More can be done to scale back New York's youth detention facilities
The states Tryon juvenile prison in Johnstown has room for 30 girls in its most secure section. As of Oct. 26, there were only 10 girls there.
Unused capacity is common throughout the juvenile prison system. All told, more than one in five beds at New Yorks juvenile prisons at all levels of security for both boys and girls were empty two weeks ago. That doesnt include the states five day-placement and evening reporting centers for youthful offenders, which could have taken in 15 more kids. And it doesnt include the states group home for girls on Staten Island, which had only three of its seven beds filled two weeks ago.
Even the states contract programs with local non-profit agencies to provide young offenders with services ranging from family-based counseling to specialized after-school activities could take in about 22 percent more kids. The programs reduce the length of time youngsters spend in prisons, strengthen bonds with families and communities, and make it less likely that theyll break the law again.
Clearly, the state needs to consolidate or close some of its youth centers. This years state budget does just that, shutting down nine residential and evening reporting centers and downsizing two prisons. The state expects to save $10 million in 2009-10 and $14 million to $16 million a year thereafter.
The closures include the Syracuse Community Residential Home for pregnant girls on South Salina Street and the Syracuse Evening Reporting Center on East Genesee Street. A year ago, the home housed one girl and the reporting center served three teens.
The state will still operate 25 residential facilities at 76 percent capacity, with approximately 1,390 beds, plus the day-placement centers. It seems, however, that 1,390 beds still might be too much. At 76 percent capacity, the juvenile prison system would have at least 333 beds empty. The state cant afford that.
Sure, the system needs flexibility to compensate for an unexpected uptick in its population. Juvenile crime, for example, might go up for some reason. But following federal revelations of brutality by guards and slipshod mental health care for youngsters in four Upstate youth detention facilities, the state Office of Children and Family Services, which runs the facilities, is trying to reform the system. More lawbreaking kids will get treatment for mental or substance abuse problems in less restrictive settings, rather than just being locked away. Many judges, recognizing that juvenile prisons can be a breeding ground for career criminals, are following suit in their sentences.
Gladys Carrion, OCFS commissioner, said the federal investigations findings are prevalent throughout the entire system. The culture that led to the scandal is so embedded at some facilities, she said, that she probably will have no choice but to close them down. Good.
The governors Task Force on Transforming Juvenile Justice is to make its recommendations on alternatives to institutionalization by the end of the year.
State lawmakers should heed its advice. Too many children have been damaged by the dysfunctional juvenile prison system as it is.
Editorial opinion
12 November 009
http://blog.syracuse.com/opinion/2009/11/more_can_be_done_to_scale_back.html
