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PUBLIC TESTIMONY

Testimony by Megan French-Marcelin, Senior Director for New York State Policy at Legal Action Center, on Alternatives to Incarceration and Reentry Services

4:25:49

·

133 sec

Megan French-Marcelin, representing the New York City alternatives to incarceration and reentry coalition, testified about the importance and effectiveness of their services in public safety and reducing recidivism. She requested an additional $2.4 million in funding to expand these programs.

  • Highlighted the success rates of various programs, including Bronx Connect youth (97% non-recidivism), Osborn's court mitigation programs ($162 million saved in incarceration costs), and Kays' FACT team (95% non-recidivism rate for those with serious mental illness).
  • Emphasized that their services, including housing, employment, job training, and mental health treatment, are crucial for successful reintegration and are considered by parole commissioners when making determinations.
  • Contextualized the funding request by comparing it to 10% of the Department of Correction's monthly overtime budget.
Megan French-Marcelin
4:25:49
Sorry.
4:25:51
Put me in the corner for a reason.
4:25:54
Good afternoon.
4:25:56
Thank you so much.
4:25:57
My name is Megan French Marceline.
4:25:59
I am testifying on behalf of the New York City alternatives to incarceration and reentry coalition.
4:26:07
And I came here today from Fortune's Castle, which hopefully many of you have visited, where we met with 16 of New York state's parole commissioners.
4:26:18
And they said that as they're making determinations about parole, they look at one thing.
4:26:25
Are people connected to our services?
4:26:28
Because they know if they are, that they will be successful and thriving in community.
4:26:34
We are public safety.
4:26:36
We're effective public safety.
4:26:38
We're proven public safety, and we're evidence based.
4:26:41
We provide housing, employment, job training, substance use treatment, mental health treatment.
4:26:47
A lot of my colleagues are on this panel.
4:26:49
And our ask is additional $2,400,000 to do this work.
4:26:56
Now, I wanna put that into a bigger picture.
4:27:00
$2,400,000 is 10% of what the DOC allocates for overtime every single month.
4:27:10
$2,400,000 additional resources allows these programs to thrive, and I'm just gonna give a couple examples of of our statistics.
4:27:21
Ninety seven percent of Bronx Connect youth do not have another conviction three years later.
4:27:29
Osborn's court mitigation programs saved the city a hundred and $62,000,000 in incarceration costs last year, and Kays' FACT team, which works with serious mental illness through an ATI program, has a % non recidivism rate.
4:27:49
Now that is far more effective public safety than Rikers and any other program that the city has.
4:27:57
So we we look forward to working with you to expand these services.
4:28:02
Thank you so much.
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