Restler questions Probation cuts and resulting resource gaps

You know, one of the hallmarks of the Adams administration was the hollowing out of the Department of Probation.

And we saw program after program just eliminated.

$5 million in cuts to evidence-based programs for at-risk young adults, such as the IMPACT program, $700,000 cut, $2.6 million cut to Next Steps, $1.6 million cut to Arches.

We saw the ICM program, Intensive Community Monitoring Program, gutted.

I could keep going, but you got the drift.

Has, we have not yet really seen those programs replaced.

So do you feel the difference?

Do you notice the fact that we can't rely on, we haven't been able over these last number of years to rely on the Department of Probation?

Is anything changing?

Do you feel like there's a gap there that's leading to more detention as a result?

I can't say that it's leading to more detention, but I could say it's leading to less resources that we could use that would be helpful in determining whether or not somebody could be detained.

Look, the Department of Probation is a massive agency that does great work.

I've worked alongside them all my life, starting as an assistant DA, 16 years as a judge, sentencing people to probation, and now 10 years with the DA's office.

They play a vital role in this space, and I want to see them get as many resources as possible that they can use to help us with that.

You want to call out any specific programs that were cut by the Adams administration and Commissioner Holmes that you think need to be restored?

Well, I mean, I don't, you would know better than me.

I don't know exactly every single one.

I just know the resources were cut, and we need them back.

We need them back.

So I don't care who was responsible for it.

We need them.

I told the chair that I wouldn't use my whole time, so I'm yielding it back for the first time ever.

Thank you.

Thank you.