1. Brooklyn Young Adult Court
district attorney
kings county
350 jay street
Brooklyn, NY
(718)
Eric Gonzalez
Acting District Attorney
Brooklyn Young Adult Court
Kings County Criminal Bar Association
January 19, 2017
This initiative is supported by Grant No YX-BX-0002 awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance.

2. Overview
BYAC is a problem-solving court created by KCDA, in collaboration with the Center for Court Innovation, to combat high levels of crime and rearrests amongst 16 to 24 year-olds in Brooklyn.
Smart Prosecution Grant funded by the Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance.
The Young Adult Justice Initiative is a partnership between the Brooklyn DA’s Office and the Center for Court Innovation to develop innovative strategies and adopt evidence-based practices to proactively reduce crime and achieve a safer community.
Prosecutor-led initiative making us one of the first jurisdictions to create a specialized approach of this kind for adolescent offenders. This initiative expands the population eligible for diversion and this specialized approach.

3. Courtesy of Spencer Burnett

4. Three elements of the Young Adult Justice Initiative:
Dedicated Prosecution Bureau at the Kings County District Attorney’s Office.
Young Adult Court with an assigned judge that would handle all misdemeanor cases of young adults ages (excluding specialized bureaus).
Specialized training focused for stakeholders on adolescent brain and psychosocial development, risk-needs responsivity, and procedural justice.

5. Opening Ceremony on May 6, 2016
Pictured left: The late District Attorney Ken Thompson giving remarks during the opening ceremony of the Young Adult Court.
Pictured right: The Honorable Michael Yavinsky, Supervising Judge of the Brooklyn Criminal Court, also addresses attendees at the ceremony.

6. Young Adult Justice Initiative Stakeholders
Stakeholders meet monthly to discuss any issues going on in the court part.
Young Adult Justice Initiative Stakeholders

7. How It Works: The Young Adult Court Bureau
Arraignment
Eligible Cases sent to the Young Adult Court Bureau or BYAC offer is made at Arraignments.
Next
Young Adult Court Bureau Chief reviews all BYAC eligible cases and eligible cases sent to trial zone supervisors for assignment. If
Defendants which are considered “higher risk” and more likely to offend, stay in the Young Adult Court Bureau.
Defendants who are ineligible or decline diversion offer, proceed on the regular trial track but the case remains in the BYAC part.
Creating a unique path
Increase Public Safety
Reduce Recidivism
Accountability
Social Services
Diversion Programs
Assessment
Building meaningful relationships

8. BY THE NUMBERS: 18-24 YEAR OLDS
In 2013, the Brooklyn DA’s Office prosecuted about 100,000 cases and 30,000 of those cases involved defendants up to age 24.
Of the 30,000 crimes committed
More than half survived arraignment
About 13,000 cases were violations and misdemeanors

9. Adolescent Diversion Initiative Timeline
Chief Judge Lippman calls for legislation to develop an approach to 16 and 17 year-olds in the criminal justice system
Adolescent Diversion Pilot Program Report published in January
Kings County DA receives DOJ’s Bureau of Justice Assistance Smart Prosecution Grant
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
Adolescent Diversion Pilot Program launches in nine counties in New York State including Brooklyn
Adolescent Diversion Pilot Program expanded to age 24 for defendants in Brownsville & Red Hook
Kings County DA launches Brooklyn Young Adult Court for all defendants years old
Introduce CCI
CCI Topics
Brain development & RNR
Procedural justice
Overview of Programs (as of November 2016, 926 received services)
Beginning March 2016, every case is adjourned to the Young Adult part (including cases that aren’t eligible for diversion).
Handled over 1,200 cases

10. CHALLENGES
Buy-In
Calendar Volume
Re-offenders

11. Young Adult Court Programs & Services
Advanced Psychotherapy
B.O.L.T.S.
Better Decisions, Better Outcomes Group
BJI Community Awareness (16-19)
BJI Community Awareness (20-24)
BJI Conflict Resolution (16-19)
BJI Conflict Resolution (20-24)
BJI Employment Readiness (16-19)
BJI Employment Readiness (20-24)
Bridge Back to Life
Brownsville Community Awareness
Brownsville Community Service
Brownsville Conflict Resolution
Brownsville Employment Readiness Group
Brownsville Leadership Development
Brownsville Leadership Project Intake
Brownsville Streets, Love & Life
Case Management Sessions
Catholic Charities Man-Up
Community Service
Conflict Resolution Workshop
Conifer Park
Counseling Service of EDNY
EDNY: Drug Education Workshop
Department of Education Consultation with Ed. Liaison
Employment Readiness Group
Exalt
GED
Graham SLAM
Groundswell
Individual Counseling
Insight Initiative
Justice Center Crew
Make It Happen
Museum of Tolerance
Neighborhood Restitution Crew
New York Peace Institute
Peacemaking
Red Hook Initiative
Red Hook Parks Department
Recess Assembly
TASC
The Door
Young Adult Anger Management Group
Young New Yorkers

12. Case Law People v. Rudolph, 21 N.Y.3d 497 (2013)
Held whenever a defendant is eligible for Youthful Offender (YO) Treatment, the court has to exercise its discretion to determine whether to grant the defendant YO treatment.
People v. Pacherille, 25 N.Y.3d 1021 (2015)
Held that the sentencing court’s discretionary denial of YO is encompassed in the waiver of the right to appeal.
People v. McEachern, 2016 NY Slip Op 08248
Held that whether or not YO was a condition of the plea, the sentencing court should put its reasons for denying YO on the record.