The Social Justice Services Department encompasses the adult and youth programs of Community Resources for Justice (CRJ). We firmly believe that justice applies to every aspect of society, and not solely to the administration of laws. The Social Justice Services Department is committed to full and equal opportunities for all individuals in society, regardless of their past behaviors or circumstances. The Department includes residential and community-based programs which focus on the specific and unique needs of our clients, while also emphasizing public safety. We partner with social service agencies and the community to provide the best services possible, and are dedicated to having a positive impact on the clients in our care and on the neighborhoods in which we are located. The adult components focus on reentry programming for men and women involved with county, state and federal criminal justice systems. The youth components focus on structured and goal-oriented programming for at-risk and delinquent youth.

Staff work creatively to instill personal and community responsibility in our clients, and to advocate for the elimination of barriers to their success. Our goal is to engage them in positive lifestyle changes, preparing them for successful family reunification and community reintegration. Comprehensive and clinical case management services address issues relative to addictions, education, employment, cognitive skill development, and life skills. Our strength-based approach is intended to provide a path to satisfying, responsible, and productive citizenship. Social Justice Services staff are proud to demonstrate on a daily basis, the Mission, Values, and Culture of CRJ.

The Social Justice Services Department of CRJ has a variety of employment opportunities for those interested in working in this field. Applications can be found in the “Careers” section of this website. We also welcome interns from area colleges and universities to give students practical experience in the real world of youth services and adult correctional programming.

Adult Programs

Brooke House
Director, Joe Geary
107 Park Drive, Boston, MA 02215

With a capacity of 50 beds, the Brooke House serves as a pre-release program for male offenders through a contract with the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department, and as transitional housing for offenders through a contract with the Massachusetts Parole Board. The average length of stay at Brooke House is approximately 3.5 months. With a goal of successful reentry, all residents receive comprehensive case management services addressing their employment, housing, family reunification, and treatment needs.

Coolidge House
Director, Eric Ladouceur
307 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115

With a capacity of 120 beds, Coolidge House serves as a Residential Reentry Center for male and female offenders under contract with the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Residents are referred from the Federal Bureau of Prisons, U.S. Probation and Federal District Courts. Most residents are in the program for an average of 3 months, during which time they receive case management services which emphasize successful reentry. Coolidge House works with a diverse population with regard to age, type of Federal offense, and length of incarceration. Accredited by the American Correctional Association, Coolidge House represents CRJ’s largest operation, and one of its longest running contracts.

McGrath House
Director, Tara Dendy
699 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, MA 02118

McGrath House is a 30-bed facility serving female offenders referred by the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department, the Federal Bureau of Prisons and the Massachusetts Parole Board. All McGrath House women receive comprehensive case management services, with the goal of successful reentry to their home communities. The services at McGrath House are provided in a gender-responsive environment, geared to meet the unique and complicated needs of the women involved with the program. The average length of stay at McGrath House is approximately 5 months.

Youth Programs

Somerville Transition Shelter Services
Director: Howard Jardine
126 Cross Street, Somerville, MA 02145

Somerville Transition Shelter is a 16 bed group residence that serves Northeast Area-committed youths from the Department of Youth Services (DYS). Daily programming and constant supervision is provided on a 24/7 basis. Services are designed to address the diverse and changing needs of our youth on a short-term basis (1 to 120 days) and are flexible in response to the individual needs of each youth we serve. Program services include, but are not limited to: clinical services including individual and group therapy; anger management; violence prevention; conflict resolution; behavior management; community transition; family intervention and reintegration; relapse prevention; problem solving; child advocacy; substance abuse counseling; cognitive development and a state of the art school which utilizes Smart Boards. The program is designed to effectively meet the needs of both the individual youth and DYS through a continuum of services to manage client risk/need and protect public safety.

Sargent House
Director: Rena Alexander
577 Massachusetts Ave., Boston 02118

A 12-bed group home for adolescent males. Services include tutoring, skills-building, mentoring and a comprehensive range of counseling services geared to prepare youth for independent living.

Community Re-entry Center
Community Coordinator: Jennifer Sirois
124A Cross Street, Somerville, MA 02145

CRJ introduced youth day reporting centers to Massachusetts in 1994 with Project Turnaround, a program for youth associated with the Roxbury District Court in the inner city of Boston. The concept was adopted statewide by the Massachusetts Department of Youth Services (DYS) in 1998. The Community Re-entry Center serves Greater Boston youth with graduated levels of supervision, mentoring, counseling, independent living skills, and a safe, supervised gathering place.

Watson Academy
Director: Marcy Rosenthal
66 Chestnut Street, Cambridge, MA 02139

Watson Academy is the Youth Services’ comprehensive educational enrichment program. Academic programming, life skills curricula and educational activities are provided throughout the Youth Services department. Watson Academy strives to harness our youth’s energy and intellect, and empower them with the skills they need to enjoy success in school, at work and in their lives ahead. To read the Watson Academy brochure please click here.