Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs

Agency Web Site: http://www.justicecenter.ny.gov/

Mission

The core mission of the Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs (Justice Center) is to protect the health and safety of vulnerable individuals in the State's care. The Justice Center has primary responsibility for tracking, investigating, and pursuing serious abuse and neglect complaints at State facilities and provider-operated facilities that are certified or licensed by the following six agencies: Office of Mental Health (OMH), Office for Persons with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD), Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS), the Department of Health (DOH), the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS), and the State Education Department (SED).

Budget Highlights

The Justice Center is a nationwide model for improving care for vulnerable populations, transforming how our state protects the over one million New Yorkers living under the care of six State agencies. The Executive Budget recommends $ 54.5 million in new appropriations for the Justice Center, and a workforce of 429 FTEs.

In 2015-16, the Justice Center will fully assume investigative responsibility for all cases of abuse and neglect in State-operated programs. The agency will also deliver statewide training to law enforcement officials to facilitate effective interviewing techniques of individuals with special needs and disabilities, and evaluate the use of a universal incident management system to provide a single, statewide platform to improve the accuracy, consistency and quality of incident reporting, tracking, and data analysis.

Other components and responsibilities of the Justice Center include the following:

• The Justice Center's law enforcement branch has concurrent authority with district attorneys to prosecute abuse and neglect crimes committed against such persons.
• A statewide 24/7 hotline staffed by trained professionals to ensure that allegations of abuse are promptly reported to law enforcement and are fully and effectively investigated.
• A register of workers who have committed serious or repeated acts of abuse who will be prohibited from ever being hired again in any position where they would work with people with disabilities or special needs.
• The responsibility to represent the State at all public employee disciplinary cases or those where the State is seeking termination of employment as the penalty.
• Consolidation of background check procedures, including reviewing and evaluating the criminal history for any person applying to be an employee, volunteer, consultant at any facility or provider agency operated, licensed or certified by OMH, OPWDD, and OCFS in a position where a background check is required.

Note: Most recent estimates as of 01/21/2015

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