Upstate Re-entry Paid Intern
New York, NY
Part Time
Student (College)
About New York County Defender Services: NYCDS is a trial-level public defender office located in lower Manhattan. Since 1997, we have represented more than 500,000 New Yorkers accused of crimes in Manhattan’s Criminal and Supreme Courts. Our team provides superior legal advocacy and social work support for our clients while promoting systemic reforms to the criminal legal system.
Job Overview:
Job responsibilities:
Qualifications and Skills of Ideal Candidate:
Required:
Preferred:
Job Overview:
- Part-time internship (15-20 hours/week) for Spring Semester 2026, with opportunity for continuation based on funding
- Work with New York County Defender Services’ Upstate Re-entry Unit to assist Re-entry Social Workers in serving clients returning home to New York City after a period of incarceration.
- Hourly wage - $25/hr
- Transit Stipend
Job responsibilities:
- Assist with implementation of re-entry support plans, starting while clients are incarcerated and continuing post-release
- Provide service referrals to clients to address their re-entry needs, and coordinate with service providers to ensure successful connection to organizations; follow-up with clients and service providers to address any gaps
- Request records to support re-entry plan as needed (medical, mental health, programming, disciplinary, etc)
- Conduct research on re-entry resources in NYC area, and build working relationships with organizations in the community providing re-entry services
- Assist with re-entry tasks and additional responsibilities as needed
Qualifications and Skills of Ideal Candidate:
Required:
- Work 15-20 hours per week, including at least two days per week in our Manhattan office or in the community.
- Must have attained minimum of high school diploma or educational equivalent.
- Personal, family, or community experience with the criminal legal system; or
- Demonstrated interest in re-entry services and/or justice reform.
- Ability to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a multidisciplinary team of social workers and other advocates.
Preferred:
- Individuals with lived experience with the criminal legal system are highly encouraged to apply.
- Enrolled as a full-time or part-time student (community college, undergraduate or other adult students encouraged to apply).
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