Over the past few months, New York’s Department of Probation (DOP) has paused referrals to Advocate Intervene Mentor (AIM) Lite programs, a key intervention program helping at-risk youth, raising concerns about the future of public safety at a critical time.
The number of major crimes committed by minors in New York City has risen significantly over the past seven years. According to New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services data, in 2023, 3,521 New Yorkers under 18 were arrested for major (felony) crimes, compared to 2,011 youth felony arrests in 2018. That’s a 54% increase in five years.
In February 2022, Mayor Eric Adams announced the expansion of youth mentor programs for young people on probation, highlighting the success of “credible messengers” in turning young peoples’ lives around. Credible messenger mentors are relatable role models that help teens improve their self-esteem, academic achievement, and peer relationships while reducing negative behaviors. Additionally, peer mentoring opens up educational and career opportunities, strengthens community bonds, and offers an alternative to juvenile probation, reducing recidivism rates.
But less than three years later, on November 25, 2024, New York’s Department of Probation halted referrals to a crucial intervention program for at-risk youth, alarming youth mentor advocates and threatening to erase the gains made by peer mentoring programs. This decision was made by Commissioner Anita Holmes, appointed by Mayor Adams in March 2023. Holmes had garnered praise for her successful “Girl Talk” program, which utilized NYPD officers as mentors. However, “Girl Talk” was designed for youth who did not require intensive services or interventions.
Holmes paused all referrals to the NYC-Wide Advocate Intervene Mentor (AIM) Lite programs, which are alternatives to incarceration offered only in court. Her decision has impacted judges’ ability to refer young people directly to community-based programs that provide mentoring and ancillary services. AIM has a proven track record of success. Over 80% of participants avoided felony rearrest within 12 months of enrollment, far exceeding the program’s deliverables.
In another problematic move, Holmes has directed all Department of Probation staff to join an Arches program group. Arches, a DOP-funded program that serves young people aged 16-24 on probation, is designed to be a safe space where participants can share personal experiences as they learn to change their behavior. However, DOP presence and staff taking notes and pictures during these sessions breaks that sense of trust and confidentiality. This new practice disrupts the group dynamic and goes beyond the scope of best practices for psychosocial support groups. Holmes and her office have not responded to a request for comment.
Taxpayers need to understand where their tax dollars are going and the long-term implications of cuts to programs like AIM and credible messaging programs. The cost of incarcerating someone in New York City is significantly higher than placing them in a community-based behavior modification program.
According to a 2021 analysis by the New York City Comptroller, the annual cost of incarcerating one person in NYC was approximately $556,539, or about $1,525 per day. According to the New York State Alternatives to Incarceration and Reentry Coalition, people diverted into a community-based program cost the city taxpayers substantially less.
While specific costs can vary, community-based programs typically cost a fraction of incarceration expenses. “By investing in community-based programs, the city can save money and achieve better outcomes for at-risk youth, reducing recidivism and promoting positive behavioral changes,” said Dr. Peleya Patterson, vice president of Juvenile Justice Initiatives at Good Shepherd Services. This community-based nonprofit organization operates programs for youth and family members throughout New York City.
Retired Judge Betty Campbell worked for many years in the Misdemeanor Brooklyn Treatment Court (MBTC) and felony court in the Kings County Criminal Court. MBTC, a national drug court model, provided criminal defendants with the opportunity to receive treatment instead of incarceration. “Mandatory sentencing and guidelines prevent judges from using their discretion, which can mean not placing someone in an alternative to incarceration that would better address the issues that brought them into the court system in the first place,” Williams explained. ”When the opportunity presents for a judge to have a program option that the Department of Probation has vetted, a judge can refer the person, and intake can occur within 72 hours, which is a blessing for everyone involved in the court proceedings.”
Getting rid of these programs cuts off important rehabilitation options, funnels more people into the criminal justice system, and may end up increasing recidivism while decreasing public safety, she noted.
Theodore Gee, a former AIM program mentor, agreed. He emphasized that very few programs for young Black men and women feature credible messengers who work with judges and community supervision agencies. These programs advocate for the youth, support their parents, and address the traumas and challenges of living in marginalized communities where learning and personal growth are often hindered.
Holmes may have a strong background in law enforcement. Still, her decision to cut the Next Steps programs, pause referrals to AIM Lite programs, and breach the confidentiality of Arches youth participants is disappointing and bad for the community. These actions call into question her suitability for the role of commissioner of the Department of Probation, which is supposedly committed to evidence-based practices.
Community leaders, educators, law enforcement, and families must continue advocating for these programs, educating Holmes on their tangible benefits, highlighting their proven effectiveness in reducing recidivism, and providing evidence of their cost-efficiency. Sharing success stories and research demonstrating the positive impacts of these initiatives can be powerful.
Moreover, community leaders should collaborate with policymakers to advocate for sustained or increased funding and launch public awareness campaigns to garner broader support. Hopefully these leaders and Holmes can work together to deepen community ties and continue gathering insights and data about best practices. This collaboration will also help ensure that DOP officers have the necessary resources to do their work efficiently, ultimately contributing to a reduction in recidivism.
By taking these steps, Holmes will be better informed and equipped to support community-based programs, ensuring they remain a vital resource for at-risk youth and the community.
Dr. Vanda Seward is the criminal justice program director at CUNY Kingsborough Community College. She previously served as the executive director of the Kings County District Attorney’s ComAlert programs, the director of the Kings County Reentry Task Force, and statewide director of reentry services for the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision.
Perhaps, Holmes needs to stop hiring family members and friends. That will be more than enough to safe the programs.
I agree Ms.M and if she wasn’t so invested and wasting money on a program where ppl are being released early to get rearrested, and abscond, then maybe we can help the At-risk youth and stop wasting tax payers money.
Outstanding article Dr. Seward. We need to pay much more attention to the healthy development of our youth who ultimately are the leaders of tomorrow in our communities.
Dr. Godfrey
That’s the biggest problem! Every last one of them is so incompetent that it is clear they were hooked up. In some instances, people get promotions within months of their hire.
I know I’m months behind on commenting. But I’m angry because:
And what about the new Bronx probation office, which dismantled the Credible Messenger Justice Center? That program was doing amazing things and now, feels like same old mass incarceration games.