OCFS FACILITY CLOSURE CAMPAIGN

As our state government confronts a $15.4 billion two-year budget gap, it is obvious that New York cannot afford to waste tax dollars to keep vacant and virtually empty youth detention facilities and programs open.

The New York State Juvenile Justice Coalition, coordinated by the Correctional Association's Juvenile Justice Project, supports the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) proposed closing or downsizing of eight juvenile facilities and three evening reporting centers. The proposed closures and downsizings would save the State $12 million in FY 2009-10 and $14 million in FY 2010-11.  

The proposed closures are part of a larger effort to “right size” and reform New York’s troubled juvenile justice system into a more community-based, therapeutic, and youth development based system.  In the coming weeks and months, the Coalition will advocate for a significant portion of the money made available through facility closures to be used for community reinvestment—the creation of a network of community-based programs and alternatives to incarceration. Community-based alternatives to incarceration are not only more effective but they are also considerably less costly than OCFS placement.   While using proven methods for reducing youth crime, these programs cost only about $15,000 a year per child, as compared to the $150,000 to $200,000 per year it costs the State to maintain one bed in an OCFS facility.   

Take Action!

• Show your support by adding your organization's name to the organizational sign-on letter. Contacting Charisa Smith with your organization's information.

• Print out and sign the support letter for individuals. Fax or mail the letter to the attention of Charisa Smith at the Correctional Association.

• Spread the word about the campaign using these letters and the Infochure. 

• Call and email your legislators in the Assembly and the Senate about the campaign and your concern that they vote in favor of facility closures while providing for community reinvestment. Don’t be afraid—they need to hear us out and vote the right way.

• Write a letter to the editor or an op-ed to a newspaper regarding your support of this issue.

• Contact Charisa Smith, Director of the Juvenile Justice Project, for more information about the campaign or to join the Juvenile Justice Coalition.