N.y. courts seek root out is1/7/2024 ![]() New York needs MCC to operate at full capacity to help strengthen our justice system and solve our most persistent community problems. To further confuse people navigating the system, a judge mandated 600 of those relocated downtown to an alternative to incarceration program housed at MCC, sending them back uptown. From January to June of this year, 1,000 cases that would have been arraigned and served with co-located services at MCC were redirected downtown, causing unnecessary confusion and stress. With MCC operating in-person only one day a week, people are falling through the justice system’s cracks. It’s time for OCA to fully reopen MCC so their proven methods to prevent repeat offenses can be utilized during this trying period for our neighborhoods.” State Senator Brad Hoylman, Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said, “Without Midtown Community Court, we’re fighting quality of life crimes and recidivism with one hand tied behind our back. Reopening MCC full time will help improve access to justice and quality of life for all New Yorkers. MCC connects people accused of low-level offenses – such as shoplifting, drug possession, and prostitution – with services and diversion programs that can address the root causes of crime and reduce recidivism. Over the last quarter century, MCC’s model of problem-solving justice has led to effective responses to low-level crime, contributing to drops in both crime and use of jail. OCA, the court’s administrative arm, has still not announced a concrete timeline for their return to full operations five days a week. Rochester City Court Judge Teresa Johnson, who is the administrative judge for the city's courts, said, "I did not feel compelled to sign on.NEW YORK - To help address rising complaints in quality-of-life crimes and recidivism, elected officials, community leaders, and representatives from business improvement districts called on the NYS Office of Court Administration (OCA) to fully-reopen the Midtown Community Court (MCC), the nation’s first community court and a joint effort of OCA and the Center for Court Innovation.ĭespite repeated requests from elected officials, MCC is currently operating only one day a week. ![]() ![]() Not all judges saw the need to sign the letter. It may not be the court’ system’s fault that they are ending up there in growing numbers, she said, but judges have to be in a position to make sure that those girls are not being further harmed by unwarranted outcomes in their cases. State Supreme Court Justice Kathie Davidson, the administrative judge of the 9th Judicial District, which covers Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, Orange and Dutchess counties, said those who signed the letter wanted to “use our power and influence” to rectify not only the perception that institutional racism exists but the reality as well.Ī longtime Family Court judge, she offered the fact that minority girls are facing juvenile justice at an increased rate. ![]() As one example, he cited New Rochelle’s study of more opportunities for community service to replace fines that are often unaffordable. Rice also said that the courts have to expand restorative justice. That review, headed by Jeh Johnson, the former Homeland Security secretary, is expected to last until October. He too commended Chief Judge DiFiore for ordering an evaluation of the state courts’ policies and practices to identify and root out such bias. Rice said that like every realm of public life institutional racism has seeped into the courts. He said he didn’t think there was any underlying issue that prompted the letter.īut as judges generally can’t speak out publicly, he welcomed the opportunity "to collectively confirm our commitment to racial equity in our court system." "Hopefully letters like this are ways of beginning the conversation," said Lopez.Īmong the 14 jurists from Westchester who signed was one of its newest, New Rochelle City Judge Jared Rice. The letter signed by judges is an indication that judges across New York share concerns about court operations, Lopez said. Lopez said he was pleased the New York Chief Judge Janet DiFiore has launched an independent review of the state courts to try to identify and eliminate institutional racism within the system.
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