On June 10, Senior Policy Associate Caitlyn Passaretti submitted testimony to the New York City Council Public Safety Committee’s Executive Budget Oversight Hearing. On behalf of CCC, the testimony supports budget investment recommendations promoted by the New York City Youth Justice Coalition that support alternatives to incarceration and reentry programs.

Read the testimony below.

Testimony of Caitlyn Passaretti
Senior Policy Associate
Citizens’ Committee for Children of New York
Submitted to the New York City Council FY’2027 Executive Budget Oversight Hearing
Public Safety Committee
June 10, 2026

We would like to thank Chair Feliz and all the members of the City Council Committee on Public Safety for holding today’s important hearing on the FY27 Executive Budget, and how to improve the delivery of essential services and programs for NYC youth and young adults to build sustainable public safety practices.

Restore Alternatives to Incarceration (ATI) and Supportive Programming for Youth and Young Adults

Extensive research demonstrates the positive impacts of Alternatives to Incarceration (ATI) and reentry programs, including lowering recidivism and crime.[1] Moreover, studies estimate between $3.46-$5.54 in returns for every dollar invested in ATI programs in addition to reduced costs for the criminal justice system and better community health outcomes.[2]

Despite the well-established benefits of these programs, since 2023, the City Administration has cut millions from probation programs proven to support re-entry by connecting young people to mentorship and services. Failing to provide robust reentry services or supportive probation programs will harm youth and is counterproductive to building safe communities.

CCC supports the recommendations of the New York City Youth Justice Coalition, including the following investments and restorations in the FY27 Budget:

• Restore and invest $4.1 million for the IMPACT program to provide increase family court alternatives to detention
• Invest $40 million for the Community Justice Reentry Network
• Baseline $2.4 million with a cost-of-living adjustment to each new year of funding for the Mentoring and Advocacy Program (MAAP)
• Expand Parent Support Services and create an open door policy for Family Support Services for youth as a prevention intervention
• Invest $8.1 million for the Anti-Gun Violence Employment Program
• Invest $8.5 million to reinstate, expand and fully fund YES services with original work scope as an effective impactful preventive tool
• Invest $59.1 million for ATLAS funding
• Invest $3.2 million for NeON program funding
• Invest $3.7 million for the WorksPlus Program
• Restore and baseline $5 million for the NextSTEPs program

Thank you for your time and consideration of these recommendations to support New York’s children and families.

[1] Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice. ATI Report. Accessed: https://criminaljustice.cityofnewyork.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/MOCJ-ATI-RNR-Report-2019.pdf
[2] New York State Alternatives to Incarceration and Reentry Coalition (2024). Unlocking Potential: The Role of Community-Based Alternatives in Strengthening Public Safety. Accessed: https://www.lac.org/assets/files/Unlocking-Potential_The-Role-of-Community-Based-Alternatives-in-Strengthening-Public-Safety.pdf