Juvenile Justice
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As part of his 2016 Built to Lead Agenda, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo is re-introducing legislation to raise the age of criminal responsibility from 16 to 18. This proposal is the result of work by the New York State Commission on Youth, Public Safety & Justice, which was created to provide recommendations to the Governor pertaining to the state’s criminal and juvenile justice systems.
Raise the Age Proposal Data
The following statistics were compiled to assist the work of the Commission:
- Arrests involving 16-17 Year Olds by County and Region (2/2015)
Arrest counts for misdemeanor, non-violent felony, and violent felony offenses over the last five years. Includes statewide, region and individual county summaries. - Dispositions of Arrests involving 16 and 17 Year Olds by County and Region (2/2015)
Dispositions of arrests involving 16 and 17 year olds for felony and misdemeanor offenses over the last five years. Includes statewide, region and individual county summaries.
Youth Pardon Program
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo is offering executive pardons to New Yorkers convicted of non-violent crimes at ages 16 and 17 who have been crime-free for a minimum of 10 years since their offense.
For individuals who receive this pardon, the New York State Office of Court Administration has stated that it will restrict public access to criminal history records, meaning that they will not be available to private employers, landlords or other companies that seek this information.
More Information and Eligibility Requirements »
Juvenile Justice Data
New York State juvenile justice data are compiled by a variety of state and local agencies, including the Office of Children and Family Services, the Office of Court Administration, the Office of the New York City Criminal Justice Coordinator, the New York City Administration for Children’s Services and the New York City Police Department. DCJS partners with these agencies and others to compile and analyze juvenile justice data, producing a statewide picture of juvenile justice trends.
Juvenile Justice Advisory Group
The New York State Juvenile Justice Advisory Group (JJAG), made up of the key players in juvenile justice in New York, is committed to supporting a fair and equitable juvenile justice system in New York State, one that is data driven and research based. Appointed by the Governor of New York, JJAG serves to supervise the development and implementation of New York State’s federal juvenile justice plan, review and approve all grant applications for federal juvenile justice and delinquency prevention funds, and to consider and advise the Governor and the Legislature on juvenile justice matters of importance in New York State.
The overarching vision of the JJAG includes:
- Fostering innovation in juvenile justice related practice and policy through the dissemination of knowledge that is research based and data driven.
- Serving as a convener and coordinator for state and local juvenile justice related partners and reform efforts.
- Embedding in communities the responsibility and means to meet the needs of their youth who are at risk of entering or involved in the juvenile justice system.
- Supporting the creation of a continuum of care in each community, and throughout the state, to ensure that all youth are served from prevention to intervention through aftercare as close to their homes and communities as possible.
- Establishing a system that is easily accessible to all consumers, both as grantees and the children, youth and families they serve; facilitating state and local, and public and private partnerships that are supportive of at risk and disadvantaged youth and families.
Meetings
The Juvenile Justice Advisory group meets quarterly, rotating its meeting location between the Division of Criminal Justice Services office in Albany and the Executive Chamber in New York City.
Meetings occur from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. and are open to the public. Notice for each meeting is published in the New York State Register.
News & Events
12/22/2015: Governor Cuomo Signs Executive Order to Separate Teens from Adult Prisoners
Read Press Release » Read the Executive Order »
12/21/2015: Governor Cuomo Offers Executive Pardons to New Yorkers Convicted of Crimes at 16, 17
Read the Press Release »
Juvenile Reentry Summit, 2012
As New York State continues to reform its juvenile justice systems, transitioning young people from out of home placement to positive safe home environments and successful adulthood remains a challenge. On December 14th 2012, DCJS in partnership with the Office of Children and Family Services held this full-day juvenile reentry summit to meet with key juvenile justice stakeholders, hear from national experts, learn about best practices, and develop plans for implementation at both the local and state levels.
Presentations
What Works to Reduce Recidivism in Juveniles (ppt )
Building Educational Transitions (ppt)
Positive Supports for Youth (ppt)
Supporting and Engaging Families (ppt)
Juvenile Justice Symposium Series, 2011
Presentations (video and slideshow materials)
Dr. Gladys Negron - Miami-Dade County Florida Juvenile Justice Model (ppt)
Jeff McDonald - Screening, Assessment and Detention Continuum for Juveniles (ppt)
Kimberly Sokoloff Selvaggi - Systems Change for Status Offenders in Connecticut (ppt)
Dr. Jeffrey Butts - Process Evaluation of the Chicago Juvenile Intervention and Support Center (pdf)
Programs
Compliance Monitoring
Every state and territory that receives Formula Grant funds from the federal government must be in compliance with the four core requirements or mandates of the JJDPA. More »
Current Programs
The JJAG identifies critical areas for juvenile justice program development through data analysis; consultation with juvenile justice professionals, youth and families; and identification of critical unmet areas of need that have potential for meaningful systemic impact. There are currently funded programs in the areas of disproportionate minority contact, front-end reform, school-based programming, and community-based mentoring.
Disproportionate Minority Contact
New York State is required to address the disproportionate representation of youth of color in the juvenile justice system (i.e. disproportionate minority contact or “DMC”) as a condition of its receipt of federal Juvenile Justice Title II Formula funding. The federal Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) specifically requires that states address DMC on an ongoing basis by utilizing the Five Phase DMC-Reduction Model which requires that a statewide assessment be completed at least once every three years. Additionally, a plan for compliance with the DMC core requirement is developed, annually.
Based on findings from activities facilitated throughout 2011 to address DMC, a number of issues were identified and recommendations developed to drive efforts to reduce racial/ethnic disparities within the New York State's juvenile justice system.
Regional Youth Justice Teams
Regional Youth Justice Teams are regional teams of juvenile justice stakeholders including representatives from local government agencies, service providers, the judiciary, community organizations and youth and families who have been justice involved. The teams were created to further implement New York State’s strategic plan for juvenile justice. Each team meets on a quarterly basis to share best practices, identify areas for practice improvement and provide input to state policymakers. If you are interested in becoming part of a regional team, contact the team liaison in your region.
Capital Region
Central New York
Finger Lakes
Long Island
Mid-Hudson
Mohawk Valley
New York City
North Country
Western New York
Resources
Funding
Grant opportunities are listed here when they are available.
New York State, through the JJAG, funds numerous programs with grants from the federal Office for Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. Funding is awarded competitively. Notifications of funding opportunities also can be found in the New York State Register.
Funding Streams
Information for Grantees
The New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) administers all the grants approved by the Juvenile Justice Advisory Group. All grants are subject to New York State finance law and are monitored in an ongoing manner by DCJS staff. Grantees can access forms that they may need in meeting their grant requirements at http://www.criminaljustice.ny.gov/ofpa/forms.htm.
A Program Representative from the Office of Program Development and Funding at DCJS will be assigned to develop and monitor each grant. Grantees should expect ongoing contact with their assigned Program Representative in the form of phone calls, review of quarterly performance reports, desk audits and site visits.
Quarterly performance reporting from grantees is critical to maintain ongoing communication between the grantee and the Juvenile Justice Advisory Group and to the development of outcome data that can be helpful in sustaining programs after the grant period concludes. Grantees are expected to provide quarterly reports within 45 days of the close of each quarter. The specific requirements of each grantee’s reports are established within the workplan in their contract. That workplan can be found in the Grants Management System at https://grants.criminaljustice.ny.gov/.
Effective Practices
Juvenile Justice in New York State
NYS Juvenile Delinquency Prevention Program
NYS Office of Children and Family Services
Kid’s Well-being Indicators Clearinghouse
Juvenile Detention Association of New York State
NYC Administration for Children’s Services, Youth and Family Justice
New York State Office of Probation and Correctional Alternatives
Association of New York State Youth Courts
New York Center for Juvenile Justice
Children’s Defense Fund – New York
Tough on Crime - a JJAG Report to the Governor and Legislature
Juvenile Justice Links
U.S. Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention
National Center for Mental Health and Juvenile Justice
National Center for Juvenile Justice
Coalition for Juvenile Justice
Models for Change: Systems Reform in Juvenile Justice
W Haywood Burns Institute for Juvenile Justice Fairness & Equity
Center for Juvenile Justice Reform
National Juvenile Justice Network
The National Council on Crime and Delinquency
National Reentry Resource Center
Services Database
Are you interested in identifying services to meet the needs of justice involved youth in a particular county? Would you like to know how many evidence based programs we have for justice involved youth across New York? You can now access the Juvenile Justice Services Database to find local programs or to identify certain types of programs, wherever they are located.