irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $150KTHE LEGAL HAND PROGRAM IS A call-in center (Legal Hand) serving Schenectady and Albany Counties provides free legal information and referrals for civil legal issues to everyone, with no barriers of any kind to receiving service.
- #2 $94KTHE COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATES PROGRAM (CASA)WORKS WITH CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TO ENSURE POSITIVE OUTCOMES. CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR AFFECTS THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY AND THERE ARE FEW INDIVIDUALS MORE VULNERABLE THAN THE CHILDREN OF VICTIMS AND OFFENDERS. THE CASA PROGRAM GIVES ABUSED AND NEGLECTED CHILDREN IN SCHENECTADY, ALBANY AND RENSSELAER COUNTIES A "VOICE IN COURT" SPECIFICALLY TRAINED VOLUNTEER ADVOCATES WORK WITH THE FAMILY COURT SYSTEM TO PROTECT THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE CHILDREN, AND HELP CHILDREN ACHIEVE PERMANENT AND SAFE HOMES AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates)
Trained volunteers advocate for the best interests of abused and neglected children in family court, serving Schenectady, Albany, and Rensselaer Counties.
Community Service Program
Alternative to incarceration program connecting court-mandated individuals with community service opportunities at nonprofits, government agencies, and shelters.
Legal Hand
Call-in center providing free civil legal information and referrals to residents in the Capital Region, with no barriers to access.
Notary Public Services
Free notarial services offered to the public at the CCJ office in Schenectady.
Schenectady County Reentry Task Force (SCRTF)
Provides reentry services including case management, cognitive behavioral therapy, workforce development (via Ready Set Work!), and assistance with housing, mental health, and legal issues for formerly incarcerated individuals.
activities · 7 groups
What they do
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Reentry Support Services 1 activity
- Facilitating court-ordered community service placementsOperates a community service program that places individuals fulfilling court-ordered service hours at government, nonprofit, and business worksites across Schenectady and Montgomery Counties.
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Family and Juvenile Legal Defense 1 activity
- Operating a CASA program for abused and neglected childrenTrained volunteer advocates represent the best interests of abused and neglected children in family court in Schenectady, Albany, and Rensselaer Counties, helping thousands of children in the Capital Region achieve better outcomes through court advocacy.
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Restorative Justice and Peer Mediation Programs 1 activity
- Operating a Community Accountability Board using restorative justice practicesEngages volunteers in restorative justice practices through a Community Accountability Board that provides community-based remedies promoting peaceful resolutions, accountability, and justice.
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Pro Bono Legal Representation and Support 1 activity
- Providing free legal information and referral servicesOperates a call-in center offering free legal information, referrals, and remote assistance via phone, text, email, and Zoom to residents in 11 counties of New York's Capital Region on issues including housing, employment, family, immigration, domestic violence, and public benefits.
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Notary and Document Services 1 activity
- Providing free notary public servicesOffers free notary public services to the community.
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Comprehensive Care Management Services 1 activity
- Providing reentry services for individuals returning from incarcerationProvides case planning, case management, cognitive behavioral interventions, workforce development, and support connecting individuals to mental health, substance abuse, legal, and housing services for approximately 150 individuals per year; also participates in the Coordinated Entry system to assist with homeless placement.
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Volunteer and Professional Training Programs 1 activity
- Training CASA volunteersProvides 30 hours of training and 6 hours of courtroom observation for CASA volunteers prior to case assignment.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$523K
Contributions & grants$504K96%
Program service revenue$3K1%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$15K
expenses
Total expenses$516K
Program expenses89%
Admin / overhead11%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$362K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$275K
Cash$3K
Investments$0
Liabilities$194K
Net assets$80K
Liquid reserves0.1 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +14.0%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHERYL VALLEE | Executive Dir. | 40 | $79K |
board members · 8
- ANDREW HEALEY ESQ — President
- DANIEL BECK — Director
- DC DUNKEL — Director
- DR CHARLETTA L ROBINSON — Director
- ELLEN WERTLIEB PhD — Secretary
- JOSEPH Di CAPRIO — Treasurer
- JOSEPH MANCINI — Director
- NATIFA R WALTERS — Director
relationships · 28
Who they work with
- CASA Partner — Collaborates with CASA to support children and families through advocacy and community engagement.
- CASA Partner — Partner organization collaborating with CCJ on community services.
- Daily Gazette Partner — Media partner that published an article about James Murphy, a key figure associated with CCJ.
- Family Court Judges Government — Appoints CASA volunteers to cases and relies on their input to make decisions about children's best interests.
- Family Court System Partner — Collaborates with the family court system to place trained volunteer advocates who represent the best interests of abused and neglected children.
- First Reformed Church Partner — Community partner supporting CCJ's mission and programs.
- Girls and Boys Club Partner — Hosts community service placements for CCJ clients.
- Home Depot Partner — Employer partner providing job opportunities for individuals in reentry
- Legal Hand Network — Member organization of the Legal Hand network providing localized services in the Capital Region.
- Legal Hand, Inc. Partner — Partner organization collaborating with the Center for Community Justice to provide a call-in based legal information service.
- Market 32/Price Chopper Partner — Retail partner supporting CCJ through sponsorship or community initiatives.
- NY Bar Foundation Funder — Funder supporting CCJ's legal and community justice initiatives.
- New York Legal Assistance Group Partner — Provides attorneys to facilitate legal assistance workshops in collaboration with The Center for Community Justice.
- New York State Department of State Government — Follows notary public regulations as defined by New York State Notary Public License Law.
- Price Chopper Partner — Employer partner providing job opportunities for individuals in reentry
- SCAP Partner — Agency partner collaborating on reentry services
- SICM (Schenectady Inner City Ministry) Partner — Hosts community service placements for CCJ clients at its food pantry.
- SUNY Schenectady County Community College Partner — Collaborates with CCJ in work related to supporting ex-offenders and re-entry programming.
- Schenectady County Recycling Facility Partner — Hosts community service placements for CCJ clients.
- Schenectady Foundation Funder — Local foundation providing funding to support CCJ's work.
- Schenectady Municipal Housing Authority Partner — Hosts community service placements for CCJ clients.
- Schenectady Probation Partner — Agency partner collaborating on reentry services
- Schoharie County Animal Shelter Partner — Hosts community service placements for CCJ clients.
- Stewarts Partner — Corporate sponsor supporting CCJ's programs and services.
- The Community Foundation Funder — Funder supporting CCJ's programs and operations.
- United Way Funder — Funder providing financial support to CCJ.
- Vale Cemetery Partner — Hosts community service placements for CCJ clients.
- Virginia Association of Criminal Justice Educators Partner — Sponsor of community programs and events hosted by The Center for Community Justice.
strategies · 5
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Cognitive Behavioral Interventions for Behavior Changemethodology: cognitive_behavioral_interventionBy applying evidence-based cognitive behavioral therapies such as Moral Reconation Therapy, the organization addresses criminogenic thinking patterns, because structured behavioral interventions reduce recidivism by fostering self-awareness and prosocial decision-making.
- Collaborative Community Re-Entry and Stakeholder Engagementmethodology: community_stakeholder_collaborationBy convening community stakeholders through initiatives like the Re-Entry Task Force, the organization supports successful reintegration of formerly incarcerated individuals, because coordinated, cross-sector collaboration addresses systemic barriers and strengthens community ties.
- Early Intervention Legal Support via Remote Accessmethodology: early-intervention legal supportBy delivering legal information and referrals through remote channels and trained non-lawyer volunteers, the organization prevents civil issues from escalating into formal legal proceedings, because early, accessible intervention reduces systemic entanglement and empowers individuals to resolve disputes proactively.
- Restorative Justice and Community-Based Remediesmethodology: restorative_justiceBy applying restorative justice principles and community-based remedies, the organization achieves peaceful resolutions and accountability, because involving affected community members in justice processes fosters healing and reduces reliance on punitive systems.
- Volunteer-Based Child Advocacy Modelmethodology: volunteer_based_child_advocacyBy deploying trained volunteer advocates to conduct individualized assessments and represent children in family court, the organization secures safer and more permanent placements faster, because lived experience and dedicated one-on-one advocacy lead to more informed judicial decisions and improved child outcomes.