Clark describes Raise the Age exclusion and Bronx diversion programs
Clark says New York City counties are excluded from Raise the Age reimbursement because of property tax cap and local plan requirements. She describes her office's gun diversion programs, JIBI pilot for high-needs youth, and Bronx Restore with BRAG and Bronx Connect.
Beyond the changes to how young people are prosecuted, Raise the Age also
was designed to offer funding for programs and services that address the root causes of youth violence and turn young offenders away from negative behavior.
However, that investment remains a significant concern for New York City's five counties, which have been excluded from the state's existing reimbursement structure
because of eligibility requirements tied to the property tax cap and local implementation plans.
My office has not allowed those funding challenges to delay our pursuit of appropriate programs and services.
We have acquired grants and committed resources to develop initiatives that aim to quell violence, promote rehabilitation, and expand opportunities for young people.
First, our gun diversion programs, operated in partnership with the Osborne Association and the Fortune Society, serve eligible 16
and all the way up to 39-year-olds charged with gun possession who have no prior felony convictions.
They plead guilty to a felony, receive intensive services for a year, including therapy, counseling, help with school or work, and mentorship with regular check-ins before a judge.
If they complete the program successfully and not re-arrested within 90 days of completion, their pleas can be vacated and charges dismissed.
Second, Justice Innovation for Bronx Youth, or JIBI as we call it, is a pilot initiative providing holistic programming to vulnerable youth.
These are young adults charged with serious or violent offenses, and many existing youth programs will not accept them for services.
Participants are connected to mental health and
substance use professionals, credible messenger services, and spiritual guidance and life coach mentors to help turn their lives around.
Third, Bronx Restore is a pilot prevention program being developed by BRAG, which is one of our Cure Violence Group, Bronx Rises Against Guns, and Bronx Connect.
It is designed to serve 30 teens and young adults in the St.
Mary's area of the 40th precinct and Fordham section of the 46th precinct.
Participants will have access to mentorship, internships, life skills training, and case management throughout the year-long program.
They will also be paid $25 an hour for their participation, allowing them to not only invest in themselves, but in their financial futures as well.
These programs reflect our commitment to prevention and intervention alongside prosecution.
But we must also assess whether they reach the young people who need them, whether participants complete them, and whether the services provide measurable improvements in safety and long-term outcomes.
Sustained funding, coordination among agencies, and meaningful evaluation are essential to that.