Pretrial Associate

About the Position

Pretrial Associates (PTAs) are integral to the work we do in the courts and Central Booking. With staff working 24/7 in each of the city's centralized courthouses, CJA interviews nearly all individuals held in custody before they see a judge and makes a release recommendation to the court. We assist people who have been arrested, as well as their families, in navigating the bail payment process to facilitate their release from court before admission to DOC facilities.

Primary Responsibilities

Client/Customer Service & Communications:

Thoroughly and compassionately interviews recently arrested individuals in Central Booking locations in all boroughs to determine community ties. The information gathered plays a major role in the CJA’s recommendation to release them without bail.
Conducts telephone verifications of the information the individuals provide, such as address, employment, possible sureties, and other factors which play an important role in the individual's opportunity to receive a recommendation for Release on Recognizance (ROR).
Explain bail payment procedures and assist sureties with the bail payment process.

Attention to Detail & Organization:

Accurately record the interview responses into the Agency’s computerized database.
Determine release recommendation for individuals using CJA’s standardized release assessment, which combines criminal history factors and community ties information.
Observe and monitor arraignment outcomes and assist individuals who have bail imposed.
Participate in various interdepartmental programs, such as Bail Expediting Program, which involves identifying eligible cases and making follow up phone calls to their sureties to expedite bail payment at the courts, rather than at DOC facilities.

Teamwork & Relationship Building

Interact respectfully with other agencies and court players, such as NYPD, DOC, NYS Court Officers, Supervised Release programs, Court Clerks, and Legal Aid to effectively facilitate court procedures and represent CJA in a professional manner.
Contribute to and work on various innovative pilot programs implemented in the boroughs and suggest potential improvements.

Qualifications

One year of relevant work experience is required. Candidates with at least two years of comparable experience may also be considered. All majors are welcome to apply, with preference given to criminal justice and related social science fields. An associate degree from an accredited college is preferred.

Required Skills

Strong verbal and written communication skills
Computer literacy, to include Microsoft applications and ability to quickly adapt to changing technology
Preferred Skills: Multilingual candidates are highly encouraged to apply (please list any fluent languages in your application)

This opportunity is ideal for an individual who has recently graduated from college or has commensurate experience.

SALARY: $54,116 + $4,329 night differential

The available shifts are as follows:

Evening Shift: 3PM-11PM

**Please note this role may require weekend shifts.

Note: This role is 100% in person

*Internal applicants must be 1 year in their current roles and in good standing (no disciplinary action within the last 90 days) to apply.

CJA VALUES

Each employee at CJA is guided by these values in our work:

Commitment: We are committed to being active partners in criminal justice reform through initiatives and creative problem-solving that evaluates different methods and strategies for alternatives to detention.
Fairness: We are guided by fairness and the presumption of innocence for those who are detained and work with integrity and without bias to protect the privacy and interest of court-involved people and their families.

Innovation: We value curiosity as a driving force to lead the way in pretrial services. We use innovative techniques in research, pilot programs, and engaging justice-involved communities to execute our mission of reducing unnecessary pretrial detention.