NEW YORK -- A group of teens unveiled recommendations for diverting young people from the justice system to an audience of policymakers and nonprofit leaders from across New York City.
The teens are members of the Youth Justice Board, an after-school leadership program operated by the Center for Court Innovation that brings together young people from across New York City to study and propose solutions to public safety challenges.
Their new report, “Stepping Up: Strengthening Police, Youth, and Community Relationships,” offers seven recommendations for improving diversion programs and police-youth relations in New York City. The recommendations include creating regular opportunities for police and youth to interact in positive ways and expanding diversion eligibility.
“Our work is part of a growing movement looking at how young people who have been arrested can avoid more justice system involvement while being held accountable for their actions,” said Bryan, 17, a student at Brooklyn Preparatory High School. “Our hope is that the recommendations will build a bridge for police and youth to work together in solving our city’s public safety issues.”
The 14 members of the board presented their recommendations at Pace University to a group that included representatives from the New York Police Department.
The presentation represented the culmination of a year of study for the 2014-2015 board, during which members interviewed dozens of police, prosecutors, and social service providers, and held focus groups with justice-involved youth.
New York Police Department Deputy Commissioner for Collaborative Policing Susan Herman delivered the keynote address at the event, praising the work of the board and congratulating its members on the release of the report.
“We need to hear the clear, unencumbered voices of young people as we try to improve our criminal justice process. Because quite frankly, you know what you’re talking about,” Herman said.
Herman cited the Police Department’s collaboration with the board as part of its larger commitment to being responsive to the needs of youth, which has included the implementation of a diversion program for 16- and 17-year-olds—the first pre-arraignment diversion program in New York State.
Herman also called this a critical time for the justice system. “This is the year when the nation is examining our criminal justice process perhaps more than ever,” she said. “I have no doubt that this report and the fine work of this year’s Youth Justice Board are not only setting us off on the right path, but have also given us a great road map to follow.”
“We think that these recommendations are essential in addressing not only the fact that 16- and 17- year-olds are leaving the court system with permanent records, but also the fact that the police and members of the community are struggling to understand each other and work together,” said Ashley, 15, a student at Friends Seminary. “At the end of the day, we all want to coexist and work together in the best way possible.”