Res. No. 8
Title
Resolution calling upon the New York State legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, legislation to amend the Social Services Law to require a sponsoring agency seeking to establish a limited secure placement facility in a particular community district, under the close to home initiative, to notify and provide such district with an opportunity for notice and comment.
Body
By Council Member Barron
Whereas, Close to Home is a juvenile justice reform initiative launched by New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo in 2012 to keep youth close to their families and community; and
Whereas, Pursuant to Close to Home, New York State Social Services Law ("SSL") section 404 permits the New York City Administration for Children's Services ("ACS") to oversee custody of New York City youth adjudicated as juvenile delinquents, who are deemed by Family Court as needing placement other than in a secure detention facility, in limited secure placement ("LSP") facilities and non-secure placement facilities ("NSP") in New York City; and
Whereas, The New York City Department of Investigation ("DOI") released a report on Wednesday April 13, 2016, detailing the arrests of four overnight staff members from a Brooklyn NSP facility in connection with a 2015 incident where three juveniles absconded, and later raped and robbed a woman in Manhattan; and
Whereas, The DOI report identified several systemic management and oversight deficiencies by ACS, including inadequate policies and procedures for the monitoring of safety and security at all Close to Home locations; and
Whereas, Close to Home has been implemented in two phases, with phase I including the roll out of NSP facilities in 2012; and
Whereas, ACS testified at a hearing of the New York City Council's Committee on Juvenile Justice held on April 14, 2016, that phase II of Close to Home, i...
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