Violence Interrupter

THE ORGANIZATION

The Center for Justice Innovation is a community justice organization that centers safety and racial justice. Since our founding in 1996, the Center has partnered with community members, courts, and the people most impacted to create stronger, healthier, more just communities. Our decades of experience in courts and communities, coupled with our field-leading research and practitioner expertise, help us drive justice nationwide in innovative, powerful, and durable ways. For more information on how and where we work, please visit www.innovatingjustice.org.  

The Center is a 900-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 Justice Center, 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. 

Center Support

A dedicated support team within the Center ensures the smooth functioning of operations across various domains, including finance, legal, technology, human resources, fundraising, real estate, and communications. Comprising 15% of the organization's staff, these teams provide essential infrastructure support and innovative solutions aligned with the Center's mission and values. 

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Bronx Community Justice Center (BxCJC), one of the Center's newest projects, works to create a safer, more equitable Bronx through community-driven safety initiatives, violence prevention, youth opportunity, and economic development efforts. 

The Bronx Community Justice Center is seeking multiple full-time Violence Interrupters for the Save Our Streets Bronx Program. Reporting to the Program Manager, Community Safety, the Violence Interrupter will work individually and as a team to prevent neighborhood shootings and killings. They provide conflict mediation services and serve as conduits to the program’s Outreach Workers.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Work to intervene in circumstances in which gun violence is likely, including possible retaliation;
• Identify youth who are at-risk for being involved in violent activities and assist them;
• 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 to experience 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, businesses, and community groups;
• Talk to residents in the area of Mott Haven or Morrisania, including public housing sites, about potential conflicts and assist in preventing them;
• Participate in organizing responses to shootings and increasing visibility when shootings/killings take place;
• Work with community partners to identify and diffuse “hot spots” for shootings and violence;
• Report to the S.O.S. Bronx Violence Interrupter Supervisor and Program Manager and keep them informed of all relevant community activities;
• Document all contacts with high-risk individuals;
• Document shootings and other acts of violence that are prevented;
• Respond to shootings in other communities, when necessary;
• Distribute public education materials to targeted audience;
• Distribute information about community events and important resources;
• Attend, participate and complete all program trainings;
• Attend and help facilitate community events and shooting responses;
• Attend weekly staff meetings and other team meetings, as required;
• Attend and participate in all S.O.S. Bronx and Center for Innovation trainings, meetings, workshops and conferences as required and assigned by supervisors;
• Facilitate workshops and make presentations at schools and secure detention centers a needed;
• Communicate with Supervisor and Team effectively;
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Individuals who are formerly incarcerated or have other experience in the criminal justice system are particularly invited to apply;
• Associates (or higher) in human services field or equivalent and satisfactory experience;
• An in-depth knowledge and familiarity of the South Bronx Mott Haven and Morrisania, with particular focus on Mott Haven: Adams, St. Mary’s, Moore and Betances Houses, Morrisania: Forest and McKinley is highly preferred;
• Reside within and are familiar with the South Bronx area preferred;
• Experience and knowledge of at-risk youth and gang involvement, with a commitment to stopping violence and working towards positive community change;
• Knowledge of street sets, crews, gangs and or groups;
• The ability to communicate with and build positive relationships with high-risk youth;
• Comfort managing a large number of diverse tasks;
• Able to walk 30 blocks or more on a regular basis;
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills;
• Able to pass drug screening.
• No current conflicts in the community that will hinder the job responsibilities from being carried out.
• The ability to use a computer and Microsoft Office required
• Strong team skills and ability to work in a fast paced environment.

Position Location: South Bronx, NY

Position Type: Full-Time - 35 hours/week. Evenings and weekend hours (MUST be able to work a flexible schedule of late nights, over-nights, holidays and weekends.)

Compensation: The compensation range for this position is $27.48 - $30.50 per hour based on a 35-hour work week 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. We are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace, and as such, we do 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 welcome 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. Our aim is to create a supportive and respectful environment where every individual, irrespective of their background or identity, feels valued and included.

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. Kindly refer to the job posting for the relevant contact information. If the contact details are not provided, we kindly ask that you refrain from making inquiries via phone or email, as only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

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