Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs
skip breadcrumbsAgency 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.
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 | ||
| 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 |
| Program | Total | Personal Service Regular (Annual Salaried) |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Program | Temporary Service (Nonannual Salaried) |
Holiday/Overtime Pay | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amount | Change | Amount | Change | |
| Program Oversight | 0 | 0 | 317,000 | 67,000 |
| Total | 0 | 0 | 317,000 | 67,000 |
| Program | Total | Supplies and Materials | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Program | Travel | Contractual Services | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Program | Equipment | |
|---|---|---|
| Amount | Change | |
| Program Oversight | 691,000 | 35,000 |
| Total | 691,000 | 35,000 |
| Program | Total | Personal Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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) |
| Program | Nonpersonal Service | |
|---|---|---|
| Amount | Change | |
| Program Oversight | 2,451,000 | (3,756,402) |
| Total | 2,451,000 | (3,756,402) |
| 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 |
| 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