New York

For more than one year, the Commission has studied the City’s criminal justice system, and Rikers Island in particular. In addition to gathering formal testimony and interviewing a wide range of experts—city officials, corrections staff, formerly incarcerated New Yorkers and their families, prosecutors, defense attorneys, clergy, service providers, advocates, and others—the Commission undertook a far-reaching community engagement process, including meetings with the faith community, design workshops, public roundtables throughout the City, and a website to solicit public input. The Commission also performed in-depth data analysis and evaluated model programs and practices from across the country and around the world.

New York State’s juvenile justice system has seen significant improvements in community safety, coordination, data-driven decision-making, and outcomes for youth ages seven to 15 in just a few short years as the result of collective visioning and action.

Published by FSG, as part of New York Juvenile Justice Initiative Mini Case Study