Press Releases

Statement of Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Reverend Al Sharpton on Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s Juvenile Justice Reform Plan

STATEMENT OF MAYOR MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG AND REVEREND AL SHARPTON ON GOVERNOR ANDREW M. CUOMO’S JUVENILE JUSTICE REFORM PLAN

“In December 2010, we travelled together to the Finger Lakes Residential Center in Tompkins County to highlight the broken status quo that is New York State’s juvenile justice system. Today, Governor Cuomo has answered the call with a bold proposal to fix it and New Yorkers should rally around his plan.

“The current juvenile justice system is defined by an 81 percent recidivism rate and annual per-child costs that top $250,000. Too many of our young men are sent to prison and lost to the system. We can and must do better.

“The Governor has proposed a sweeping, progressive reform that will transfer primary responsibility for all but the most seriously delinquent youth from the State to the City, allowing our young people to remain closer to their families and receive the individualized services, supports and opportunities they need to successfully transition into productive lives in their communities.

“The plan is the result of months of collaboration between State and City officials who are determined to shut the revolving door of incarceration. We are also grateful to three members of the State Assembly who have made this their cause: Karim Camara, Joseph R. Lentol and Amy Paulin. We hope that all members of the Legislature will join them to pass the Governor’s proposal into law.”

Contact:
Stu Loeser / Samantha Levine –  (212) 788-2958
Rachel Noerdlinger (Reverend Sharpton) – (646) 380-2000