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Council Member Rita C. Joseph introduces bill for holistic needs assessment program
0:07:58
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131 sec
Council Member Rita C. Joseph presents her bill, Intro 1240, which proposes establishing a holistic needs assessment program for individuals at the time of arrest. The program aims to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the person's circumstances and needs, potentially influencing decisions in the criminal justice process.
- The assessment would cover factors such as mental health, substance abuse, disabilities, and history of trauma.
- Results would be provided to defense attorneys within 14 days of supreme court arraignment.
- The bill is presented as a step towards a more humane and just criminal legal system, particularly for black and brown New Yorkers who are disproportionately impacted.
Rita C. Joseph
0:07:58
Thank you and good afternoon chair nurse, colleagues and members of the public.
0:08:01
Thank you for the opportunity to speak today on my bill intro 12:40 and to participate in this important hearing about how we transform our criminal legal system into one that truly centers justice, equity, and human dignity.
0:08:15
Far too often the most the moment someone is arrested the system moves quickly to label and process them without ever asking who is this person?
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What brought them here?
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What support do they actually need?
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INCHO twelve forty would require the mayor's office of criminal justice to establish a holistic needs assessment program, a tool that allow us to see the full person, not the charges they face.
0:08:39
Upon consent, this program would assess individuals at the time of arrest for a range of factors, mental health challenges, substance abuse, intellectual developmental disabilities, a history of trauma or domestic violence, emotional and psychosocial conditions.
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These are not abstract issues, are real life challenges that impact how people interact with the world and with the criminal legal system.
0:09:04
By understanding these circumstances early on, we can better inform decisions around charging, detention, release, or plea deals.
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Crucially, the results of this assessment would provide would be provided to individual criminal defense attorneys within fourteen days of their supreme court arraignment giving defense teams critical information they need to advocate effectively and compassionately for their clients.
0:09:27
This bill is about building a system rooted in care not just control.
0:09:31
It's about ensuring that people particularly black and brown New Yorkers who are disproportionately impacted by the system have their humanity recognized from the start.
0:09:40
We know that a huge number of those detained at Rikers Island are dealing with mental health illness, trauma, addiction, and poverty.
0:09:48
If we truly believe in closing Rikers and ending the cycle of incarceration, we must start by seeing the full picture and acting on it.
0:09:55
Intro twelve forty is one step toward that more humane, more just future.
0:10:00
I look forward to working with all of you with Mark J, with impacted communities to make this vision a reality.
0:10:06
Thank you so much for all of you that are here.
0:10:07
Thank you chair nurse.