New York Juvenile Justice Under Review
New research indicates that New York’s juvenile detention centers fail to keep the youths secure and do not meet the treatments and services needed for recovery. This new information has underlined many New York juvenile justice advocates’ sentiments that the state needs to rethink its actions and responses to troubled youth.
Policymakers and prosecutors alike agree that New York should limit the number of juveniles sent to prison-like facilities and create more community-based programs for reducing youth crimes. These programs have statistically shown to be less expensive and more effective than residential facilities. A shocking 89 percent of juvenile boys placed in residential facilities go on to commit further crimes. Roughly 1,600 youths are sent to these facilities each year, however, the majority of these youths have not committed serious felony crimes.
A simple but significant change in New York juvenile justice must take place to connect probation departments with adequate financing and services for youths. This requires attaching the juvenile probation system to the courts rather than keeping it linked to the executive branch. Many New York judges have helped nonviolent adult offenders obtain necessary treatments and have monitored the convicts’ success. What’s left is to implement a similar system to nonviolent juvenile criminals.
If your child has been accused of a crime in New York, it is important to talk to an experienced New York juvenile criminal defense attorney. Even though the juvenile justice system was created as an alternative to adult prosecution, it still can implement serious punishments for youths, including placement in prison-like residential facilities. To ensure the success of your child’s case, contact an experienced juvenile crime defense lawyer.