Queens Supervised Release

CJA's Queens Supervised Release Program (QSR) was founded in 2009 and has provided support to Queens residents in over 22,000 cases through this innovative alternative to bail or detainment. Clients referred to QSR meet regularly with a trained case manager who offers referrals to supportive services, including housing, health care, employment, and more to ensure their appearance at court and resolve barriers to lasting stability.

On This Page

  • Who We Are

    Supervised Release supports people in their communities and encourages court appearance by providing individualized, empowering support to our clients.

  • Peer Specialists

    Peer Specialists are certified practitioners who have successfully overcome obstacles such as mental health diagnoses, addiction, involvement with the criminal justice system, and more.

  • Community Partnerships

    QSR staff build bridges between participants, CJA, and the community-based organizations that can assist them in their time of need.

Our Model

  • Individualized

    Our Case Mangers provide each client with a personalized plan that fits their needs. Many of them specialize in working with unique groups such as youth clients.

  • Cooperative

    We recognize the impact of strong relationships and support our clients, their families, and friends, in building lasting support systems.

  • Considerate

    Our staff understand the stress that a court case can bring. We strive to bring compassion and care to our work, and form an open dialogue with each client.

Who We Are

  • QSR staff identify new participants, provide orientation, conduct a needs assessment, and refer them to voluntary services. The program also communicates regularly with the court on the participant's progress and compliance.

    CJA’s SR staff consists of highly trained clinicians and peer specialists who are accurately assessing participant needs, engaging deeply with participants, and working with them to set goals to meet their identified needs. Currently, QSR Case Managers connect highest-need participants to Peer Specialists, including those that have indicated mental health, substance use, or housing concerns.

Staff Stories

Peer Specialists

  • Peer Specialists are certified practitioners who have overcome various personal obstacles, such as mental health diagnoses, addiction, involvement with the criminal justice system, and more. They offer person-centered and goal-oriented services to complement the work of case managers and other service providers. CJA’s Peer Services are available to participants in the Queens Supervised Release Program on a voluntary basis, and served nearly 400 clients in 2023.

    By utilizing their unique skills and lived experiences, Peer Specialists are able to offer supervised release participants the support and guidance they need to avoid re-arrest, and to ensure that they continue on their path towards success from a person-centered, recovery-oriented, and trauma-informed perspective.

Community Partnerships

  • CJA has strong relationships with judges, court personnel, clients' legal counsel, and resource providers. These connections are critical to the program's success as CJA strives to fulfill the needs of its community and court partners.

    In recent years, housing instability and street homelessness have been on the rise. In response, our case managers have formed partnerships with community-based organizations like Breaking Ground to provide support services to those in need. Breaking Ground offers street outreach, transitional and permanent housing, benefits assistance, medical and mental health care, substance use referrals, skills-building, and employment services to help those experiencing homelessness achieve permanent housing stability.