Prison Advocacy Specialist
New York, NY
Full Time
Mid Level
Position Summary: NYCDS seeks to hire a Prison Advocacy Specialist to support the Reentry Team with matters pertaining to client welfare and continuity of care while clients are incarcerated in prison. The Prison Advocacy Specialist will help improve conditions of confinement for clients incarcerated in prison.
A resume and cover letter are required in order to be considered for the position.
Job responsibilities include but are not limited to:
Qualifications and Skills of Ideal Candidate:
Required:
Preferred:
60,0000-70,000
A resume and cover letter are required in order to be considered for the position.
Job responsibilities include but are not limited to:
- Create Client Transition Support Plans for clients sentenced to serve prison time.
- Relay client-specific needs to DOCCS to ensure continuity of care during incarceration; advocate on behalf of clients to DOCCS staff.
- Conduct wellness checks with clients in upstate prisons
- Address issues of confinement related to health, safety, and wellness concerns in upstate prisons
- Assist clients in remaining connected with the social support system while they’re incarcerated
- Address issues around programming and disciplinary infractions in upstate prisons
- Request records (medical, mental health, programming, disciplinary, etc.)
- Requesting documents (sentencing minutes, archived legal files, parole documents, etc.)
- Resolve issues leftover from legal cases (surcharges, time calculations, warrants, etc.)
- Utilize professional development opportunities
- Complete documentation and data input in a timely manner
- Assist with advocacy tasks and additional responsibilities as needed
Qualifications and Skills of Ideal Candidate:
Required:
- Relevant experience in justice reform or a related field, including but not limited to reentry support, social work, public defense, community organizing, policy reform, case management, ethnic studies, or communications.
- Ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds using a cultural humility framework
- Familiarity with the impact of legal system involvement on marginalized communities
- Exceptional attention to detail and problem-solving skills
- Excellent written and verbal communication and advocacy skills
- Strong organizational/time-management skills
- Ability to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a multidisciplinary team of social workers and peer advocates
Preferred:
- Bachelor’s degree
- Proficiency in MS Office (especially MS Word and MS Excel)
- Available for the duration of the grant program
60,0000-70,000
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