ADOLESCENTS AND YOUNG ADULTS IN NYC JAILS: KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

The City of New York incarcerates approximately 200 adolescents (16- and 17-year-olds) and 1,100 young adults (18- through 21-year-olds). The New York City Department of Correction is a national leader in its efforts to reform policies and practices pertaining to youth in its custody. The Department is developing a model that aims to recognize the stage of development of these young people, the challenges staff encounter when working with these populations, and the particular vulnerabilities young people face in custody. In support of this work, the Board of Correction, an independent oversight Board for the City’s jails, has created a series of metrics to measure and evaluate compliance with the City’s Minimum Standards for confinement and to track other conditions and policies that impact change toward safer and more humane jails for adolescents and young adults. Pursuant to its Charter mandates and in accordance with best practices in oversight monitoring, the Board of Correction selected Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) in eleven critical areas of responsibility for the Department of Correction: mental health services; physical health services; hours locked in; personal visits; religious services; law library services; education and programming; recreation; restrictive and special management housing; discipline and due process; and violence and safety. The KPI report will be shared quarterly with the Department