Overview
The Juvenile Justice Advisory Group oversees the allocation of about $2.1 million in federal grants that fund delinquency prevention efforts, effective interventions for justice-involved youth, and improvements to youth justice systems. It also monitors the state’s compliance with the four core requirements of the federal law: sight and sound separation of juvenile delinquents from adult offenders, deinstitutionalization of status offenders, removal of juvenile delinquents from adult jails and lockups, and reducing disproportionate minority contact in the juvenile justice system. The Juvenile Justice Advisory Group also supervises the preparation, administration and implementation of the state’s juvenile justice plan.
The Juvenile Justice Advisory Group’s duties and membership are detailed in federal law, New York State Executive Order 80, and the group’s bylaws.
The Division of Criminal Justice Services provides staff support to the Juvenile Justice Advisory Group, which must have at least 15 and no more than 33 members who serve four-year terms. A member whose term has expired remains on Juvenile Justice Advisory Group until they are re-appointed, or a replacement is named.
Members
(as of 10/15/2023)
Edward Fergus, Ph.D.
Professor, Rutgers University
Westchester County
Term Ends: 11/20/2023
Nina Aledort, Ph.D.
Deputy Commissioner, New York State Office of Children and Family Services
Dutchess County
Term Ends: 11/9/2025
Jenny L. Almanzar
Trainer and Consultant, National Center on the Sexual Behavior of Youth
Broome County
Term Ends: 1/29/2027
Brendan J. Cox
Director, Policing Strategies, LEAD National Support Bureau
Albany County
Term Ends: 6/22/2020
Michelle A. Diaz
Youth Member
Queens County
Term Ends: 3/22/2020
Precious Ferrell
Youth Member
Westchester County
Term Ends: 1/19/2026
Hon. Brenda Freedman
Judge, Erie County Family Court
Erie County
Term Ends: 3/9/2026
Niasha Hamilton
Youth Member
Erie County
Term Ends: 11/20/2023
Heather A. LaForme
Director, Bureau of Native American Services, New York State Office of Children and Family Services
Erie County
Term Ends: 11/9/2025
Precious Lugo
Youth Member
Erie County
Term Ends: 11/20/2023
Robert M. Maccarone, Esq.
State Probation Director and Deputy Commissioner, New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services
Westchester County
Term Ends: 5/4/2025
Hon. Edwina G. Mendelson
Deputy Chief Administrative Judge for Justice Initiatives, New York State Unified Court System
Bronx County
Term Ends: 11/20/2023
Diana Palmer
Council Member, City of Glens Falls
Warren County
Term Ends: 11/9/2025
Meredith Ray-LaBatt, MA, MSW
Deputy Director, New York State Office of Mental Health
Rensselaer County
Term Ends: 4/21/2020
Allen Riley
Chair, New York State Commission of Correction
Madison County
Term Ends: 11/20/2023
Euphemia Strauchn
Chief Executive Officer, Families on the Move of New York City
Richmond County
Term Ends: 7/20/2018
Emily Tow
President, The Tow Foundation
Westchester County
Term Ends: 12/28/2019
Jason Williams
Youth Member
Nassau County
Term Ends: 11/20/2023
Lester W. Young Jr.
Chancellor, New York State Board of Regents
Queens County
Term Ends: 7/20/2018
Ex-Officio
Suzanne E. Miles-Gustave
Acting Commissioner, New York State Office of Children and Family Services
Rensselaer County
Rossana Rosado
Commissioner, New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services
Westchester County
Member Requirements
Members must have training, experience, or special knowledge concerning adolescent development, the prevention and treatment of juvenile delinquency, the administration of juvenile justice, or the reduction of juvenile delinquency. A majority of the members may not be full-time government employees. At least one-fifth of members must not yet be 28 at the time of appointment. Members are appointed by the Governor.
The commissioners of the Division of Criminal Justice Services, and the Office of Children and Family Services, are ex-officio and voting members. The Governor may appoint other ex-officio members.
Statutory Authority
The federal Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974 requires states to provide for an advisory group. First signed by Governor Mario Cuomo on March 21, 1986, and continued by every Governor since, Executive Order designates the Division of Criminal Justice Services as the sole state agency to supervise the preparation, administration and implementation of the state’s juvenile justice plan, and to otherwise comply with the requirements conferred on the designated state agency by the federal Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act and pertinent Federal regulations.
The Juvenile Justice Advisory Group shall advise and make appropriate recommendations to the Division of Criminal Justice Services in regard to:
- The review of the state’s Comprehensive Juvenile Justice Plan;
- The review of all grant applications for federal Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act funds;
- The consideration of juvenile justice matters referred to the group by the Commissioner of the Division of Criminal Justice Services, the Governor’s Office, or the state Legislature
- Other issues in the area of juvenile justice not expressly referred to in (a) through (c).
Executive Committee
- The Executive Committee of the group … shall consist of the Chairperson of the group and such other members of the group as the Chairperson shall appoint; provide that the Executive Committee shall not exceed eight members in addition to the Chairperson and shall, as far as practicable, be representative of local and State public and private juvenile justice agencies, and members who are not yet 28 years of age at the time of appointment.
- The Executive Committee shall advise the group on matters of policy and procedure and shall perform such other duties as the group may, by resolution, assign to it.
- The Executive Committee shall meet at such times and places as the Chairperson shall determine.
Other Committees
- There shall be as many committees other than the Executive Committee as the group shall, by resolution, establish. Such committees shall be constituted of group members and shall perform such functions as the resolutions establishing them shall prescribe.
- Unless otherwise specified by the enacting resolution, the members of such committee shall be appointed by the Chairperson, who may designate one of their number as Chairperson.
- Unless otherwise specified by the enacting resolution, such committees shall meet at such times and places as it shall determine.
Each group member shall serve on at least one group committee.
Meetings
The Juvenile Justice Advisory Group meets at least four times a year. Meetings occur at the Alfred E. Smith State Office Building, 80 South Swan St., Albany, N.Y., and 633 3rd Ave., New York, N.Y., and are live-streamed.
Upcoming Meetings
Meetings begin at 10 a.m.
Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2023
Wednesday, March 13, 2024
Tuesday, June 18, 2024
Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024
Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024
Expenses
Members are not compensated for their service. The Division of Criminal Justice Services pays travel expenses for members to attend meetings, trainings and other board-sanctioned events. Designated youth members also are entitled to a stipend of $150 for attending meetings.
- 2022-23: $13,000
- 2023-24: $20,000 (projected)
- 2024-25: $20,000 (projected)
Contact
Thomas R. Andriola
Office of Youth Justice
New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services
80 South Swan St., Albany, N.Y. 12210
(518) 320-6926
Media inquiries should be directed to [email protected] or 518-457-8828