Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs

Agency Web Site: https://www.justicecenter.ny.gov/

Mission

The 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 appropriate actions are taken.

Organization and Staffing

The Justice Center has an authorized staffing level of 428 FTEs, 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 Justice Center has prosecutorial jurisdiction to bring criminal charges in courts across the State.

Budget Highlights

The FY 2021 Executive Budget recommends $59 million in new appropriations. This represents an increase of $0.6 million from FY 2020 and is based on the level of anticipated agency operating costs.

To protect the health and safety of vulnerable individuals in the State’s care, 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 who, due to physical or intellectual disabilities, or the need for services or placement, are receiving care from one of the over 3,000 facilities or service providers overseen by the six State agencies.

Program Highlights

The Justice Center program highlights include the following:

Call Center

When a caller makes a report, the call center representative enters all details of the incident into an automated case management system. Serious abuse and neglect reports 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. Additionally, the agency's responsibilities include maintaining a Staff Exclusion List of people who are prohibited from working with these populations.

Prosecutions

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. The Justice Center also has a Special Prosecutor/Inspector General (SPIG) who can bring criminal charges in courts across the State. The SPIG is not intended to replace local law enforcement, but provides additional resources to existing law enforcement agencies and District Attorneys in investigating and prosecuting cases of abuse and neglect involving people with special needs.

Raise the Age (RTA)

The Justice Center's operations will continue to increase as a result of the RTA initiative and the placement of juveniles ages 16-17 in OCFS operated programs. Additional funding will continue to be made available through a centralized RTA appropriation.

ALL FUNDS
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Category	Available FY 2020	Appropriations Recommended FY 2021	Change From FY 2020	Reappropriations Recommended FY 2021
State Operations	57,373,000	57,775,000	402,000	4,471,000
Aid To Localities	649,000	799,000	150,000	400,000
Total	58,022,000	58,574,000	552,000	4,871,000

ALL FUND TYPES
PROJECTED LEVELS OF EMPLOYMENT BY PROGRAM
FILLED ANNUAL SALARIED POSITIONS
Program	FY 2020 Estimated FTEs 03/31/20	FY 2021 Estimated FTEs 03/31/21	FTE Change
Program Oversight
General Fund	415	414	(1)
Special Revenue Funds - Other	14	14	0
Total	429	428	(1)

STATE OPERATIONS
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY FUND TYPE
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Fund Type	Available FY 2020	Recommended FY 2021	Change
Enterprise Funds	500,000	500,000	0
General Fund	44,946,000	45,348,000	402,000
Special Revenue Funds - Federal	2,047,000	2,047,000	0
Special Revenue Funds - Other	9,880,000	9,880,000	0
Total	57,373,000	57,775,000	402,000

STATE OPERATIONS
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY PROGRAM
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Program	Available FY 2020	Recommended FY 2021	Change
Program Oversight
Enterprise Funds	500,000	500,000	0
General Fund	44,946,000	45,348,000	402,000
Special Revenue Funds - Federal	2,047,000	2,047,000	0
Special Revenue Funds - Other	9,880,000	9,880,000	0
Total	57,373,000	57,775,000	402,000

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF PERSONAL SERVICE APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2021 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program	Total		Personal Service Regular (Annual Salaried)
Program	Amount	Change	Amount	Change
Program Oversight	34,154,000	402,000	33,904,000	402,000
Total	34,154,000	402,000	33,904,000	402,000

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF PERSONAL SERVICE APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2021 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program	Temporary Service (Nonannual Salaried)		Holiday/Overtime Pay
Program	Amount	Change	Amount	Change
Program Oversight	0	0	250,000	0
Total	0	0	250,000	0

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2021 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program	Total		Supplies and Materials
Program	Amount	Change	Amount	Change
Program Oversight	11,194,000	0	334,000	0
Total	11,194,000	0	334,000	0

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2021 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program	Travel		Contractual Services
Program	Amount	Change	Amount	Change
Program Oversight	1,900,000	0	8,304,000	0
Total	1,900,000	0	8,304,000	0

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2021 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program	Equipment
Program	Amount	Change
Program Oversight	656,000	0
Total	656,000	0

STATE OPERATIONS - OTHER THAN GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2021 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program	Total		Personal Service
Program	Amount	Change	Amount	Change
Program Oversight	12,427,000	0	6,268,000	0
Total	12,427,000	0	6,268,000	0

STATE OPERATIONS - OTHER THAN GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2021 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program	Nonpersonal Service
Program	Amount	Change
Program Oversight	6,159,000	0
Total	6,159,000	0

AID TO LOCALITIES
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY FUND TYPE
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Fund Type	Available FY 2020	Recommended FY 2021	Change
General Fund	170,000	170,000	0
Special Revenue Funds - Other	479,000	629,000	150,000
Total	649,000	799,000	150,000

AID TO LOCALITIES
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY PROGRAM
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Program	Available FY 2020	Recommended FY 2021	Change
Community Support
General Fund	170,000	170,000	0
Special Revenue Funds - Other	479,000	629,000	150,000
Total	649,000	799,000	150,000

Note: Most recent estimates as of 01/29/2020

^Top