NYS Justice Center Annual Report 2025

INTRODUCTION

HISTORY AND JURISDICTION

HISTORY AND JURISDICTION The Protection of People with Special Needs Act (Ch. 501, L. 2012) established the Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs as an executive agency responsible for protecting the safety and well-being of the approximately 1 million adults and children who, due to physical or cognitive disabilities, or the need for services or placement, are receiving care from certain facilities or provider agencies that are licensed, operated, or certified by six State agencies. These agencies include:

INTRODUCTION The Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs works in partnership with people receiving services, their families, direct care staff members, and provider organizations to protect the health, safety, and dignity of people receiving care from certain programs.

OVERSIGHT: State Agencies

Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD)

112 added to SEL (1,137 total)

90,865 reports made to the Justice Center

Office of Mental Health (OMH)

2025 BY THE NUMBERS

Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS)

300 Corrective Action Plan audits conducted

40% cases substantiated

Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) State-operated programs/facilities and certain residential programs Department of Health (DOH) Summer camps and adult homes that meet certain criteria State Education Department (SED) Certified residential schools and programs

Provided support to 4,000+ people and families

11,500 cases closed

The agency, which became operational on June 30, 2013, serves as the state’s central repository for all reports of allegations of abuse, neglect and significant incidents involving vulnerable individuals as defined in Social Services Law (SSL) § 488(1). The Justice Center maintains a case management system that tracks all reported cases of abuse and neglect to resolution, ensures all allegations are fully investigated, and makes final legal determinations on all allegations. The Justice Center works with county district attorneys and law enforcement to prosecute allegations that are criminal in nature. The agency also provides guidance, information, and support to victims and their families throughout the investigation process. Through its oversight and monitoring activities, the Justice Center identifies corrective and preventive actions to address the conditions that cause or contribute to the occurrence of abuse and neglect. In consultation with its Advisory Council, the Justice Center also works collaboratively with a broad array of stakeholders to promote prevention strategies and to develop guidance and tools to help provider agencies better protect people receiving services.

1 MILLION New Yorkers The Justice Center has jurisdiction over more than

This is done in a variety of ways, including: developing abuse prevention tools, providing education to stakeholders on agency operations, and ensuring high-quality investigations of all allegations of abuse and neglect under the Justice Center’s jurisdiction. To achieve its mission, the Justice Center standardized the state’s systems for incident reporting, investigations, disciplinary processes for state employees, corrective and preventive actions, and pre-employment background checks. The outcome of these activities is outlined in this report. In addition, the Justice Center has implemented several strategic initiatives to improve agency functions and address concerns with agency stakeholders. These initiatives ensure the Justice Center is protecting New York’s most vulnerable citizens while also supporting the dedicated people who care for them.