New York’s “Close to Home” initiative — Lessons Learned

Authors

Jeffrey A. Butts, CUNY John Jay CollegeFollow

Document Type

Report

Publication Date

Spring 3-16-2015

Abstract

The Close to Home initiative is a policy reform that brings young people home from far-away correctional institutions to be served by programs closer to their families. New York plans to implement a second phase of the program in March 2015, bringing back youth from “limited-secure” programs that house more serious offenders. The program appears to be effective in helping youth maintain positive connections to their families and communities, increasing Regent Exams scores of justice-involved youth, and returning youth to their neighborhood schools following placement. Although more research and analysis needs to be done on the effects of Close to Home, the initiative appears to improve the quality of justice youth in New York City.

Comments

A Research Brief from the John Jay College Research & Evaluation Center. https://johnjayrec.nyc