New York City’s juvenile detention facilities are facing serious oversights, with a recent state audit revealing rampant contraband, under-reported violence, and abuse, as well as high levels of absenteeism among detainees—a sign of deeper systemic issues that have yet to be fully addressed. The audit, which was conducted by state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, underscores a worrying picture of the inner workings of the Juvenile Justice System, painting a troubling look at the conditions under which many young New Yorkers are being held.
According to the Gothamist’s report on the audit, the influx of contraband such as razors, narcotics, and cellphones at the city’s two juvenile detention centers—Horizon Juvenile Center in the Bronx and Crossroads Juvenile Center in Brooklyn—skyrocketed to 706 cases in 2023, up from just 62 cases in 2019. Meanwhile, the audit discovered that instances of sexual assault and abuse within these facilities often went unreported or were significantly delayed in their reporting to state authorities. DiNapoli emphasized the urgent need for improvement in these areas, stating, “To protect the youth and the staff, the agency should improve case management, address safety issues and ensure access to education, special education, and medical and mental health services so the youth are prepared to re-enter society and have hope for a better future.”
In what appears to be an endemic issue, the state audit found that only just over half of the youths were screened within the first 24 hours of arrival at the detention centers; a requirement aimed at ensuring they receive necessary medical, mental health, or educational services. Chronic absenteeism from school programs was rampant among the detainees, with The City revealing absence percentages raging from 13% to 73% across different educational programs. The implications are dire; as the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice indicates, regular attendance in educational programs decreases the likelihood of re-offending, thereby underscoring the critical link between education and successful reintegration into society…