Gaston outlines community alternatives and step-down efforts
Gaston outlines Mamdani administration efforts to expand community-based alternatives and intensive monitoring. She says ACS invested an additional $12.2 million in alternatives, is expediting discharges, and is working to establish non-secure detention as a step-down option.
The Mamdani administration is taking many steps to help us meet those needs.
We all want young people to get services and supports that they need and that their families need, and to get these in the community when possible.
ACS's Community-Based Alternatives Continuum
provides a range of support services to over 3,000 youth and their families each year.
To increase the availability of these services, starting in fiscal year 26 and growing in fiscal year 2027, ACS invested an additional $12.2 million
in our community-based alternatives to expand the support available for youth and help prevent detention.
The Mamdani administration is pursuing every avenue possible to meet the needs of the youth in the community and to ultimately reduce the census and detention.
This includes additional investments in the community-based services and intensive monitoring that enables youth to remain in the community.
In addition, the Mamdani administration has focused on efforts to expedite youth discharge from detention by working closely with the court system and court partners.
We have been collaborating to establish ACS's non-secure detention programs as an option for judges to step down youth who are doing well in security.
detention to a less restrictive environment.
We have also been coordinating with the state so that youth that have been sentenced are more expeditiously transferred.