Sean Vargas helps both parents with youth in probation and young people with court cases to get the services they need. He is the coordinator of family support services at the Queens Community Justice Center, where he has worked for 10 years. Everyday, he witnesses how kids experience going through the system, and they can be angry or worried. Sean uses fun—games, toys, jokes, to lower barriers and engage with people, bringing fun with him wherever he goes. Sean is a true changemaker who transforms communities with joy and hope.
Youth in the Rockaways, Queens reveal that they have an ever-present fear for their physical safety. The 50 young people we spoke with report maintaining constant vigilance when they are outside and staying indoors most of the time as strategies for staying safe. They experience a dearth of local activities for youth and express a desire for sports, arts, and financial literacy programming; school support; fun field trips; and spaces to learn about and discuss social issues like systemic racism.
Our Queens Community Justice Center recently moved to a new location and is planning to open a new office in the Rockaways. The Justice Center is dedicated to supporting people both in and outside the justice system, providing a range of services and opportunities for civic engagement for people of all ages. In this video, see the new space and hear our staff share how expanding services will build a stronger community for the residents of Queens.
This fact sheet is about the Queens Community Justice Center, a program of the Center for Court Innovation, which takes a holistic approach to prevent negative consequences that often accompany contact with the legal system. The Justice Center provides community-based options, such as social services to address underlying issues, to participants charged with low-level offenses mandated by the court.
This fact sheet describes the Queens Community Justice Center (formerly the Queens Youth Justice Center), a program of the Center for Court Innovation, which works with people both in and outside the justice system, providing a range of supportive services and opportunities for civic engagement for people of all ages.
This report was written by the Queens Neighborhood Youth Justice Council composed of seven young people ages 14 to 19 who met twice a week for eight weeks at the Queens Youth Justice Center. The Council engages adolescents in Queens in public policy issues that affect young people. In the summer of 2015, the Council focused on community-level interactions between LGBTQ youth and police.
This report provides a process and outcome evaluation of QUEST Futures, a program designed to reduce repeat offending by young people with mental illnesses in the juvenile justice system by providing mental health assessments, treatment planning, service coordination and family support.
The juvenile justice system can be stressful and confusing for young people and their families. This 13-minute video supports families by answering some common questions: Who are the key people I may meet? Am I expected to appear in court with my child? What's going to happen to my child? What can I do as a family member to help?
This report examines the first six months of the pilot Adolescent Diversion Program for court involved 16- and 17- year-olds in New York State. The study found that diverting young people to services does not increase recidivism rates and, in fact, reduces recidivism for those who would otherwise pose the greatest risk to public safety.
This research report examines the first year of a new pilot program at nine sites in New York State. The impact analysis found that program did not undermine public safety and was most effective for high-risk youth.
