conflict mediation services and serve as conduits to the program’s Outreach Workers who work with program participants on a long-term basis.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Work with community partners and the rest of the S.O.S. and NIA team to identify and diffuse “hot spots” for shootings and violence;
• Intervene in local conflicts to interrupt and prevent an outbreak of violence, and work to prevent retaliations when violence does occur;
• Identify youth who are at-risk for being involved in violent activities and assist them in connecting to S.O.S., and/or other Neighbors in Action programs such as Youth Programs, and Legal Hand, as well as referring them to other community organizations and resources as is fitting;
• 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 of experiencing 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, and community groups;
• Engage with local businesses and storefronts to spread understanding of the S.O.S. mission, build relationships, and increase public awareness of S.O.S.’s peacekeeping mission in the community;
• Talk to local Crown Heights residents, including Albany Houses and Weeksville Gardens about potential conflicts and assist in preventing them;
• Participate in organizing responses to shootings & other trauma related community crises to increase programmatic visibility when shootings/killings take place;
• Report to the Violence Interrupter Supervisor and the Outreach Worker Supervisor and keep the team informed of all relevant community activities;
• Document all contacts with high-risk individuals;
• Document shootings and other acts of violence that are prevented;
• Join shooting and healing responses in other communities, as directed;
• Distribute public education materials to targeted audience;
• Distribute information about community events and important resources;
• Attend all program trainings;
• Attend and help facilitate community events and shooting responses;
• Attend weekly supervision, staff meetings and other team meetings as required;
• Attend and participate in all Neighbors in Action and Center's trainings, meetings and conferences as assigned by supervisors; and
• Additional relevant tasks, as needed.

Position Type: Full-time, Evenings, and Weekends. Schedule may be flexible, changing, and include late nights.

Qualifications: An Ideal candidate will possess an in-depth knowledge of Crown Heights, in particular the target area: Atlantic Avenue to Eastern Parkway, Kingston Avenue to Utica Avenue. Candidates who are formerly incarcerated or have other experience in the criminal justice system are particularly invited to apply. However, they must have no pending criminal cases or prior convictions for sexual assault, child abuse, or domestic violence. In addition, an ideal candidate will have:

• Experience working with at-risk youth and street organization members;
• HS diploma or Associates (or higher) in human services field or equivalent and satisfactory experience;
• Residency within and familiarity with the Crown Heights area (highly preferred);
• Knowledge of the street sets, crews, street organizations, and or groups;
• Ability to walk 30-40 blocks or more on a regular basis;
• Willingness to work in inclement weather;
• Ability to work a flexible schedule that includes late evenings, weekends and holidays;
• Committed to working toward positive community change;
• Excellent 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; and
• Strong team skills and ability to work in a fast paced environment.

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 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%.