QUESTION
Did the NYC Department of Probation direct staff to issue violations for youth not attending school or working?
1:14:05
·
130 sec
Commissioner Juanita Holmes clarifies that there was no directive to issue violations to youth for not attending school or working, and emphasizes on solution-oriented programming.
- Holmes dispels the claim of issuing violations for attendance and work issues, attributing high violation numbers to arrests instead.
- She highlights the department's focus on solution-based programs rather than punitive measures for youth education and engagement.
- Holmes provides examples of supportive measures, such as remedial programs and tutoring, aimed at improving education outcomes.
- The commissioner refutes the portrayal of the department's policies in the media, insisting on a constructive approach towards youth offenses.
Sandy Nurse
1:14:05
There was some reporting where it was it was reported that you had directed staff to issue violations to people who aren't attending school or working.
1:14:15
And this is for youth ages 12 to 17, which drove data up 44% for technical violations.
1:14:24
But earlier you had mentioned, you're really not trying to do that.
1:14:27
And and and based on what council member Stevens is saying is like, We're cutting these programs where, okay, we lost 200 youth or or 35 youth.
1:14:36
We still lost them.
1:14:37
It it seems like we're not focused on keeping them engaged and looking at the root cause of why they're not showing up to school or why they're not showing up to to work.
1:14:47
I understand that some of this has to do with, like, well, maybe the type of programming isn't what they wanted, and you're looking to bring in different types of programs from what they've said that they would be interested to, but it seems like these things aren't necessarily in alignment.
Juanita Holmes
1:15:02
I can assure you.
1:15:04
I didn't put a listen.
1:15:05
Paper's gonna do what they want.
1:15:06
I came from PD, so they wanna try and say, oh, she's law enforcement.
1:15:10
They have no idea what I did in PD for young people and mentorship.
1:15:14
So my thing is, that's not the case.
1:15:17
Even if you look at our violations, The highest violation numbers are arrests.
1:15:23
That's it.
1:15:24
And if there's an increase, then there's an increase in arrests.
1:15:27
And if there's an increase in the rest that tells me we gotta do something different as far as programming when it comes to our young people.
1:15:35
The next highest thing for violations, and we took a look at it and have the data failure to appear.
1:15:43
Which will result in if we don't see you for a year, 6 months, that can result in a warrant.
1:15:49
So I took a look at their data.
1:15:51
There is no technical files.
1:15:53
I'd rather put a solution in place for school.
1:15:56
If you're not attending school, then there's remedial program.
1:15:59
Then there's tutoring.
1:16:01
Maybe we can get you up to 7th grade reading a math level and you pass the GED.
1:16:05
I'm never gonna violate a child, but papers, a sensationalizing
Sandy Nurse
1:16:09
you didn't direct apps, Loom directly?
Juanita Holmes
1:16:12
Not.
1:16:12
Okay.
Sandy Nurse
1:16:13
Absolutely not.
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Why was the STEPs program without evaluations and success indicators in the RFP, and why is attendance considered a valid metric?
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Why are more children being sent to juvenile detention under Mayor Adams' tenure, and what role does the Department of Probation (DOP) play?
