POUGHKEEPSIE – The Dutchess County Legislature approved, at its last committee and board meetings, a feasibility study to explore youth restorative justice programs for at-risk youth. The resolution, submitted by Legislator Craig Brendli (D-Poughkeepsie), calls for appropriate personnel, as determined by the County Executive, to report back to the legislature by January 2021.
In other localities, restorative justice programs have a track record of helping divert first-time youth offenders from the justice system. “This legislation is critical to begin the research and development of programs that give young offenders a second chance, and the opportunity to turn their lives around,” said Legislator Brendli. “It is important to ensure that young people who make mistakes can learn from them, and then start anew with a clean slate.”
After brief discussion on the floor, most Republican legislators joined the united Democratic caucus as co-sponsors of the resolution, with only Legislature Will Truitt (R-Hyde Park) declining to do so.
Legislator Giancarlo Llaverias (D-Poughkeepsie) expressed his enthusiasm for the study. “Restorative justice gives youth a second chance at life,” he said. “Many young kids do not have access to the right influences to help them make sound decisions. Many of our youth have to become adults at a young age. This proposal gives us the chance for intervention and has the potential to put our youth on the right path instead of putting them in jail.”
Putnam and Ulster Counties have youth restorative justice programs.
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