QUESTION
How does the NYC Department of Probation address gun violence and support individuals involved?
0:56:20
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3 min
The New York City Department of Probation focuses on individuals involved in gun violence by providing specialized supervision, vocational training, and addressing their fundamental needs.
- Dedicated branches are established to supervise individuals involved in gun violence, seeking to reduce their gang involvement.
- A total of 68 staff, including probation officers and supervising officers, are allocated for this purpose, with a focus on 2,100 individuals on gun charges.
- The department emphasizes education and employment, aiming for reintegration and reducing recidivism among adult men over 24.
- Vocational programs are highlighted as crucial for providing meaningful employment opportunities.
- Flexibility in program implementation is discussed to ensure access to education and support services.
Mercedes Narcisse
0:56:20
What is the department of probation's role in addressing the city's rise in gun violence.
0:56:26
How is your department working with other agencies to address gun violence?
0:56:31
Did the preliminary plan include any additional forces for addressing gun violence.
Juanita Holmes
0:56:36
So what we did in Department of Probation Department of Probation Adult Services, they're broken down by what they call branches, intense engagement, and various other different components.
0:56:47
There was a total of 6.
0:56:49
What we did was parse out anyone that's involved in gun violence, they have their own branch.
0:56:55
They need a different type of supervision we want to reduce their their gang attendance.
0:57:01
Naturally, even with raised the age, we have an increase in our population.
0:57:07
We have what was it?
0:57:08
2000, I think, was the number for the gun the gun case?
0:57:12
Yes.
0:57:12
2000.
0:57:13
2001.
0:57:14
I believe approximately 21100 of the 9000 individuals under supervision are on for a gun charge.
0:57:22
So as a result of such, we took 58 probation officers, 10 supervised and officers, and we wanna focus on their fundamental needs.
0:57:32
If they need a high school diploma, if they have family, if they have children, you know, you want some type of leverage you wanna speak with them about and with the hopes of keeping them on the right path.
0:57:42
But more importantly, 84% of the adult population are over the age of 24, and are men.
0:57:50
And I always say this.
0:57:51
I know women need money.
0:57:52
We need money to but many money.
0:57:54
It it defines their character defines who they are.
0:57:57
They need employment.
0:58:00
So as a result of such some of them that are undercredited or don't have a high school diploma.
0:58:05
We want to work with them to get them if they have no interest.
0:58:09
Some people, they don't have an interest in education.
0:58:11
But you need to read a 7th grade level or be able to do math to even have a bank account.
0:58:19
So we are definitely working with them with these remedial courses, but more importantly, plugging them into these vocational programs.
0:58:27
So they can have some real significant employment.
Althea Stevens
0:58:31
As a former
Mercedes Narcisse
0:58:36
working with former nurse working with people's on probation, reentry program.
0:58:43
One of the thing I heard my colleagues just mention is the how People are not objective to the decision.
0:58:51
When it come to schools, they don't give them flexibility.
0:58:55
I used to have people complain all the time.
0:58:57
They cannot go to school because by the time they curfew, they get in.
0:59:01
I know it becoming individual things, but I would like for you to look into it because when folks, young folks trying to do the best.
0:59:08
We don't want people to use their their authority to abuse their authority over people that looking for Aperture.
Juanita Holmes
0:59:15
Right.
0:59:15
Absolutely.
0:59:16
Absolutely.
0:59:16
Thank you.
0:59:17
Yeah.
0:59:17
Not here.
0:59:18
That's that's not the case.
0:59:19
And we even have a high school equivalency that we plugged into one of our Neons as well as tutoring services.
0:59:28
So absolutely.
Mercedes Narcisse
0:59:29
Thank you.
0:59:29
Thank you, Chip.