Recent statistics emerging from New York City reveal an unfortunate trend. The city is locking up more teenagers and keeping them detained much longer over the past year. According to a recent report, younger individuals in youth facilities surged by 31% in the past year. On average, facilities across the city hold about 260 detainees.
What’s more, the city is projected to admit even more teenagers into the juvenile detention center as the year progresses. From July to October, over 630 teens were admitted to two secure facilities: Crossroads Juvenile Center and Horizon Juvenile Center.
One theory for the increase in the number of detainees, according to the City Administration for Children’s Services, is the increase in gun violence and arrests. The report outlined a marked increase in juvenile arrests for major felonies at the beginning of last year, reaching over 488 juveniles.
On top of making more arrests, teenagers who get detained are experiencing longer stays on average. The number of days that teen detainees spent in detention increased by 59% during the period of the report. One theory for the increase in longer stays is the lack of access to programs that help teens develop skills and gain access to therapy.
Another theory for the increase is that state law reforms that were passed in 2009 changed the legal process for some youths. Since the laws were passed, more younger individuals are getting tried as adults. Since the criminal court system generally takes longer than a child welfare or Family Court situation, many more younger detainees are adolescent offenders that have pending cases in adult criminal court. Before the reforms, those adolescents would have been held in adult jails.
Facilities are beginning to become overcrowded, and some reports suggest teens might be sleeping in classrooms and hallways.
Are You Facing Adult Criminal Court as an Adolescent Offender?
If you’re a juvenile and you committed a crime serious enough to face adult criminal court, then you need to hire a criminal defense attorney as soon as possible. A criminal defense attorney can help you better understand the exact charges you’re facing, the severity of the potential penalties you could face, and specific strategies you can use to defend yourself.
Here at Bukh Law Firm, our team has extensive experience helping juvenile offenders in New York seek justice and defend themselves in court. We can also help you if you feel that you are being unfairly detained or subjected to illegal treatment at a juvenile facility. When you’re incarcerated, you still maintain some rights, including the right to get legal representation. You also have basic constitutional protections like the right to be notified of your charges in advance of your hearing, the right to cross-examine witnesses, and the right to remain silent during interrogation.
If you have any questions about your legal rights, options, or charges, then we can help. Schedule a meeting with our firm now to discuss your situation in more detail with one of our best criminal defense attorneys.
