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Administration for Children’s Services, Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice, Department of Probation Announce Investment to Improve City’s Juvenile Justice System

September 15, 2026

NEW YORK — The Administration for Children’s Services, Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice, and Department of Probation today announced new investments to reduce the number of young people in secure detention, improve conditions for those in custody and strengthen the continuum of care for young people involved in the juvenile justice system.

"ACS is committed to providing a safe and supportive environment for youth and staff in our secure detention centers. We will continue our work to improve the conditions of care, including by renovating our existing facilities, enhancing security measures, onboarding additional staff members, developing updated staff training, and increasing youth educational opportunities, as well as, investing in youth workforce development and training programs. The ultimate goal is to provide trauma informed supports and opportunities to help young people make different choices in order to thrive regardless of what's next in their lives,” said ACS Commissioner Rebecca Jones Gaston.

"This investment is the beginning of our work to meaningfully improve juvenile justice in New York City,” said Criminal Justice Coordinator Justine Olderman. “Judges, prosecutors, and defenders will have real alternatives to secure detention at arraignment, so more young people can await resolution of their cases at home with their families. Judges will also be able to release kids who are currently in detention to step-down settings and community-based programs. And together with our court partners, we will work to make sure that no child spends more time in detention than justice requires."

Public safety is strengthened when we give young people the structure, accountability and support they need to make better choices, and DOP is committed to working with the mayor’s office and stakeholders to ensure that young people are surrounded with resources needed to succeed,” said NYC Department of Probation Commissioner Sharun Goodwin.

 

Reducing the Number of Young People in Secure Detention

The Administration is implementing several measures to reduce the number of young people in secure detention, including:

  • Expanding alternatives to detention and incarceration: Increasing funding for organizations that provide skill-building programs for court-involved young people ages 14 to 20 across all five boroughs. This funding will increase capacity for intensive stabilization services, including educational reengagement, workforce development, housing coordination and crisis intervention.
  • Expanding family-based treatment: Providing additional funding to programs with waitlists of eligible young people for Home-Based Functional Family Therapy (FFT), which addresses substance use, negative peer involvement, family conflict and school truancy.
  • Launching intensive community monitoring (ICM): The Department of Probation (DOP) is launching a new intensive community monitoring program to keep young people out of detention by providing supervision, guidance and support while they remain at home with their families during their court cases.
    • ICM Connect will combine intensive probation supervision with clinical assessment, family engagement, education and employment assistance, and individualized community-based services, including weekend programming. This additional funding will support 150 young people transitioning from ACS secure detention or at risk of being placed in secure detention.
  • Expanding nonsecure detention: Establishing nonsecure detention as an available option to young people who have demonstrated good behavior and whom judges determine are appropriate candidates for a less restrictive environment.
  • Reducing case delays: Establish new meetings with court stakeholders, facilitated by the Criminal Justice Coordinator, to address case delays and expedite case resolution. The Administration will also coordinate with New York State to address delays involving transfers to State facilities.


Improving Conditions for Young People in Custody

ACS is taking steps to improve conditions in secure detention by expanding educational, wellness and recreational programming, strengthening security, increasing staffing and upgrading existing facilities

ACS will also pilot a six-week, trauma-informed youth development program designed to help justice-involved young people strengthen self-awareness, build resilience, develop self-advocacy skills and take greater ownership of their personal narratives. Participants will receive 24 hours of direct engagement focused on identity development, emotional awareness, communication, future planning, leadership and self-advocacy. 

ACS is hiring 56 additional youth development specialists and 85 staff members dedicated to emergency response at Horizon and Crossroads. ACS has also strengthened efforts to prevent and remove contraband through investments in scanners, metal detectors and cameras.

In partnership with the Department of Design and Construction (DDC), ACS is expediting renovations at existing youth facilities. ACS is also working with the NYC School Construction Authority to expedite the development and installation of temporary classroom units (TCUs), creating additional space for educational programming.


Strengthening the Continuum of Care

The Administration is also investing in services that support young people from prevention through reentry, with the goal of preventing young people from entering the justice system in the first place and ensuring those who do come into contact with it have the support needed to succeed.

The Administration is supporting prevention programs that address both immediate and long-term mental health needs for young people leaving ACS and State Office of Children and Family Services custody.

During prior administrations, both Department of Probation (DOP) and NYCPS removed Court Liaisons who are stationed in the courts to help provide support and navigation to justice-involved youth. DOP began returning Court Liaisons to City Court in April. These staff help students, families and agency partners access education records and connect with schools, social services and other wraparound supports.

The Administration is also expanding reentry services through increased funding for organizations developing comprehensive interventions for justice-involved and high-risk young people.

These efforts build upon the work of the Youth Justice Working Group, which brings together City agencies and external justice system partners to strengthen the infrastructure supporting young people in contact with the justice system.

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