NEWYORK: Governor Kathy Hochul announced $15 million to help establish the Staten Island Community Justice Center, transforming the borough’s former criminal courthouse at 67 Targee Street into a permanent hub for community-based justice, youth programming and supportive services.
“Public safety is my top priority. Keeping communities safe means ensuring that every corner of New York has the resources necessary to drive down crime,” Governor Hochul said.
“With this investment, Staten Island will finally have a permanent Community Justice Center that brings critical services and support together in one place to make communities across Staten Island safer.”
Staten Island was the only New York City borough without a Community Justice Center, leaving its 500,000 residents without the coordinated neighborhood infrastructure available elsewhere in the city.
Governor Hocul’s $15 million investment will bring government and non-profit partners together to build on services already provided to Staten Islanders by the Center for Justice Innovation, creating a hub for programming designed to address the underlying factors that contribute to crime and recidivism into a dedicated facility.
The Center for Justice Innovation currently provides Staten Island residents with diversion and alternatives-to-incarceration programs, counseling, youth mentorship, workforce development, reentry services and other support.
The Center will serve as a neighborhood-based service hub and will provide trauma-informed, culturally responsive screening, assessment, case management, and referrals for mental health, substance use, housing and employment.
By increasing access to alternatives to incarceration and treatment, the Center will strengthen accountability and public safety and will provide a permanent home for youth diversion, mentorship, violence prevention and victim services.
