The Center for Court Innovation, a project of the Fund for the City of New York, is a non-profit organization that promotes new thinking about how to reduce crime and incarceration while strengthening public trust in justice. The Center creates operating projects, including the award-winning Red Hook Community Justice Center and Midtown Community Court, that have been documented to improve public safety and reduce the use of jail and prison. Nationally and internationally, the Center performs original research on topics of justice reform and provides consulting services to criminal justice innovators.
In a time of fiscal austerity, jurisdictions nationwide are grappling with how to respond to misdemeanor crime without relying on expensive, short-term jail sentences. Many jurisdictions are looking for diversion schemes and non-custodial sanctions that are swift, proportionate, and effective deterrents to future offending, while also responding to the underlying needs of misdemeanor defendants for treatment and services. With assistance from the Bureau of Justice Assistance, the Center for Court Innovation is currently developing and validating a brief screening instrument that will accurately identify the criminogenic risks and needs of misdemeanants. Building on this validation study, the Center is developing a short-term group intervention designed to target the most salient criminogenic risks and needs of the misdemeanor population in a manner commensurate with legally-proportionate sentencing practice.
The Center seeks to hire two (2) Clinical Research Interns to assist in the final development and testing the group intervention. Working closely with Center clinicians and researchers, the clinical research interns will administer several iterations of the pilot intervention in court-based settings across NYC and collect data for evaluation purposes. The clinical research interns will be trained to facilitate the pilot intervention protocol, to collect data through a variety of methods, and in the protection of human subjects. The implementation of the group intervention will be designed to facilitate formative evaluation of its effectiveness and to address the myriad constraints of court-based practice.
Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
Assist in editing the draft pilot intervention based on MAP I recidivism analysis;
Assist in developing implementation and research protocols;
Elicit feedback from internal and external working group members;
Facilitate intervention sessions in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the Bronx and/or record detailed process observations of sessions;
Assist in analyzing process findings and revising intervention design accordingly;
Assist in preparing reports and other documents as needed.
Qualifications: This position is ideally suited for advanced graduate students or recent graduates in social work, social welfare, or clinical psycholocy (MSW, Ph.D., Psy.D.), with experience in group work, preferably with individuals involved in the justice system. This position requires a creative, aggressive self-starter who can get things done in a fast-paced environment.
Position Type: Part-time (April 2015 – August 2015)
Location: Multiple Locations (Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan)
How to apply
Send cover letter and resume to:
Subject line: Clinical Research Intern (MAP II)
ATTN: Elise White
Center for Court Innovation
E-mail: HR@courtinnovation.org
Visit our website at www.courtinnovation.org.
The Fund for the City of New York/Center for Court Innovation is an equal opportunity employer.