Our BCS Community is Growing! Meet Our Newest Staff Members
Caroline Yang, Summer Intern
Caroline Yang is a
summer intern who who is looking forward to helping out in a variety of
departments at BCS. She is currently working towards an undergraduate degree in
sociology at the University of Edinburgh and is interested in pursuing a career in criminal justice reform.
She has previously worked at the Manhattan DA's office as a summer intern and
at the American Museum of Natural History as a research assistant.
Vivian Martinez, SRP Intake Specialist
Vivian Martinez is an
intake specialist at Bronx Community Solutions where she plays a key role in
assessing participants’ social service needs as well as scheduling appointments
for community based Service. She also assists the DWI initiative as the
secondary point person for all DWI/DUI operations, which includes provider outreach,
creating court reporting documentation, database tracking and general troubleshooting for DWI issues. She is well-versed in the changing landscape of VTL law and OASAS regulations. Ms. Martinez has recently graduated with a Bachelors
in Applied Science in Criminal Justice from Monroe College.
Kevin Kleinknecht, Sr. Court Representative, CIRT
As the Senior Court Liaison for Bronx CIRT, Kevin Kleinknecht advocates for the legal rights of defendants facing mental illness and provides psychoeducation to court staff. While pursuing his master's degree, he interned with the Bronx Community Solutions clinical department and brings this experience to the courtroom. Mr. Kleinknecht has a diverse history in social services having worked in substance abuse treatment, foster care, and outpatient mental health. He enjoys biking and seeing live music on the weekends. He holds a B.S. in psychology and literature from Florida State University, and an MSW from the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College.
Jonathan Paez-Lopez, Court Liaison, SRP
Jonathan Paez-Lopez is
currently a Court Liaison for the Supervised Release Program at Bronx Community
Solutions. The program monitors non-violent felony and misdemeanor cases and
serves as an alternative to bail. Jonathan obtained his Bachelors of Science at
SUNY Buffalo State college majoring in Criminal Justice. Jonathan previously
worked as a case manager for the Youth Services Program at the Center for
Community Alternatives, where he provided direct case management and counseling
for court mandated youth.
Jocelyn Jimenez, Court Liaison, SRP
Jocelyn Jimenez is
currently a Court Liaison for the Supervised Release Program at Bronx Community
Solutions. The program monitors non-violent felony and misdemeanor cases and
serves as an alternative to bail. Jocelyn obtained her Bachelors of Science at
George Mason University majoring in Criminology with a minor in Psychology.
Jocelyn successfully completed internships with Bronx Treatment Court and Bronx
Community Solutions where she demonstrated her passion for reforming and
helping the diverse community the programs serve.
Wanda Garcia, Behavioral Health Supervisor, SRP
Wanda Garcia has previously worked as a forensic social worker providing mental health services to
incarcerated individuals with serious and persistent mental illness at the Erie
County Correctional Facility, and facilitating group therapy for individuals
incarcerated for sexual offenses. She also has previous experience working with
children and families in preventive services programs in the Bronx and Buffalo,
NY. Wanda earned her Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice from John Jay College and
a Master’s in social work from Stony Brook University. She is currently
pursuing a PhD in sociology with concentrations in Criminology and Race and
Racism at the University at Buffalo. Her research interests include the
transition to adulthood for young adults ages 18-24 from low socioeconomic
communities.
Comments