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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Hailey Nolasco, Senior Director of Government Relations at the Center for Justice Innovation
6:06:17
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118 sec
Hailey Nolasco from the Center for Justice Innovation testified on the importance of sustained investment in community-driven solutions and fair interventions to address public safety concerns in New York City. She highlighted the Center's various programs and requested support for their expansion and sustainability.
- Emphasized the need for alternative incarceration programs, particularly for individuals with substance use and mental health issues
- Requested support for expanding programs such as the Brooklyn Mental Health Court, driver accountability initiatives, and developing 'Empower Her' to support women in the justice system
- Stressed the importance of diversion programs and pre-arraignment reset programming to ensure accountability while reducing the justice system's footprint
Hailey Nolasco
6:06:17
Good afternoon Chair Brannan, Deputy Speaker Eyal, and Council Member Hudson.
6:06:21
My name is Haley Nolasco, Senior Director of Government Relations at the Center for Justice Innovation.
6:06:25
Thank you so much for the opportunity today.
6:06:28
Public safety remains a critical concern for New Yorkers.
6:06:31
Issues such as gun violence, economic instability, inadequate housing, and limited access to mental health services continue to persist.
6:06:38
Additionally, the criminal justice system often fails to address the root causes of crime leaving vulnerable populations at greater risk.
6:06:44
True safety requires sustained investment in community driven solutions focused on prevention but also fair intervention.
6:06:51
We thank the council for their investments and seek support to sustain and expand our community based and core reform programs through a comprehensive approach to meet the current need.
6:07:00
Our alternative incarceration programs connect individuals with substance use and mental health issues to vital treatment reducing reincarceration, aiding reintegration.
6:07:08
We aim to expand our Brooklyn felony programs including the mental health Brooklyn Mental Health Court and seek support for our driver accountability and Bronx DWI initiatives which address traffic safety through restorative justice principles and reduce financial barriers to treatment.
6:07:23
Programs addressing gender based issues are also especially vulnerable during these times as you can imagine.
6:07:28
The Center of Staten Island and Queens Community Justice Centers have seen a rise in female identifying ATI participants serving 200 women in Staten Island and 334 women in Queens in 2024.
6:07:39
Women in the justice system fake unique challenges including higher rates of abuse and mental health issues.
6:07:45
To meet these needs, we are requesting support to develop Empower Her, a program that will be designed to provide targeted support for these women.
6:07:51
Lastly, the center is asking for resources to sustain our diversion programs and support pre and at arraignment reset programming ensuring accountability while reducing the justice system's footprint.
6:08:01
Programming such as ours help to save taxpayer dollars, increases public safety, and builds a more equitable society.
6:08:07
Thank you so much for your time and for your ongoing partnership.
6:08:09
We've submitted a full list of our budget proposals with our written testimony.
6:08:14
Thank you so much.
Justin Brannan
6:08:15
Thank you.