When CJA first started the Supervised Release Program in 2009, its hard to imagine anyone could have predicted how successful it would grow to be. An alternative to pretrial detention that allows participants to stay in their community and access supportive services, Supervised Release now operates citywide and provides services to thousands of New Yorkers. Case Managers, Peers, and other staff at CJA's Queens Supervised Release (QSR) Program have served nearly 8,000 people in the borough since 2016, helping them to return to their court dates while working to address barriers to stability and health.
With its newest ground floor location in Kew Gardens, alongside another office on the third floor and others throughout Queens, the QSR staff will be able to offer even more accessible and comprehensive service to their participants. When describing their approach to the program, many staff at the new office use the phrase “meeting people where they are.” The clearest example of this can be seen in the office’s location directly across from the Queens Criminal Courthouse, newly assigned participants need only to cross the street to attend their initial meeting and ask any questions they may have.
“Having space on the first floor, just being able to see us and know that we’re here is so valuable,” said Clinical Supervisor Narisa Girdhari. “I was in court today when someone asked where we are, and I can tell them we’re right across the street and they can just look for the sign.” The new location also further solidifies the QSR Program’s connection to the borough and neighborhood partners. Peer Specialist Khalif Abdul-Ghaffar proudly explained “It stands out. It's letting people know we are here. We are here to help people. We are here to lower crime. We are here to be in the community.”
The new storefront office is accessible in more ways that just its location. While most court functions and offices close at 5pm, arraignment proceedings can go much longer into the night. The new ground floor location will allow QSR staff to assist individuals immediately when they're assigned to the program no matter the time of day.
“We know that the court operates late, is open on weekends, and the participants are being released all the way up to one o'clock in the morning,” Program Associate Manilla Piverger said. “This space provides them with a comfortable clean space where they can express their needs, and we can find a way to meet those needs.” Having a community-based team who are willing to work flexible hours is also critical for ongoing participants who, because of work or familial obligations, may not be able to make appointments during the work day. “We have participants who work long hours and unpredictable schedules. Someone in construction or HVAC might work until 6 or 9 PM. People might be driving between different boroughs. So every week we'll try to figure out a time where we can meet” said Narisa.
Though the Supervised Release Program initially served people charged with non-violent offenses or misdemeanors, in recent years the courts have assigned more people with higher level charges to the program. These participants are more likely to be grappling with pressing issues surrounding mental health, housing, and employment, and may have a history of involvement with the criminal legal system. QSR staff often address the needs of these participants by referring them to partner organizations and services around the city that can help. Recently CJA has begun hiring in-house specialists that have been trained to focus on very specific needs, such as housing. One of our specialist lines is also responsible for creating an individualized treatment plan for the individual that can lead to a continuum of care even after they are no longer with the Supervised Release program.
Tanaya Richardson serves as a Client Care Coordinator, a newly created role that provides participants with “whatever they're looking for,” as she puts it. “Maybe they're trying to find a babysitting service for their kid so they can come to court. A participant is trying to figure out their healthcare benefits or immigration status. These things take time to research that the Case Managers don’t always have so that’s where I step in.”
Although the newest QSR office is easier to access, some people are still unable to make their appointments because of logistical hurdles or emotional reservations. Oftentimes this leads staff to embrace “meeting people where they are” more literally.
“We have participants that are homeless and not always in the space of mind to meet in an office. It’s stigmatized. They may feel dirty or embarrassed, even though we would never judge someone in that position, they still don’t want to come here,” Narisa recounted. “So we find a place and meet them where they’re comfortable. We’ll meet over breakfast or in the park. We’ll say ‘Ok, let's make a plan... how will we make our court dates, how can we apply for housing vouchers' and go from there.”
This personal, deeper form of outreach is meant to support a subset of people that too often slip through the cracks of traditional social services and find themselves continuously cycling through a legal system that fails to address their deep-seated issues. QSR staff hope that with more individualized service, these participants can find lasting stability. “We’re filling these gaps and building bridges that we couldn’t before, and I think that is where our presence in the community really makes a difference,” said Narisa.
Khalif expressed the gratification this type of work can bring, and what it can mean to participants. “I like meeting people out there because it helps them to know that someone cares, that we know everybody can't make it here if your housing or transportation is messed up. It feels good that we got a home base, but we can also come to you, and support you, and get you on the right track.”
While the new storefront office space offers a convenient place to see program participants, staff say it’s just one component of a more comprehensive and innovative approach to Supervised Release as a whole.
“When we talk about meeting people where they’re at, it doesn't just mean location,” said Peer Coordinator Theron “Gee” Smith. “We’re talking about being sincere. We’re talking about building trust. Because if that’s not there, then everybody's alarm goes off. They’ll think ‘You don't care about me, you think I’m just a number.’ That’s why we create personal treatment plans. That’s why we use trauma-informed language… We’re fortunate to have this team with peers, case managers, clinicians, specialists, [who] all work together. We all help that participant in some way, shape, fashion and form because everybody within this team brings their own experience and expertise in certain things.”