Governor Hochul Announces $15 Million Investment to Establish First-Ever Staten Island Community Justice Center

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced $15 million to help establish the Staten Island Community Justice Center, transforming the borough's former criminal courthouse at 67 Targee Street into a permanent hub for community-based justice, youth programming and supportive services.

"Public safety is my top priority. Keeping communities safe means ensuring that every corner of New York has the resources necessary to drive down crime," Governor Hochul said. "With this investment, Staten Island will finally have a permanent Community Justice Center that brings critical services and support together in one place to make communities across Staten Island safer."

Staten Island was the only New York City borough without a Community Justice Center, leaving its 500,000 residents without the coordinated neighborhood infrastructure available elsewhere in the city.

Governor Hocul's $15 million investment will bring government and non-profit partners together to build on services already provided to Staten Islanders by the Center for Justice Innovation, creating a hub for programming designed to address the underlying factors that contribute to crime and recidivism into a dedicated facility. The Center for Justice Innovation currently provides Staten Island residents with diversion and alternatives-to-incarceration programs, counseling, youth mentorship, workforce development, reentry services and other support.

The Center will serve as a neighborhood-based service hub and will provide trauma-informed, culturally responsive screening, assessment, case management, and referrals for mental health, substance use, housing and employment. By increasing access to alternatives to incarceration and treatment, the Center will strengthen accountability and public safety and will provide a permanent home for youth diversion, mentorship, violence prevention and victim services.

State Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton said, "Thank you to Governor Hochul for providing $15 million in funding to establish the Staten Island Community Justice Center. I am also deeply grateful for District Attorney Michael McMahon's hard work, leadership and dedication in bringing this resource to Staten Island and to Councilmember Kamillah Hanks for securing $5 million for the project. Keeping our communities safe is a multi-faceted challenge that should include programming that addresses the root causes of public safety issues. I look forward to continuing to work with our partners in public safety to advance this project and bring it to fruition."

Assemblymember Charles D. Fall said, "We can't talk about safer neighborhoods without investing in the tools that prevent crime, reduce recidivism and help people rebuild their lives. This $15 million investment in the Staten Island Community Justice Center will bring diversion services, treatment, youth mentorship, workforce development and reentry support together under one roof, giving people the resources and opportunities to move forward. I thank Governor Hochul for recognizing that investing in people is an investment in public safety and in a stronger future for Staten Island."

New York City Councilmember Kamillah Hanks said, "For years, we have worked to make Staten Island's first Community Justice Center a reality, investing in this work, securing critical City support and continuing to push this project forward. Governor Hochul's $15 million investment is a major step toward finally getting this done, and I want to give a special thank you to District Attorney Michael McMahon for his ongoing advocacy, persistence and leadership in pushing this project forward and helping secure this critical funding. This center will support our young people and families, address the root causes of crime and strengthen public safety across Staten Island. This has been a long time coming."

Richmond County District Attorney Michael McMahon said, "For far too long, Staten Island was the only borough without a Community Justice Center underway. Today, that inequity is finally being addressed. I am deeply grateful to Governor Hochul for this historic commitment; to State Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton and Assemblyman Charles Fall for their advocacy; and to Chief Judge Rowan Wilson, Administrative Judge Raymond Rodriguez, Council Member Kamillah Hanks and all our partners who have championed this project. Building upon the City's earlier $5 million investment and the important diversion and prevention work already taking place across our borough, this funding brings us significantly closer to turning a long-held vision into reality. I commend Governor Hochul for recognizing Staten Island's needs and for continuing to invest in smart, effective strategies that strengthen justice and public safety."