Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs

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

Mission

The Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs (Justice Center) is committed to supporting and protecting the health, safety, and dignity of all people with special needs and disabilities through advocacy of their civil rights, prevention of mistreatment, and investigation of all allegations of abuse and neglect so that appropriate actions are taken.

Organization and Staffing

The Justice Center has an authorized staffing level of 460 FTEs, an increase of 7 FTEs from FY 2022, with responsibility for two major program areas: the call center and investigations. The agency also has a legal team and staff that work in a variety of program areas including advocacy, training, and general administration. Additionally, the agency’s responsibilities include maintaining a Staff Exclusion List of people who are prohibited from working with vulnerable populations.

Budget Highlights

The FY 2023 Executive Budget recommends nearly $61 million in new appropriations. This represents an increase of approximately $2.7 million from FY 2022 and is based on the anticipated agency operating costs; including $850 thousand for the Justice Center to bolster its IT capabilities, create a data analytics group, and purchase automation equipment to streamline their processes.

To protect the health and safety of vulnerable individuals, the Justice Center has primary responsibility for receiving, investigating and/or reviewing abuse and neglect allegations at certain facilities and programs that are operated, certified, or licensed by the following six agencies: Office of Mental Health (OMH), Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD), Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS), Department of Health (DOH), Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS), and the State Education Department (SED). The Justice Center is responsible for ensuring the safety and well-being of the approximately one million adults and children receiving care from one of approximately 3,500 facilities or service providers overseen by the six State agencies.

Program Highlights

The Justice Center program highlights include the following:

Call Center

The agency’s call center operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week to receive reports of allegations of abuse and neglect. Serious abuse and neglect reports and deaths are referred for investigation by the Justice Center, with lesser offenses delegated to the appropriate State Oversight Agency (SOA) listed above for investigation.

Investigations

The Justice Center investigates allegations of abuse and neglect against vulnerable populations served by programs operated, licensed or certified by the six SOAs. Once a report is made to the Justice Center, two types of cases can be created: administrative or criminal. An administrative investigation is conducted in all cases that have an allegation of abuse and neglect, while a criminal investigation is conducted in all cases that have an allegation of potential criminal offense. In addition, local District Attorneys are notified of every allegation of criminal abuse and neglect reported to the Justice Center.

Investigations are conducted by the Justice Center, the SOA, or the provider depending on the severity and setting of the allegation. Every investigation is reviewed by the Justice Center once complete, regardless of what entity conducts it. Every allegation reported to the Justice Center is deemed to be either substantiated or unsubstantiated at the conclusion of the review process.

In criminal cases, the Justice Center collaborates with State Police, local law enforcement agencies, and District Attorneys to pursue prosecution to the extent allowed by the law.

Other Initiatives

The Justice Center’s operations have continued to increase due to its participation in the Raise the Age (RTA) initiative and the placement of juveniles ages 16-17 in OCFS-operated programs. In addition, the FY 2022 Enacted Budget included the Humane Alternatives to Long-Term Solitary Confinement Act (HALT). The Justice Center has been charged with monitoring segregated confinement and newly created Residential Rehabilitation Units for compliance with various provisions of the HALT legislation.

ALL FUNDS
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Category	Available FY 2022	Appropriations Recommended FY 2023	Change From FY 2022	Reappropriations Recommended FY 2023
State Operations	59,294,407	60,098,000	803,593	4,321,000
Aid To Localities	799,000	799,000	0	518,000
Total	60,093,407	60,897,000	803,593	4,839,000

ALL FUND TYPES
PROJECTED LEVELS OF EMPLOYMENT BY PROGRAM
FILLED ANNUAL SALARIED POSITIONS
Program	FY 2022 Estimated FTEs 03/31/22	FY 2023 Estimated FTEs 03/31/23	FTE Change
Program Oversight
General Fund	439	446	7
Special Revenue Funds - Other	14	14	0
Total	453	460	7

STATE OPERATIONS
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY FUND TYPE
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Fund Type	Available FY 2022	Recommended FY 2023	Change
Enterprise Funds	500,000	500,000	0
General Fund	46,705,123	56,918,000	10,212,877
Special Revenue Funds - Federal	2,047,000	2,064,000	17,000
Special Revenue Funds - Other	10,042,284	616,000	(9,426,284)
Total	59,294,407	60,098,000	803,593
Adjustments:
Transfer(s) From
Special Pay Bill
General Fund	(1,925,407)
Appropriated FY 2022	57,369,000

STATE OPERATIONS
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY PROGRAM
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Program	Available FY 2022	Recommended FY 2023	Change
Program Oversight
Enterprise Funds	500,000	500,000	0
General Fund	46,705,123	56,918,000	10,212,877
Special Revenue Funds - Federal	2,047,000	2,064,000	17,000
Special Revenue Funds - Other	10,042,284	616,000	(9,426,284)
Total	59,294,407	60,098,000	803,593

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF PERSONAL SERVICE APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2023 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program	Total		Personal Service Regular (Annual Salaried)
Program	Amount	Change	Amount	Change
Program Oversight	44,810,000	9,298,877	44,493,000	9,231,877
Total	44,810,000	9,298,877	44,493,000	9,231,877

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF PERSONAL SERVICE APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2023 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program	Temporary Service (Nonannual Salaried)		Holiday/Overtime Pay
Program	Amount	Change	Amount	Change
Program Oversight	0	0	317,000	67,000
Total	0	0	317,000	67,000

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2023 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program	Total		Supplies and Materials
Program	Amount	Change	Amount	Change
Program Oversight	12,108,000	914,000	513,000	179,000
Total	12,108,000	914,000	513,000	179,000

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2023 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program	Travel		Contractual Services
Program	Amount	Change	Amount	Change
Program Oversight	2,135,000	235,000	8,769,000	465,000
Total	2,135,000	235,000	8,769,000	465,000

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2023 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program	Equipment
Program	Amount	Change
Program Oversight	691,000	35,000
Total	691,000	35,000

STATE OPERATIONS - OTHER THAN GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2023 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program	Total		Personal Service
Program	Amount	Change	Amount	Change
Program Oversight	3,180,000	(9,409,284)	729,000	(5,652,882)
Total	3,180,000	(9,409,284)	729,000	(5,652,882)

STATE OPERATIONS - OTHER THAN GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2023 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program	Nonpersonal Service
Program	Amount	Change
Program Oversight	2,451,000	(3,756,402)
Total	2,451,000	(3,756,402)

AID TO LOCALITIES
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY FUND TYPE
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Fund Type	Available FY 2022	Recommended FY 2023	Change
General Fund	230,000	799,000	569,000
Special Revenue Funds - Other	569,000	0	(569,000)
Total	799,000	799,000	0

AID TO LOCALITIES
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY PROGRAM
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Program	Available FY 2022	Recommended FY 2023	Change
Community Support
General Fund	230,000	799,000	569,000
Special Revenue Funds - Other	569,000	0	(569,000)
Total	799,000	799,000	0

Note: Most recent estimates as of 05/11/2020

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