• Improved timeliness by automatically retrieving some of the required information which POs must currently gather by phone, fax or through legwork.
• An efficient process for drafting, revising, and approving workflow, by minimizing hand-off time and making the workflow visible, allowing it to be better measured and managed.
• A better quality of the final work product by using data wherever possible, by enforcing rules about the completeness and quality of information, by enforcing standard presentation and formatting rules, and by enforcing consistent security policies; and,
• Long-term usefulness of reports by making them easy to archive, index, retrieve, print, query, and integrate with other information systems at the City, State and National levels.

Project Zero is a juvenile justice reform initiative of the NYC Department of Probation that has enhanced the Juvenile system's rationality, reduced its over-reliance on costly detention and incarceration, and improved public safety while serving the best interests of children and families.
Read More About Project Zero (in PDF)

Families who request services through the Persons In Need of Supervision (PINS) system are now directed to the Family Assessment Program (FAP) run by the Administration for Children’s Services (ACS). The family will be given the opportunity to meet with a Family Assessment Specialist, an experienced ACS social worker who is specially trained to help families solve problems by looking at them from multiple perspectives. Select the link provided for more information at the Administration for Children's Services (ACS) website.

The Enhanced Supervision Program (ESP) provides our most intensive level of supervision for youngsters placed on probation in lieu of placement in a state run juvenile residential facility. ESP emphasizes the development of accountability and responsibility in the youngster, building on the youngster's strengths, establishing a relationship with the Probation Officer and creating a positive peer group. EPS Probation Officers work with all family members, not just the probationer. They maintain a caseload of 25 cases and are required to have more contact with the youngster, the community, and the juvenile's home, school and treatment agency.

Community service is a key element of the program. All youngsters assigned to ESP are required to perform 60 hours of community service, unless they are unable to perform such service due to illness or special circumstances.

A step-down process is built into the Program whereby the Probation Office has less contact and supervision of the probationer, as he/she is "stepped-down" to a lower level of supervision and eventually transferred out of ESP to General Supervision. This step-down is contingent on the juvenile's overall compliance in ESP. A general stay in ESP is nine months.

The Harlem Juvenile Treatment Court, located in the east Harlem area of Manhattan, addresses the needs of non-violent, first or second time offenders who are primarily charged with drug possession or sale. Probation has officers at this location to provide the court with intake, investigation reports and supervision services to the youth. The officers also complete psychosocial assessments on cases held open for adjustment or diversion services at the Intake level. These youngsters are then brought into community-based supervision that is monitored by the courts through regular appearances before a Family court judge for accountability reviews and progress evaluations. The youngsters are also linked to on-site and community-based social services that seek to address the underlying problems and challenges that often form the basis for their disruptive behavior.

The Red Hook Community Justice Center has one judge who handles housing, family and criminal cases in one community. The Probation Officer at this justice center provides a full array of probation services that includes intake, court-ordered investigation and reports and supervision. The officer also completes intake assessments and refers the respondent and his/her family to the appropriate on-site providers for additional screening and evaluation. Reports based on these evaluations are then submitted to the Probation Officer who develops a service plan and also makes recommendations to adjust the case, parole or remand the respondent.

The Family Court Resource Development Unit has been operating since June 2003 at Beaver Street. The fundamental purpose of the unit is to connect youngsters and their families to the most suitable service providers in their communities. The Resource Development Unit receives requests for referrals from Probation Officers within the five boroughs. The unit coordinators conduct field visits to investigate potential service providers and, if deemed suitable, these providers are added to a growing database of thousands.

How youth enter the program: