The Court Employment Project (CEP) is an award-winning non-residential alternative-to-incarceration program for young felony offenders. CEP combines a strengths-based, youth development approach with accountability to the courts. Youth development emphasizes skills and abilities - rather than focusing on deficiencies - and helps young people set high expectations for their own educational, vocational, and social development. CEP works closely with judges, probation officers, defense attorneys, and prosecutors to serve more than 600 participants annually.

CEP works with participants referred by both the Supreme and Family Courts in all boroughs except Staten Island. Court representatives accept referrals from judges, probation officers, defense attorneys, and prosecutors and then screen potential participants for eligibility on a case-by-case basis.

• Supreme Court participants (ages 16-20 at the time of offense) are referred for a six-month program of intensive supervision and services.
• Family Court participants (ages 13-15 at the time of offense) are referred for a 12-month program, with an emphasis on educational support.

Participation
Participants are required to attend the program Monday through Friday in their first month. All participants meet individually with case coordinators, participate in educational classes, submit to random drug testing, and have access to a wide range of services. CEP structures each participant's daily schedule and monitors progress toward his/her goals. Written reports are submitted by CASES' court representatives to the sentencing judge at each court appearance, and judges are notified immediately in cases of non-compliance.