Reentry Specialist

About For The People

For The People (FTP) works with prosecutors, system leaders, and community members to reduce the number of people serving excessive sentences. We lead the implementation of Prosecutor-Initiated Resentencing, a law that allows prosecuting agencies to reevaluate past sentences and facilitate prison release where further confinement is not in the interest of justice. We work with elected prosecutors to reevaluate past sentences, and where it can be shown that a current sentence is no longer in the interest of justice, we support the prosecuting agencies through the resentencing and prison release process.

We support prosecution offices in advancing PIR legislative efforts; launching Resentencing Units; providing training and technical assistance during onboarding and implementation; and forging partnerships with community leaders and reentry providers. We also support incarcerated people, their loved ones, and community-based organizations in preparing requests for resentencing and guidance on best practices on how to humanize stories for law enforcement audiences. We are working to support prosecuting agencies in jurisdictions across the country to enact and implement resentencing policies and forging community partnerships to strengthen community trust. For more information, please visit www.fortheppl.org.

About the Position

The Reentry Specialist reports to the Managing Attorney and supports reentry and reunification planning for incarcerated people who are returning home. The Reentry Specialist will passionately and proactively explore and identify ways that candidates can strengthen reentry plans to demonstrate good cause for release. The Reentry Specialist will support formerly incarcerated persons as they reenter their communities assisting them to connect with resources that support their reentry success. The Reentry Specialist will build and maintain a library of reliable reentry resources in each of the states where we support formerly incarcerated persons. The Reentry Specialist will demonstrate strong critical thinking, excellent judgment, attention to detail, and the ability to foster and maintain relationships with formerly incarcerated persons, prison officials, prosecutors, defense attorneys, members of the legal community, community leaders, families and reentry providers. The Reentry Specialist will identify and potentially implement additional services and resources that support successful reentry and reunification.

This position offers a unique opportunity to be a part of a collaborative team that is focused on achieving major improvements in areas such as changing the culture in DA offices, reducing the number of people involved in our juvenile and adult criminal justice system, providing meaningful opportunities for success for those rejoining our communities, and improving justice outcomes.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the FTP Legal Team, criminal justice stakeholders (e.g. prosecutors, public defenders, social workers, probation/parole), and support networks to assist in coordinating the safe release of incarcerated people.
• Provide pre-release assistance and consultation involving reentry planning to the Legal Team, as needed.
• Communicate frequently with the Legal Team to identify and anticipate case needs and participate in Legal Team meetings, activities, and engagements.
• Provide extensive outreach and support to formerly incarcerated people who have been released through PIR or other resentencing mechanisms to ensure a smooth transition back into the community.
• Create and facilitate cohorts of formerly incarcerated individuals, fostering an environment where they can collaborate, mentor and support each other through shared experiences.
• Exercise and utilize clinical skills, techniques, assessment, and judgment throughout engagement and outreach to released people, such as crisis intervention, de-escalation, motivational interviewing, and active listening.
• Identify the priority level of cases and effectively and efficiently communicate with the FTP team, especially the Managing Attorney and Executive Leadership, to ensure that pertinent information is shared and addressed.
• Connect formerly incarcerated people, families and support networks with public and private resources, guides, templates, and other materials to assist with their return to the community.
• Implement strategies to identify and overcome challenges related to employment, housing, legal issues, mental health, medical care, substance abuse, and social stigma.
• Assist the FTP Communications Team with ethical storytelling and media efforts that involve the amplification of formerly incarcerated people’s voices, such as providing contact information, gauging interest and comfortability, and supporting connections between parties.
• Survey and identify reentry resources, as well as needs for enhanced reentry support.
• Develop local, statewide, and national resource guides for reentry services.
• Create, manage, and maintain timely, robust, and accurate electronic records, documentation, and case notes related to all reentry efforts.
• Develop, implement, and utilize necessary databases, systems, applications, tools, and templates for efficient and effective management of information and documentation.
• Work collaboratively with and support community-based organizations in developing systems of efficient and effective reentry support services, including by providing training and guidance for onboarding and forging partnerships with criminal justice officials.
• Maintain copious and contemporaneous notes and other required documentation capturing communications with incarcerated people, formerly incarcerated people, support persons, reentry service providers, defense counsel, social workers, and community-based organizations.
• Whenever possible, attend the release of incarcerated persons and provide support to them and their support network.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• A driving passion for FTP’s mission to reduce the number of people serving excessive sentences across the nation, end institutional racism, and restore human dignity to the incarcerated, formerly incarcerated, and all who are impacted by the criminal justice system.
• A Bachelor’s Degree in social work, criminal justice, psychology, sociology, human services, counseling, or social services from an accredited undergraduate program.
• Certification as a case manager, reentry specialist, mental health counselor, or substance abuse counselor is preferred.
• 5+ years of experience as a caseworker, reentry specialist or related work.
• Deep understanding of social casework principles and practices, including group work and community organization.
• Possess knowledge of social work clinical skills and assessment as well as the ability to implement such techniques and judgment into practice.
• Excellent time management practices, organizational, analytical, critical thinking, writing, editing, and verbal communication skills.
• Self-starter with a strong work ethic and ability to take initiative while working on a high volume of cases in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate and interview effectively and inclusively with persons from a variety of social, cultural and economic backgrounds and in a wide variety of circumstances and maintain composure and professionalism under stressful situations.
• A proven track record of exhibiting sound judgment, particularly in critical and stressful situations.
• A demonstrated willingness to advocate for justice-impacted people in order to amplify voices, identify gaps, and provide solutions.
• Effective case management and crisis resolution skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a team environment with a diverse group of individuals in a culturally competent manner, across a wide range of sectors, lifestyles, and attitudes. Desire, capacity, and willingness to coach/support/mentor others.
• Strong attention to detail, excellent organizational skills, and the ability to plan and manage multiple parallel projects and competing priorities.
• Ability to adapt to the changing needs of the organization, which may require performing and supporting other tasks and projects of the organization and adjusting schedules to enable attending evening or weekend events and/or offsite meetings, as well as rapid response to communications needs.
• A strong working proficiency in Salesforce, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Google Docs, and Box or equivalents.

Location

This is a hybrid position requiring a minimum of 2 days a week in our Oakland, CA office.

Benefits

• Salary commensurate with experience; salary range $75K - $85K.
• 100%-paid benefits package for the employee, including medical, dental, vision, disability, life insurance, holidays and paid time off
• 25 paid hours for professional development/coaching
• Option to enroll in our 403(b) retirement plan

How To Apply

The Reentry Specialist position will be open until filled. Interested applicants should submit the information below to our portal at: https://fortheppl.bamboohr.com/jobs/

1. Resume;
2. Cover letter, explaining your interest, key qualifications, and your compensation requirements; and
3. Three (3) references for people familiar with your qualifications.

Diversity, Inclusion, Justice and Equity Statement

FTP works every day to serve justice and that begins with our team. We are inclusive. We celebrate multiple approaches and points of view. We believe diversity drives creativity, understanding, and effectiveness, so we are continuing to build a culture where difference is not only valued but sought after. We strive to create a team that reflects the communities we serve and where everyone feels empowered to bring their full authentic selves to work.

Request for Accommodations

If you require accommodations to review and/or apply for this position please contact For The People at info@fortheppl.org and appropriate accommodations will be provided.

Candidates must be eligible to work in the United States to be considered for this role.

For The People is an Equal Opportunity Employer and wants our staff to reflect the communities we serve. We strongly encourage applications from all qualified individuals, including formerly incarcerated and/or system-involved individuals. We look at each applicant’s full experience and consider each applicant. We encourage people from all backgrounds and experiences to apply. Individuals with lived experience of the criminal justice system and its impacts are strongly encouraged to apply.