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 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. The FY 2026 Executive Budget recommends the authorized staffing level of 491 FTEs.

Major Programs

To protect the health and safety of vulnerable people under the State’s care or oversight, 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. The Budget honors the State's pledge to protect vulnerable populations.

The Justice Center programs include the following:

Call Center

The agency’s call center operates 24 hours a day, 7 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 continues to monitor segregated confinement and Residential Rehabilitation Units for compliance with various provisions of the HALT legislation.

Budget Highlights

The FY 2026 Executive Budget recommends $63.3 million in new appropriations. This represents an increase of approximately $278,000 from FY 2025 based on anticipated agency operating costs.

ALL FUNDS
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Category	Available FY 2025	Appropriations Recommended FY 2026	Change From FY 2025	Reappropriations Recommended FY 2026
State Operations	62,265,000	62,335,000	70,000	3,322,000
Aid To Localities	799,000	1,007,000	208,000	698,000
Total	63,064,000	63,342,000	278,000	4,020,000

ALL FUND TYPES
PROJECTED LEVELS OF EMPLOYMENT BY PROGRAM
FILLED ANNUAL SALARIED POSITIONS
Program	FY 2025 Estimated FTEs 03/31/25	FY 2026 Estimated FTEs 03/31/26	FTE Change
Program Oversight
General Fund	490	491	1
Total	490	491	1

STATE OPERATIONS
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY FUND TYPE
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Fund Type	Available FY 2025	Recommended FY 2026	Change
Enterprise Funds	500,000	500,000	0
General Fund	59,085,000	59,155,000	70,000
Special Revenue Funds - Federal	2,064,000	2,064,000	0
Special Revenue Funds - Other	616,000	616,000	0
Total	62,265,000	62,335,000	70,000

STATE OPERATIONS
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY PROGRAM
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Program	Available FY 2025	Recommended FY 2026	Change
Program Oversight
Enterprise Funds	500,000	500,000	0
General Fund	59,085,000	59,155,000	70,000
Special Revenue Funds - Federal	2,064,000	2,064,000	0
Special Revenue Funds - Other	616,000	616,000	0
Total	62,265,000	62,335,000	70,000

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF PERSONAL SERVICE APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2026 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program	Total		Personal Service Regular (Annual Salaried)
Program	Amount	Change	Amount	Change
Program Oversight	46,679,000	70,000	46,362,000	70,000
Total	46,679,000	70,000	46,362,000	70,000

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF PERSONAL SERVICE APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2026 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program	Temporary Service (Nonannual Salaried)		Holiday/Overtime Pay
Program	Amount	Change	Amount	Change
Program Oversight	0	0	317,000	0
Total	0	0	317,000	0

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2026 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program	Total		Supplies and Materials
Program	Amount	Change	Amount	Change
Program Oversight	12,476,000	0	547,000	25,000
Total	12,476,000	0	547,000	25,000

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2026 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program	Travel		Contractual Services
Program	Amount	Change	Amount	Change
Program Oversight	2,199,000	25,000	9,002,000	(75,000)
Total	2,199,000	25,000	9,002,000	(75,000)

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2026 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program	Equipment
Program	Amount	Change
Program Oversight	728,000	25,000
Total	728,000	25,000

STATE OPERATIONS - OTHER THAN GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2026 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program	Total		Personal Service
Program	Amount	Change	Amount	Change
Program Oversight	3,180,000	0	729,000	0
Total	3,180,000	0	729,000	0

STATE OPERATIONS - OTHER THAN GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2026 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program	Nonpersonal Service
Program	Amount	Change
Program Oversight	2,451,000	0
Total	2,451,000	0

AID TO LOCALITIES
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY FUND TYPE
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Fund Type	Available FY 2025	Recommended FY 2026	Change
General Fund	799,000	1,007,000	208,000
Total	799,000	1,007,000	208,000

AID TO LOCALITIES
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY PROGRAM
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Program	Available FY 2025	Recommended FY 2026	Change
Community Support
General Fund	799,000	1,007,000	208,000
Total	799,000	1,007,000	208,000

Note: Most recent estimates as of 01/21/2025

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