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About the Role

The Court Based Peer Navigator provides court-to-community navigation and peer support for participants in the Queens Supervised Release Program at Queens Criminal Court. This role engages participants, completes needs screenings, offers court navigation support, and connects participants to community-based resources. The position is newly created and offers an opportunity to help shape peer navigation practices.

Responsibilities

Meet and support QSRP participants at key court touchpoints immediately after arraignment and throughout their continued appearances.
Use lived experience to connect authentically with QSRP participants, building rapport and offering practical and emotional support.
Use a strengths-based, person-centered approach to assess participant needs, including housing, mental health, substance use, benefits, and transportation.
Help participants understand court requirements and collaborate on realistic, barrier-reducing plans.
Work closely with QSRP court and case management staff to coordinate on participant needs and ensure smooth handoffs.
Connect participants to vetted community-based services using warm handoffs.
Check in with individuals and providers to strengthen engagement and ensure continuity of relationships and support.
Maintain accurate records of participant interactions, referrals, and outcomes, preparing reports as needed.
Attempt engagement during arraignment with active QSRP participants who were rearrested.
Complete rapid triage, initiate warm handoffs, and establish a confirmed follow-up plan for rearrested participants.
Complete warm handoffs to community-based resources and court-based navigation partners.
Support rapid housing and treatment placement pathways by coordinating eligibility steps, document checklists, and intake scheduling.
Provide participants with clear written next steps.
Conduct proactive check-ins with participants to help them navigate new connections and stay engaged with their goals.
Use lived experience to help participants feel prepared and supported through practical steps.
Document all engagements, identified needs, referrals made, warm handoffs, follow-up plans, and outcomes in approved systems.
Participate in team huddles and case conferencing to improve workflows and partner pathways.

Requirements

NYS Peer credential required (OMH Certified Peer Specialist and/or OASAS Certified Recovery Peer Advocate).
Minimum of 2 years of hands-on experience navigating courts and/or supporting individuals with criminal legal involvement.
Lived experience of the criminal legal system (including arrest, detention, or supervision), mental health challenges, housing instability and/or substance use and recovery.
Experience providing peer support/navigation in behavioral health and/or criminal legal settings (court-based experience preferred).
Effective and strong communication skills.
Comfort operating in courthouse environments and with court partners and multi-stakeholder teams.
Strong boundaries, confidentiality discipline, trauma and crisis-informed judgment.
Able to work collaboratively and in a fast-paced environment.
Excellent time and work management skills.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office/Teams and comfort entering notes in a database system.
Familiarity with Pretrial/Supervised Release, Alternative to Detention (ATD), Alternative to Incarceration (ATI) or other court advocacy program models.
Working knowledge of community-based treatment programs and other support services and resources.
Ability to maintain professional boundaries and confidentiality.
Willingness to work evening and weekend hours.
Willingness to travel via public transportation to support participants.
Must be able to assume responsibilities on-site.
Internal applicants must be at least 1 year in their current role and in good standing.

Skills

Peer support
Court navigation
Needs assessment
System navigation
Team collaboration
Resource connection
Follow-up and encouragement
Record-keeping
Reporting
Communication skills
Collaboration
Time management
Work management
Microsoft Office/Teams proficiency
Database entry

Location

Kew Gardens/Queens Criminal Court

Work Type

On-site
Full-time

Experience Level

Minimum of 2 years of hands-on experience navigating courts and/or supporting individuals with criminal legal involvement.

Education Level

NYS Peer credential required (OMH Certified Peer Specialist and/or OASAS Certified Recovery Peer Advocate).

Salary/Compensations

$70,000

Benefits

Health insurance
Dental insurance
Vision insurance
Comprehensive mental health and wellness (EAP) plan
Four weeks’ vacation
Paid holidays
Retirement plan with employer matching contributions
Professional learning and development opportunities
Web-based professional development training
In-person professional development training
In-house job training and development
Reflective supervision
Peer consultation
Wellness resources

About the Company

The New York City Criminal Justice Agency (CJA) is a not-for-profit service and research organization that operates in partnership with the New York City Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice.
CJA is the City’s main pretrial services agency, combining operations, pilot projects, and research under one roof.
CJA utilizes procedural justice practices to provide pretrial services to over 100,000 persons arrested annually in New York City.
Information collected about arrestees and subsequent case processing is maintained in the agency’s internal and externally shared database systems.
These systems are used to conduct descriptive and evaluation research on arrestee characteristics, case processing, and court outcomes, and on issues and potential reforms to criminal justice policy in New York City.
CJA’s programs operate in the criminal courts and detention facilities 24 hours a day, seven days a week within the 5 boroughs of NYC, employing over 300 employees, citywide.
CJA is committed to supporting the well-being of peer staff.
CJA is committed to being active partners in criminal justice reform through initiatives and creative problem-solving that evaluate different methods and strategies for alternatives to detention.
CJA is guided by fairness and the presumption of innocence for those who are detained and works with integrity and without bias to protect the privacy and interest of court-involved people and their families.
CJA values curiosity as a driving force to lead the way in pretrial services.
CJA uses innovative techniques in research, pilot programs, and engaging justice-involved communities to execute its mission of reducing unnecessary pretrial detention.

Equal Opportunity

The New York City Criminal Justice Agency is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
CJA is committed to creating a diverse work environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.
We do not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, disability, parental status, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable laws.
We encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply.