In 2024, The Fortune Society and the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office partnered to station court-based navigators at Manhattan Criminal Court, offering immediate support to people returning home from jail. These navigators attend arraignments, provide essential services such as food and clothing, and assist clients seeking housing and other long-term support at Fortune.    

Although the program was launched just over a year ago, court-based navigators quickly became an invaluable resource for those returning home. Staff members Luis and Tanell from the Court Navigators program described the value of this partnership and the impact observed in a short time.

Luis, the Day Peer Navigator Supervisor, has worked as a court-based navigator since the program’s creation in early 2023, providing critical support for many clients on a daily basis. He emphasized the importance of serving people without judgment, regardless of the situation they arrive in.

“We work with participants or clients who come out of arraignments,” Luis explained. “It doesn’t matter what their charge is. We don’t judge, but we offer them all wraparound services. Housing, food, transportation, employment, education, mental health, and so on and so forth. This is a great benefit for people, but there are a lot of individuals who don’t even know that these services exist.

Each day, a number of clients visit the court-based navigator’s office for assistance, including picking up hygiene kits, clothing, food, or simply seeking emotional support. Tanell, another court-based navigator, explained that participants have come to rely on these essential services while they transition home from jail. 

Alongside immediate services, the court-based navigators offer continued support for clients who connect with Fortune for further support. Luis and Tanell explained that housing, substance use treatment and mental health services are among the most sought-after services for individuals seeking their support.  

“We work closely with the Housing department at Fortune,” Tanell explained. “The court-based navigators do housing assessments and break everything down for the Housing team. During assessments, we see if the clients have any mental health concerns, if they are using any substances, and any other information to make sure we connect them to the services they need.” 

Luis and Tanell work closely with participants from their first connection with the Court Navigators program until they are no longer needed. They both conduct regular check-ins with participants who attend Fortune programming, and many of the people they work with come back to their office at the courthouse for assistance. 

“Sometimes they call us with questions, so they will stop by to speak with us,” Luis said. “They may need something from us if they are back at the courthouse for a court case, and we show up to those court dates when we are needed. It’s an active relationship.”  

The impact of court-based navigators grows more evident each day. By meeting people where they are and addressing their immediate and long-term needs, navigators like Luis and Tanell are helping to build a stable foundation for those returning home from jail.