NEW YORK — A new report calling for sweeping changes to two New York City juvenile detention centers centers on safety and staffing challenges.
The City Bureau of Investigation has outlined a troubling pattern of detainee misconduct, criminal behavior and lack of staff management since the implementation of bail reform and New York City’s age-raising bill that allows 18-year-olds to be tried as adults. .
As a result, the report says Horizon Juvenile Center in the Bronx and Crossroads Juvenile Center in Brooklyn house older adults facing more serious and violent crimes.
Existing disciplinary measures therefore proved insufficient to deter violence and prevent the entry of contraband.
The DOI made 15 recommendations to the city’s Department of Children’s Services, which operates the facility.
“Our view is that current behavior management systems and training for staff do not meet the needs of current populations and therefore do not actually meet the needs of staff. This is what needs to fundamentally change. That’s what we think,” said New York City DOI Director Jocelyn E. Strauber.
An ACS spokesperson said in a statement:
“While serving older youth charged with more serious crimes certainly poses additional challenges, as Nuñez Monitor experts point out, the ACS has “We have achieved a steady decline in violence, (and) continue to develop and implement strategies to improve overall security.”Specifically, despite the increase in the census, violence Support programs have significantly increased, and restorative work with youth is making a difference, leading to improved educational outcomes for youth in custody, including increased high school graduation rates, obtaining a GED, and attending college. Masu. ACS is grateful to our hardworking staff and leaders who work hard every day to provide safety and care for youth in our custody, and we will continue to make these improvements and look forward to working with Nuñez. We look forward to our continued partnership. Monitor and DOI. ”
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