Governor David A. Paterson today announced the creation of the Task Force on Transforming Juvenile Justice to examine ways to improve New York’s juvenile justice system. The Task Force will develop and design a strategic blueprint for transforming the system, including examining alternatives to institutional placement, ways to assist children’s re-entry into the community, and redefining the conditions of confinement for juveniles across the State.

Additionally, the Task Force will study ways to improve treatment for juveniles in the areas of mental health and substance abuse, and will address the disproportionate number of minority youth in the system. New York’s juvenile justice system currently serves nearly 1,900 children at an approximate annual cost of up to $200,000 per child. More than three-quarters of those children are African-American or Latino.

“It is imperative that our State seek alternatives to a costly system that is not serving New York’s children, families and communities well,” said Governor Paterson. “With 80 percent of the children in New York’s custody released and rearrested within three years, reform of New York’s juvenile justice system will not only provide those children with necessary services for success, but will translate into safer communities across the State.”

Governor Paterson named a panel of national, state and local experts to the Task Force from a variety of fields including law enforcement, academia, government and community-based organizations. The Task Force will be chaired by CUNY’s John Jay College of Criminal Justice President, Jeremy Travis.

New York State Office of Children and Family Services Commissioner Gladys Carrión , Esq. will oversee the Task Force, and The Vera Institute of Justice, a Manhattan-based not-for-profit research center specializing in criminal justice issues, will be responsible for the Task Force’s day-to-day operations.

(YWN Desk – NYC)