The Problem
Children involved in the adult and juvenile justice systems are disproportionately poor youth of color. The institutions they enter, including the courts, government-supervised release, detention and sentenced incarceration have traditionally failed them and their families. Despite children’s well-established rights to safety, developmentally-appropriate supports, programming and education, these justice systems have struggled to effectively balance the need for rehabilitation, accountability and public safety, while also preserving the rights of youth. In New York, there have been major reforms, which have resulted in raising the age of criminal liability, promoting community-based placements and decreasing the need for detention. The challenge ahead is to ensure that recent reforms are implemented with fidelity, that priorities include further improvements to reduce youth contact with the system, that we commit to protect older youth who remain in the adult criminal justice system, and that we build the continuum of services and supports youth and families need to thrive.
Our Vision
We envision justice systems that recognize and meet the needs of youth that emphasize prevention and alternatives to detention, while promoting community-connectedness, principles of positive youth development and restorative justice.
The Solution
We use a dual lens that reflects both a commitment to working with lawmakers, administrators and stakeholders to promote evidence-based best practice in New York’s justice systems, and a rights-based approach, recognizing the need to adopt policies and practices that best serve youth and their families, in light of the obligations that public systems owe to our children.
- We work in coalition to amplify children’s voices.
- We advocate for and support the implementation of common-sense reforms, like Raise the Age and Close to Home.
- We serve as a watch-dog, monitoring the way children are involved in the justice system, and stand ready to challenge positions, policies and practices that are inconsistent with their well-being.
Our objective is to achieve change through state and local law and policy, sustainable investments in what works, and being part of a national dialogue supporting youth justice reform.
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2023 CDF-NY Week of Action Digital Toolkit
The CDF-NY Week of Action Toolkit provides leaders like you with valuable resources to help promote the importance of advocating to our New York elected officials to pass a State budget that prioritizes marginalized children, youth, young adults, families and their communities in the areas of economic mobility, health equity, youth justice and child welfare.
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CDF-NY Testimony on the 2023 – 2024 New York State Housing Executive Budget
As a co-founder and leader of the statewide Lead Free Kids New York coalition and an organization whose policy priorities include such issues as economic mobility, child welfare, youth justice, and health equity – issues all rooted in poverty and which impacts child, youth, and family housing stability – the Children’s Defense Fund-New York (CDF-NY) appreciates the Senate Finance Committee and the Assembly Ways and Means Committee for the opportunity to submit testimony for this Joint Legislative Public Hearing to discuss the Executive Budget for Housing.
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Leveraging Racial & Ethnic Impact Statements to Achieve Racial Equity in All Policies & Rules: New York’s Communities of Color Have a Right to Full Justice & Equity
Our State must take a stand and lead the nation in only legislating policies that uplift, not harm, our most marginalized communities. Now is the time to lead the nation in embarking on the path to achieving equity in all policies.
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CDF-NY 2023-2024 Human Services Budget Testimony
Children’s Defense Fund – New York (CDF-NY) thanks the chairs of the Assembly Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee for the opportunity to submit testimony on the 2023 – 2024 New York State Human Services Executive Budget Proposal.
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PRESS RELEASE: In Celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, The Children’s Defense Fund – New York Calls for a Just State Budget that Centers Children, Youth and Families
Today, as a part of its celebration of the life and world-changing legacy of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., renowned civil rights activist and one of the greatest nonviolent leaders in world history, the Children’s Defense Fund – New York (CDF-NY) releases its Fiscal Year 2023- 2024 Legislative and Budget Agenda, titled Prioritizing the Needs of Children, Youth and Families: New York State Budget and Legislative Priorities.
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Prioritizing the Needs of Children, Youth and Families: New York State Budget and Legislative Priorities FY 2023 – 2024
As communities of color continue to navigate the triple crises of COVID-19, inflation, and systemic oppression rooted in racism, our State elected officials must do what is just, which is to put New York on a strong path to a just equitable recovery by centering and prioritizing the needs of the youngest New Yorkers along with marginalized children, youth and families in the FY 2023-2024 Budget and Legislative Session in ways that center their physical and mental wellness and economic health, thereby enabling them to have joy and to thrive.
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Leveraging Racial & Ethnic Impact Statements To Achieve Racial Equity In All Policies: National Context
Enacting new legislation and rules without first evaluating their potential to disproportionately impact New York’s communities of color only perpetuates deep-rooted and systemic racial and […]
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CDF-NY 2022 Final State Budget Response
Mired in last-minute negotiations to roll-back recent criminal justice reforms, including Raise the Age, the final State Budget is a disappointment for children, youth and families. While we cannot overlook important new investments in child care and health care for new mothers, the budget still failed to prioritize our children.
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Raise the Age Coalition Statement on Final FY 2023 New York State Budget
Today, New York State legislators reached a budgetary agreement preserving the Raise the Age law, despite Governor Hochul’s last-minute effort to roll back this historic set of reforms. The Raise the Age NY Coalition is grateful for our champions in the New York State Senate and Assembly who have stood up for New York’s young people and fought for a more equitable criminal justice system during these negotiations.
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Our New York Children’s Budget: A Community Vision for Prioritizing Our Children
New York can and must do better for our children, youth and families. This report is a blueprint for addressing the most pressing needs of New York children, and the Governor and the Legislature must adopt these proposals in the Fiscal Year 2022-23 budget to realize our bold vision rooted in making opportunities accessible, ending harm and transforming systems.
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CDF-NY FY23 Human Services Budget Testimony
On behalf of the Children’s Defense Fund – New York (CDF), I thank Chairpersons Krueger and Weinstein for the opportunity to submit this testimony.
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Raise the Age NY Press Release | Rolling Back Raise the Age Will Not Make New York City Safer
New York City Must Invest More Deeply in Youth and Communities to
Reduce Gun Violence -
PRESS RELEASE: In Celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, The Children’s Defense Fund – New York Releases Its 2022 Legislative and Budget Agenda
Today, as a part of its celebration of the life and world-changing legacy of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., renowned civil rights activist and one of the greatest nonviolent leaders in world history, the Children’s Defense Fund – New York (CDF-NY) releases its Fiscal Year 2022-2023 Legislative and Budget Agenda, titled Prioritizing the Needs of Children, Youth and Families: New York State Budget and Legislative Priorities.
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PRESS RELEASE: To Continue the Legacy of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), The Children’s Defense Fund – New York Demands the Expansion of Voting Rights for 16- and 17-Year-Olds
Today we commemorate the legacy of Dr. King by calling for the passage of NYS Senate Bill S366, which would lower the voting age in New York State to 16 years and require that students receive education in civics and be allowed to register to vote in the classroom, and for the passage of H.J.Res.23, which would lower the voting age in America to 16 years old.
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Prioritizing the Needs of Children, Youth and Families: New York State Budget and Legislative Priorities (FY 2022-2023)
As our communities continue to navigate the COVID crisis across New York State, we must seize this moment to center the needs of the youngest New Yorkers and to build a bold new vision for marginalized children, youth and families to thrive.
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PRESS RELEASE: Governor Signs into Law New Legislation to Raise the Lower Age for Juvenile Delinquency and End the Arrest and Prosecution of Children Under 12
Yesterday, Governor Hochul signed into law ground-breaking legislation to end the arrest and prosecution of children as young as 7 as juvenile delinquents for almost all offenses and create an alternative response of community-based supports.
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Centering Youth Voices at New York City’s Polls: 2021 Voter Issue Guide
As New Yorkers cast their ballots this Fall, supporting policies and platforms that prioritize child, youth and family wellbeing is critical. #VoteBecause the needs of the youngest New Yorkers and their families must be centered on Election Day – and every day.
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CDF-NY Children’s Sabbaths ® 2021 Call to Action
On this 30th Annual National Observance of Children’s Sabbaths ® Celebration, the Children’s Defense Fund – New York (CDF-NY) urges you to take action for our State’s most vulnerable children and families.
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2021 Legislative Session Report Card
With the conclusion of the 2021 Legislative Session, we pause to take stock of progress for New York’s children and families, celebrate our victories and assess where further advocacy is needed to level the playing field for the youngest New Yorkers.
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Raise the Age NY Press Release | Youthful Offender Second Chance Passed
The New York State Senate and Assembly have passed S.282 (Myrie) / A.6769 (Hyndman), legislation providing people who were eligible for youthful offender (YO) status but denied in the past a new opportunity to apply for it.
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Raise the Age NY Press Release | Raise the Lower Age Passed
Legislature Passes Bill to Raise the Lower Age and End the Arrest and Prosecution of Children Under 12
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Public Comment on the NYC Board of Corrections Proposed Rules Concerning Restrictive Housing
I write to you with deep concern about the proposed rules concerning restrictive housing, especially the provisions concerning Young Adults and the application of the Risk Management Accountability System (RMAS) outlined there.
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Justice Roadmap
We are criminal justice and immigration justice advocates, directly impacted people, legal service providers, and faith leaders who stand united in the belief that this is a critical moment in our country’s history, one that requires our state’s leaders to have moral clarity and take unequivocal action.
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Raise The Age New York Statement on FY2022 Adopted Budget
Final Budget Closes 2 Youth Prisons and Restores Cuts to Services, Misses Opportunity for More Closures and Community Reinvestment
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CDF-NY 2021 HALT Memo of Support
The Children’s Defense Fund-New York (CDF) submits this memo of support for the Humane Alternatives to Long-Term (HALT) Solitary Confinement Act, S.2836/A.2277A.
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Raise The Age – New York Memo of Support for S4002/A5449
In light of the recent incident in Rochester where a 9 year old girl experienced a mental health crisis and was physically restrained with handcuffs and pepper sprayed by police, we are confronted by the failure of our response to children in mental health crisis and the criminalization of Black children in New York.
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CDF-NY Memo of Support for S4002/A5449
Children’s Defense Fund-New York writes in support of S4002 (Brouk)/ A5449 (Meeks), which is a necessary first step in reform and protects children from chemical agents in our communities.
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CDF-NY FY22 Public Protection Budget Testimony
Children’s Defense Fund – New York (CDF-NY) thanks the Joint Legislative Public Hearing on 2021 Executive Budget Proposal: Human Public Protection for this opportunity to […]
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CDF-NY Memo of Support for S3408
The precarity of Black children’s lives, the stress of the COVID-19 pandemic in their communities, and the events in Rochester make it clear that we need legislation to establish a Black Youth Suicide Prevention Task Force to evaluate and improve mental health supports for New York’s Black children.
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CDF-NY FY22 Human Services Budget Testimony
Children’s Defense Fund – New York (CDF-NY) thanks the Joint Legislative Public Hearing on 2021 Executive Budget Proposal: Human Services for this opportunity to submit […]
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The Raise the Age Coalition Applauds the Governor’s Plan to Close 4 Juvenile Facilities
Members of the Raise the Age NY Coalition applaud the Governor’s proposal to move swiftly to close four juvenile placement facilities and reduce the State’s […]
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Response to the Governor’s Proposed FY 2022 Executive Budget
Last spring and summer, 4,200 New York children lost a parent or guardian to COVID-19 — that’s one out of every 1,000 of our State’s […]
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CDF-NY 2021-2022 Legislative and Budget Priorities
The Children’s Defense Fund-New York seeks to ensure that children are centered in all budget and legislation decisions, with a particular emphasis on racial impact, […]
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Bringing New York Children’s Voices to the Polls: 2020 Voter Issue Guide
As New Yorkers cast their ballots this Fall, protecting the programs and policies that impact our children, youth and families is critical. We urge New […]
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Expanding Youth Justice in New York
An analysis by the Children’s Defense Fund-New York and Youth Represent on research and policy interventions for emerging adults age 18 to 25.
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Evaluating the Implementation of Raise the Age
CDF-NY as part of the Youth Justice Research Collaborative worked with our partners to develop a report that outlines the preliminary findings of Raise the […]
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Protecting Children in the Budget – Joint Letter to NYS Leadership
We ask NYS leadership to center children and families in their priorities and commit to protect essential programs that promote health, well-being, resilience, family stability, […]
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The Raise the Age campaign letter of support for S3457/ A5045
The Raise the Age campaign strongly supports S3457 (Montgomery) / A5045 (Davila), which promotes financial justice for youth by allowing judges to waive some court […]
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Updated Raise the Age Bill Summary
On April 10, 2017, Governor Cuomo signed into law “Raise the Age” legislation that was included as part of the State Budget.
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Statement of the Raise the Age-NY Campaign to the NYS Assembly and Senate Hearing on Exploring Solutions to the Disproportionate Impact of COVID-19 on Minority Communities
Recent reporting has highlighted, policing in New York City during the COVID-19 crisis to enforce social distancing disparately targets communities of color and places youth […]
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What Children and Youth Need Now: Addressing Education and Youth Justice During the COVID-19 Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has destabilized our economy and exacerbated the inequities that exist in our communities state-wide. Our justice and education systems must swiftly adjust […]
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CDF-NY Priorities in the New York State FY2021 Final Budget
Children’s Defense Fund – New York (CDF-NY) examined the budget’s impacts on children and families, with attention to on child welfare and family wellbeing, economic […]
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Raise the Age NY letter to Governor Cuomo on COVID-19
As New York takes essential measures to reduce contact under your Executive Order, including closing schools and shuttering all non-essential businesses, young people and family […]
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Raise the Age NY letter to Mayor DeBlasio on COVID-19
As the City and State take essential but drastic measures to reduce contact, including closing schools and shuttering all non-essential businesses, young people and family […]
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New York State Budget Embraces Some Reforms But Fails to Invest In Child and Family Well-Being
The Children’s Defense Fund-New York applauds the leadership in Albany for important reforms in youth justice and child welfare, but we are deeply disappointed with […]
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Raise the Age Coalition Statement on Protecting Youth and Communities from Risks Posed by the Novel Coronavirus
The Raise the Age Coalition calls for the immediate release of as many youth as possible from detention facilities across New York in light of […]
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CDF-NY Testimony Before the New York City Council Committee on Criminal Justice
The State’s Raise the Age law allows us to begin to remedy a culture that has harmed our young people in unspeakable ways.
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CDF-NY 2020-2021 State Budget and Legislative Priorities
The Children’s Defense Fund-New York provides our 2020-2021 State Budget and Legislative Priorities.
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Testimony of CDF-NY before the Assembly Standing Committee on Codes and the Assembly Standing Committee on Correction
We have an opportunity to move New York into a national leadership position in youth justice, enlarging protections for youth left out of Raise the […]
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Public comment concerning the proposed Restrictive Housing rules
The Children’s Defense Fund-New York’s (CDF-NY) public comment concerning the proposed Restrictive Housing rules.
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Public comments concerning the reclassification of two existing adult correctional facilities to Adolescent Offender Facilities
Public comments on the proposed amendments to sections 100.6 and 100.75 of Title 7 NYCRR, concerning the reclassification of two existing adult correctional facilities to Adolescent Offender Facilities, pursuant to Raise the Age (Correction Law, section 70, et seq.).
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Letter Against Adolescent Offender Solitary Confinement
This is a letter demanding an immediate end to the use of solitary confinement (also known as the Adolescent Offender Segregation Unit (AOSU)) in Adolescent […]
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Memorandum in Support of S6009/A7818
The New York State Youth Justice Coalition writes in support of S6009/A7818, a bill to clarify the legislature’s intent to establish a single computerized state […]
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Memorandum in Support of A8315/S6550
This memo is to express support for A8315 (Lentol) / S6550 (Bailey), a bill to amend the criminal procedure law to provide an accessible magistrate […]
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Raise the Age Implementation Brief
The Raise the Age law went into effect on October 1, 2018, marking the first phase of the reform.
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Fact Sheet: NY Youth Justice
With implementation of Raise the Age (RTA) October 1, 2018, sixteen year olds who are arrested on most misdemeanors are processed as Juvenile Delinquents (JDs) […]
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Testimony: For the Deconstructing the Prison Pipeline Task Force
Testimony and recommendations on the cross-system aspects of youth justice.
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Testimony: For the Deconstructing the Prison Pipeline Task Force
Testimony on the educational policies and practices that push students out of school before graduation, and subsequently fuel the prison pipeline.
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CDF-NY Priorities in the New York State FY 2020 Final Budget
On April 1, 2019, the New York Legislature adopted the Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 final state budget. The final budget includes $175.5 billion in spending. […]
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Testimony of the Children’s Defense Fund-NY before the New York City Council Committee on Criminal Justice Oversight Hearing – Department of Correction Programming
Whether adolescents who are now housed at the Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) Crossroads and Horizon detention facilities, or young adults who remain on Rikers […]
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CDF-NY Testimony: Oversight Hearing – Evaluating Programs that Aim to Reduce Recidivism Among Justice Involved Youth
The continuity of services for justice-involved youth is essential to the City’s progress in youth justice and success with Raise the Age implementation. We hope […]
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Testimony of the Children’s Defense Fund-New York at the Public Hearing on Access to Mental Health Services in the Juvenile Justice System
Continuing to move New York’s juvenile justice system forward requires a continued focus on the unique needs of children, and what we know works best […]
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New York City Department of Education Student Safety Act Data: School Year 2017-2018
Every October 31st, the New York City Department of Education is required to release Student Safety Act data for the previous school year, making public the use of suspensions and classroom removals in New York City public schools. The latest numbers show that the use of suspensions grew 4.1% and classroom removals grew 11.4% during the 2017-2018 school year compared to the year before.
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New York Police Department Student Safety Act Data: July 1, 2017 TO June 30, 2018
During the 2017-2018 school year there were 11,009 incidents in schools reported by the NYPD through the Student Safety Act, a local law established to bring transparency to the scope of police contact with students in NYC schools. Reported incidents are categorized as “interventions” and refer to arrests, summonses, child in crisis incidents, juvenile reports, PINS / warrants, and mitigated incidents.
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Raise the Age Bill Summary
The presumptive age of juvenile accountability is raised for 16 year olds effective 10/1/18 and for 17 year olds effective 10/1/19.
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2018 Election Guide: New York’s Children
Having the basic necessities of life such as nutritious meals and financial security is a universal human right and something all people concerned with the well-being of children should work to secure.
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Testimony of the Children’s Defense Fund-New York For the New York City Council Committee on Public Safety and Committee on Education Oversight Hearing on School Emergency Preparedness and Safety
Urging the DOE to replace punitive school discipline and safety policies in New York City schools with social and emotional supports that encourage a positive […]
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Testimony of the Children’s Defense Fund – New York Before the New York City Council Committee on Juvenile Justice
Oversight Hearing – Update on NYC’s Implementation of Raising the Age of Criminal Responsibility
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Education Justice Policy Brief: What is the Student Safety Act?
The Student Safety Act is the result of a four-year campaign by a coalition of organizations seeking to bring to light the scope and impact of school disciplinary and safety policies in New York City Schools.
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CDF-NY Response to the 2018 Q2 Student Safety Act Data
An analysis of the Student Safety Act data from the second quarter of 2018 shows an increase in total NYPD interventions in New York City schools compared to the same period in 2017 – from 2,620 interventions to 3,060.
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CDF-NY June 2018 School Safety Division Budget Brief
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The Impacts of Trump Administration Family Separation Policy on New York City
Testimony of Julia L. Davis, Esq. Director of Youth Justice and Child Welfare
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NYC Needs More School Social Workers for Homeless Students
Amy Pantoja, Beat the Odds Scholar, talks about the importance of getting more social workers focused on education for homeless students in New York City
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Testimony for the New York City Council Committee on Public Safety Oversight Hearing on NYPD’s Gang Takedown Efforts
Our testimony intends to highlight the ways that intersections between current gang policing, school policing, and school discipline threatens to push more young people of […]
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