MAYOR GIULIANI APPOINTS FLORENTINO HERNANDEZ AS COMMISSIONER OF THE DEPARTMENT OF JUVENILE JUSTICE
Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani today announced the appointment of Florentino (Tino) Hernandez as Commissioner of the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ). Mr. Hernandez has served as Chief of Staff to Ninfa Segarra, Deputy Mayor for Education and Human Services, since 1995. Prior to joining Deputy Mayor Segarra's staff, Mr. Hernandez served as Deputy Commissioner of Adult Services for the New York City Department of Homeless Services.
"I am delighted to name Tino Hernandez as the new head of the Department of Juvenile Justice ," Mayor Giuliani said. "Tino has worked tirelessly on behalf of New Yorkers, helping implement educational and social service reforms. He joins Juvenile Justice at a time when we are embarking on a new phase in our strategy to better deal with our youth in detention. I am confident that Tino will effectively lead Juvenile Justice in this new era."
The Department of Juvenile Justice provides detention, aftercare and prevention services to juveniles in New York City. The Department is in the process of opening two new state-of-the-art supervision facilities that can each accommodate up to 120 youngsters. The centers are expected to open in the Spring. The agency also directly operates seven non-secure detention facilities that recorded 1,339 admissions during 1997; and aftercare and prevention programs that serviced 628 youth during the same period.
"I am honored to accept this appointment as Commissioner for the Department of Juvenile Justice," said Mr. Hernandez. "I have been privileged to serve under Mayor Giuliani during an exciting and historic time in New York City. I look forward to working closely with Mayor Giuliani and the dedicated DJJ staff to bring positive changes to the agency for the benefit of the entire City and the young people we are charged to serve."
Since 1995, Mr. Hernandez has served as Chief of Staff to Deputy Mayor Segarra overseeing several agencies and offices, including the Human Resources Administration, Department of Homeless Services, Department for the Aging, Department of Youth and Community Development, New York City Housing Authority, the Mayor's Office for AIDS Policy Coordination, and the Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities. In this role, Mr. Hernandez was responsible for addressing a broad range of human service policy, program and operational issues and assisting the Deputy Mayor in education policy matters and initiatives.
From 1994 through 1995 Mr. Hernandez served as Deputy Commissioner for Adult Services at the New York City Department of Homeless Services. In this position he had responsibility for the City's vast adult shelter system and for managing health, substance abuse, mental health, and vocational/employment programs. As Deputy Commissioner, he also served as principal advisor to the Commissioner in the formation of homeless policy.
From 1993 to 1994, Mr. Hernandez served as Assistant Commissioner for HIV Program Services at the New York City Department of Health. In this capacity he provided leadership and direction for the Department's multifaceted HIV/AIDS prevention and health care programs. In addition, he served as liaison between Federal, State and City officials regarding policy, program and management issues.
Before entering City government service, Mr. Hernandez served as Vice-President for Clinical Services at Samaritan Village, Inc., a major substance abuse treatment provider in the New York City metropolitan area.
Mr. Hernandez holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Adelphi University and a Master of Social Work degree from the State University of New York at Albany, Nelson A. Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy. He is also a licensed social worker in the State of New York. Mr. Hernandez, 46, resides in Manhattan and will earn $120,891 annually as Commissioner.
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