Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact Us
  • Passport
  • Support WSKG
Donate
  • Donate
  • logo
  • logo
  • Donate
  • Home
  • News
  • TV
  • Your Radio
  • Schedules
  • Events
  • Arts
  • Education
  • History
  • Science
  • Donate
  • More
    • About
    • Contact Us
    • Passport
    • Support WSKG

WSKG - Local news and arts, broadcasting NPR radio and PBS TV.

WSKG thanks our sponsors...
  • Donate your vehicle to support WSKG

WSKG (https://wskg.org/news/now-new-york-counties-must-jail-kids-separately-some-are-creating-a-non-profit-to-build-a-regional-facility/)

  • Donate
  • Home
  • News
  • TV
  • Your Radio
  • Schedules
  • Events
  • Arts
  • Education
  • History
  • Science
Listen Live WSKG
Listen Live WSKG Classical

Watch Live WSKG TV
Watch Live PBS Kids
Learn at Home
Covid-19 information

Now, New York Counties Must Jail Kids Separately. Some Are Creating A Non-Profit To Build A Regional Facility

By Celia Clarke | October 30, 2018
More
  • More on cortland county
  • Subscribe to cortland county

ITHACA, NY (WSKG) – Counties in the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes are working together to find new places to house children in the criminal justice system.

Last year, the New York state legislature passed a law that prohibits children from being charged as adults which means they can’t be housed in the same jails as adults. That’s a challenge for some upstate counties.

FILE – In this June 20, 2018 file photo , inmates pass a correctional officer as they leave an exercise yard at the California Medical Facility in Vacaville, Calif. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, file)

Many counties don’t have a secure facility that can house children who’ve been charged or convicted of a crime. Eleven counties plan to join up to create a non-profit to build a new regional facility. Some counties legislature still have to vote on the agreement.

The current state budget includes $100 million to reimburse counties for expenses related to the new law. Tim O’Hearn is the Schuyler County Administrator. He says the state has assured counties that it will reimburse all expenses associated with implementing the Raise the Age law.

“That remains to be seen,” he said. “at this point, we have faith and are moving forward with that premise in mind that while this is a local initiative, it is a mandate by the state and will be reimbursed by the state.”

Cortland County doesn’t have a facility for these kids either. 

“We are sending folks as far away as the Buffalo area,” said Eric Mulvihill, clerk of the Cortland County Legislature. “I believe there’s also a facility in the Capital Region that we avail ourselves to for current youth detention facilities.”

Under the new law, kids have to be in jails close to their families.

Besides paying for a new detention facility, Mulvihill says counties have other new costs.

He says each county department has made budget estimates around costs related to the new law. Just for the Cortland County Social Services department, Mulvihill estimates it will cost an additional $1 million to comply with the law, and he says that will likely increase.

Right now, the law only affects children 16 and under. In October 2019, the full law goes into effect to include 17-year-olds.

Recent Posts

  • Even With Tax Relief, Advocates Say Tax Hikes On The Wealthy Needed

    ALBANY, NY (WSKG) - Democrats in the state legislature support new, higher taxes on New York’s richest residents as part of the new state budget. They say a newly released study that shows that the state’s 120 billionaires increased their wealth by $88 billion dollars during the pandemic bolsters that claim.

  • Joe Prude, Brother Of Daniel, Angered By Grand Jury Decision

    ROCHESTER, NY (WXXI) - Joe Prude said he’s still in shock over a grand jury’s decision not to pursue criminal charges against the Rochester Police officers involved in his brother Daniel’s death. Joe called 911 nearly a year ago with concerns about Daniel's mental health.

  • House Lawmakers Grill Health Department Leaders Over PA’s Coronavirus Vaccine Rollout

    HARRISBURG, PA (WSKG) –– Tensions flared at the state Capitol Thursday over how, when and where the Department of Health has been coordinating with providers to administer vaccines. Currently, only Pennsylvanians that fall into the commonwealth’s Phase 1a of vaccine distribution can schedule an appointment through a select group of providers to get a COVID-19 vaccine.

  • Assembly Dems Plan Votes Next Week On Nursing Home Reforms

      Legislation making it easier to visit nursing homes is expected to get an Assembly vote next week as part of a package of reforms targeting the industry, according to Assemblyman Harry Bronson, a Rochester-area Democrat, who previously chaired the chamber’s Aging Committee.  CLICK HERE.

  • Cuomo Aides Combat Scandal On Two Fronts

    ALBANY, NY (WSKG) - Gov. Andrew Cuomo and his staff were in damage control mode Thursday as they faced two scandals: the governor’s handling of nursing home policies during the COVID-19 pandemic and the months-long suppression of the true number of residents’ deaths, and allegations that Cuomo sexually harassed a former staffer. On one front, State Health Commissioner Howard Zucker testified at a long-awaited legislative budget hearing for most of the day.

WSKG thanks our sponsors...

About WSKG

WSKG connects you to local and global news and the arts online, on the radio, and on TV. NPR and PBS affiliate.

Contact Us

email: WSKGcomment@wskg.org

phone: 607.729.0100

address: 601 Gates Road, Vestal, NY 13850

DONATE

Pay an underwriting invoice

  • WSKG
  • Arts
  • Education
  • Science
  • News
  • Your Radio
  • Schedule
  • TV
  • About
  • WSKG Staff
  • Contact Us
  • Jobs
  • Public Reports & Policies
  • Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO)
  • Protect My Public Media
FCC PUBLIC FILES
WSKG-FM
WSQX-FM
WSQG-FM
WSQE
WSQA
WSQC-FM
WSQN
WSKG-TV
WSKA
Disabled and need assistance with the online FCC public file?
Contact Gregory Keeler
WSKG
601 Gates Road
Vestal, New York 13850
607-729-0100
gkeeler@wskg.org

Stay Connected

Like Us on FacebookFollow Us on TwitterFollow Us on YouTubeFollow Us on InstagramSubscribe via RSS

© Copyright 2021, WSKG

Built with the Largo WordPress Theme from the Institute for Nonprofit News.

Back to top ↑

Change Location
To find awesome listings near you!