Q&A
Questions on juvenile justice and diversion rates
0:49:42
·
132 sec
Council Member Restler expresses concerns about the high number of minors in juvenile justice facilities and asks about strategies to increase diversion rates. Goode-Trufant discusses the need for community support and programming to address the issue.
- Restler highlights the doubling of minors in juvenile justice facilities under Mayor Adams
- Goode-Trufant mentions the need for family support and constructive community programming
- They discuss the role of various entities in the diversion process and the importance of sufficient diversion opportunities
Lincoln Restler
0:49:42
I'd also like to ask you about juvenile justice.
0:49:47
My understanding is the law department for the last few years under mayor Adams has referred about a third of cases for prosecution, and I think 31% is the data we saw in the MMR, pretty consistent over the last few years.
0:50:01
What can we do to increase diversions?
0:50:04
And I I I really am focused on this because as you know, as this, council knows well, we've just about doubled the number of kids in jail while mayor Adams is in office.
0:50:14
I I just wanna say that again.
0:50:15
Since mayor Adams came into office, we have nearly doubled the number of minors who were sent away to juvenile justice facilities, sent away to jail.
0:50:22
So we are way over capacity in the jails.
0:50:24
It's a horrible experience for young people, and we wanna divert and prevent those experiences whenever possible.
0:50:31
So is there anything that you're looking at?
0:50:33
I know law is just one piece of the puzzle here, but it's something that I think is really important and you do have a role to play.
0:50:38
Any guidance or insight or recommendations that you could offer for how we could try and improve those that situation?
Muriel Goode-Trufant
0:50:45
We, continue to have multiple concerns.
0:50:49
There are, some juveniles who are no strangers, to the city as a whole because they may have been previously encountered through ACS.
0:51:01
So we have to provide support for families generally.
0:51:06
We need, greater, programming in communities to give, children, opportunities to spend their time constructively.
Lincoln Restler
0:51:17
Are there I know that you all track the diversion rates as well.
0:51:22
Are there how can we increase those diversion rates?
0:51:24
What do you think are the opportunities?
0:51:26
What what should we be focused on as the council and law department together to try and increase the diversions and and prevent fewer kids from going into juvenile detention?
Muriel Goode-Trufant
0:51:35
While we track diversions, the actual diversion is done by entities, not the law department, but making sure that there are sufficient opportunities, to use to divert, children too.
0:51:52
That would be the most helpful.
