1. NYC Department of Correction Elimination of Punitive Segregation for Adolescents and Young Adults September 2015

2. Overview ▪ DOC has implemented a comprehensive, multi-faceted agenda to address safety and culture change − Targeted distinct subpopulations, based on age (adolescents, young adults) and needs (mentally ill) − Empirical evidence and academic literature suggest that adolescents and young adults have a unique set of needs due to their developmental youth – but in NYC, both are part of an adult correctional system  Eliminated punitive segregation for 16-17-year olds (adolescents) in December 2014 − 1 of 2 states who place 16-year-olds in an adult system − 1 of 10 states who place 17-year-olds in an adult system  Will eliminate punitive segregation for 18-21-year-olds (young adults) by February 2016 - setting a national precedent – one of the first to end punitive segregation for young adults in an adult correctional system  Approximately 15% (~1400 individuals) of DOC’s entire population will no longer be subject to punitive segregation

3. Eliminating Punitive Segregation for Adolescents First steps – address adolescents in punitive segregation, develop alternative housing units Adolescents with 2/3 of p-seg time completed were housed in Second Chance 1:5 officer to adolescent ratio; same lock-out/lock-in times as general population Led to a decrease in violence Remaining adolescents – most violent – were housed in Transitional Restorative Unit (TRU) - based on Massachusetts secure model for juveniles (same age group) 1:1 or 1:2 ratio; weekly “Treatment Team” meetings with mental health staff/DOE/DOC staff; same lock-out/lock-in times as general population Steady rate of violence (no significant increase) Adolescents who engage in violence transition through Second Chance or TRU and can return to GP after following a tailored, individual plan Discharge from TRU/Second Chance depends on the adolescents’ progress and conduct, reviewed by the Treatment Teams and other facility staff Second Chance and TRU are programs – not sentences

4. Eliminating Punitive Segregation for Adolescents Simultaneous culture change Staff selection and training Targeting recruits during the Academy with best background and experience to work with adolescents Training that applies to the specific needs of managing adolescents Officers establishing rapport – not friendship - with the adolescents Steady housing officer posts Created team atmosphere for the officers, stability for the adolescents Most housing units have 1:15 officer to adolescent ratio Addition of program counselors to the facilities Work directly with adolescents, develop and deliver programs, and assess the programs’ effectiveness Adolescent Advisory Board 18 different organizations, including the Board of Correction, Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice, and several advocacy groups

5. Eliminating Punitive Segregation for Adolescents Building a pro-social behavioral model Adolescents Striving for Change (ASFC) framework Provide incentives to foster positive behavioral choices (participating in school, maintaining clean cells, helping peers, etc.) Negative behavioral choices take away from those incentives piece-meal, to provide direct consequences for their actions Reduce idle time with age-appropriate and targeted programming Example of program: Rikers Rovers Adolescents apply for program and must maintain good behavior for the duration, which provides a certificate upon completion Certificate provides real-world applicability, while fostering individual change through constant reinforcement of positive behavioral choices

6. Supporting Data – Adolescents As the culture changes take root and we build the skill and experience as an organization, we anticipate the incident data to reflect a positive shift. As expected, some of the violence increased as a result of removing punitive segregation as an option for physically separating adolescents.

7. Additional Data – Adolescents Much of the violence involves repeat offenders – adolescents who would otherwise have been in punitive segregation following a first violent incident. Most adolescents are not involved in any incidents, and a small percentage is involved in multiple incidents. Count of UOF Percentage of UOF No repeat offenders involved158.62% At least one repeat offender involved15991.38% Grand Total174100.00% Nearly all (91%) of the UOF incidents with adolescent participants involved at least one repeat offender. Of the 442 adolescents in DOC custody from July 1 through September 21 2015, over half (59%) were not involved in any incident. UOF involving at least one repeat offender

8. Lessons Learned What we learned NOT to do for young adults Facility houses both adolescents and adults Movement within the facility is difficult – no crossover allowed between the two populations Insufficient swing space Lack of housing areas to separate adolescents who fight Insufficient time to build cadre of staff to work with adolescents Building the officers’ skill-set Managing the differences between working with adolescents and adults – same officer might work with both populations on the same day Insufficient number of officers to increase officer to adolescent ratio Closed punitive segregation without having fully developed mechanisms for providing consequences for bad behavior Insufficient programming to reduce idleness, insufficient funding for programming

9. Eliminating Punitive Segregation for Young Adults Approximately 1,200 young adults between the ages of 18-21 Young adults only account for approximately 12% of the DOC population, but for nearly a third of the violence Significant special population numbers (1/3 of all young adults) Punitive housing units (until February 2016), mental health/special health needs, protective custody, city-sentenced Plan to change approach to managing young adults by early next year End punitive segregation for young adults by February 2016 Use lessons learned from adolescents to phase out punitive segregation for young adults and shift culture

10. Eliminating Punitive Segregation for Young Adults Overview – reduce overall violence, reduce need for punitive measures Reclassify and rehouse young adults New housing and classification tool that has proven highly effective in test phase will be used to reclassify and house young adults according to their risk of committing violence Increase staffing ratio for housing and programming Age-appropriate and targeted programming framework Replicate effective alternatives to punitive segregation Pro-social behavioral model Similar spectrum of alternatives like Second Chance and TRU Dedicate one facility to ensure staff buy-in and uniform approach

11. Eliminating Punitive Segregation for Young Adults Successfully phasing out punitive segregation for young adults depends on resolving the key challenges. Current Key Challenges: Insufficient staffing to meet new required staffing ratios Non-specific training of staff Time required to implement optimal programming selections Lack of programming space Planned solutions: New incoming officers from largest ever Academy class Select best-suited staff and train them appropriately Target roll-out of optimal programming selections Rehabilitate existing space to make it suitable for programming

12. Eliminating Punitive Segregation for Young Adults Eliminate punitive segregation Punitive segregation will be completely eliminated for YAs Build on a pro-social behavioral model that incentivizes good behavior and program participation - similar to Adolescents Striving for Change (ASFC) Increase use of non-punitive behavioral treatment units, like Second Chance and TRU currently in use for adolescents Current test phase of this model successful Setting a new national precedent for young adult management in adult correctional systems

13. Thank You This is one more step in a long road toward progress.