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Releases & Statements
**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
December 8, 2008
Contact: Alex Shoor
212.669.4691; 202.669.7059
Release #: 043-2008
Gotbaum: Close Youth Detention Center and Save $14 Million; Funds Should be Used for Alternative Programs
NYC Youth Speak Out on Gang Activity at Roundtable Series
BRONX — Following a series of roundtable discussions with youth in Brooklyn and the Bronx, Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum released an updated report about gang activity in New York City neighborhoods and recommendations for how the city can address the problem. A key proposal is to close the under-capacity and isolated Bridges Youth Detention Center, formerly known as Spofford, helping the city save at least $14 million, which should be shifted to alternatives to detention programs, which have lower recidivism rates and are more cost effective than juvenile detention.
Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum said, “I have listened to young people, including gang members themselves, as well as other concerned New Yorkers. One thing some gang members told us is that their gang affiliation actually began in juvenile detention. We need to review community policing strategies and identify additional opportunities for police officers to engage young people, their families, neighbors, churches, and schools as part of anti-gang efforts. And we need to close the Bridges Youth Detention Facility, which is under-capacity and isolated from the community, and shift those resources to alternatives to detention that are more cost-effective and successful.”
Juvenile Justice Project Director Charisa A. Smith said, "The Correctional Association thanks the Public Advocate for this timely and crucial press conference and report. To truly realize and sustain change, the city must close Spofford while increasing investment in alternatives to detention and other community-based programs. As juvenile detention and incarceration costs sky-rocket, it defies logic to maintain Spofford. One secure detention bed costs over $214,000 per year and exposes youth to violence and depression. A good alternative program can produce outstanding results for around $15,000 per year per youth."
In the summer of 2007, the Office of the Public Advocate surveyed youth, predominantly from neighborhoods with known gang activity, about gangs in New York City. The findings of this survey were included in a working paper released in November 2007 titled Old Problem, New Eyes: Youth Insights on Gangs in New York City.
Following the release of the paper, the Office of the Public Advocate held a series of roundtable discussions. The first roundtable took place in Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn in November 2007, the second in the South Bronx Grand Concourse in January 2008, and the third in the Mott Haven section of the Bronx in May 2008. The series of roundtables included students, educators, community leaders, elected officials, and city officials. The purpose of the roundtables was to bring together a variety of perspectives—with an emphasis on the youth perspective—and to identify practical recommendations for addressing the problem of gangs in New York City.
The Public Advocate has the following recommendations:
Close the under-capacity Bridges Youth Detention Center and use the savings recovered to help fund alternatives to detention, which have lower recidivism rates and are more cost effective than juvenile detention.
Review community policing strategies and identify additional opportunities for police officers to engage young people, their families, neighbors, churches, and schools as part of anti-gang efforts.
Create a public/private fund to preserve and expand youth programming.
Create a youth programming guide and website to keep youth and parents informed.
Create opportunities for youth to participate in violence prevention efforts, including a summit or series of summits and a Youth Manifesto for New York City expressing beliefs, rights, goals, and specific measures for improving police and community relations.
Despite the fact that New York City, the largest city in the country, continues to enjoy low crime rates, the New York City Police Department (NYPD) reported an 11 percent increase in the number of "gang-motivated incidents" between Fiscal Years 2005 and 2008.
The updated edition of the report includes an addendum that discusses the insights and recommendations that came out of the roundtables.
The report can be found here.
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