Renee's Law introduced in Senate. A bill created as a result of the brutal murder of a Lockport group home worker two years ago has been introduced, according to the legislation’s co-sponsors Senator Catharine Young (R,I,C – Olean) and Senator George Maziarz (R,C – Newfane).
“Renee’s Law,” named after Renee Greco, who was only 24-years-old when she was bludgeoned to death while supervising troubled teenagers at a group home, was formally unveiled today with family, friends and community leaders. “Today, we are taking the first steps to ensure that the avoidable circumstances that led to the death of Renee Greco two years ago will never happen again. Renee should never have been working alone with violent criminals such as Anthony Allen and Robert Thousand. Law Introduced to Protect Juvenile Delinquent Facility Employees. New York State Senator Mike Nozzolio is co-sponsoring legislation that was introduced in the State Senate today to provide greater protection and disclosure to employees of facilities where dangerous juvenile delinquents and youthful offenders are placed.
The legislation is known as “Renee’s Law”, for 24-year-old Renee Greco, who was brutally murdered two years ago while supervising troubled teenagers at a group home. “As a co-sponsor of Renee’s Law, I believe this legislation is critical to protecting the safety of the men and women who work in New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) facilities and preventing future tragedies from occurring,” said Nozzolio . “By giving staff at these facilities access to the records of the youths in their care, this legislation will reform our juvenile justice system. Nozzolio serves as Chairman of the Senate Crime Victims, Crime and Correction Committee, which will review and vote on Renee’s Law next week.
Maziarz, Young unveil 'Renee's Law' - Politics on the Hudson. State Lawmakers Pass "Renee's Law" ALBANY, N.Y.
(AP) - The New York Legislature has voted to require group homes for juvenile delinquents to record incidents of violence and aggressive behavior, assess workplace safety risks and take steps to prevent incidents. The legislation follows the 2009 beating death of 24-year-old Renee Greco by two juveniles in Lockport, north of Buffalo. She was supervising troubled teens at the group home. Assemblyman Rory Lancman, a Queens Democrat who sponsored the bill, says his subcommittee reported last year that staff at the private not-for-profit groups taking youths designated delinquent by family courts generally lack the tools and training needed to protect themselves.
NY legislators want risk reports at group homes « Culture of Abuse Magazine. Associated Press ALBANY, N.Y. — The state Legislature has voted to require group homes and other private facilities licensed by the state to take juvenile delinquents to assess workplace safety, record violent incidents and take preventive steps.
The legislation follows the 2009 beating death of Renee Greco by two juveniles in Lockport, north of Buffalo. Greco, 24, had been supervising troubled teens at the group home. Assemblyman Rory Lancman, a Queens Democrat who sponsored the bill, said his subcommittee reported last year that staff at the private not-for-profits taking youths designated delinquent by family courts generally lack the tools and training needed to protect themselves. PEF fights to reform Juvenile Justice. - Family Court judges take closer look at youth placement - Dec. 2009/Dec. 2010 - OCFS incidents escalate, PEF responds - Nov.2009.
Senate approves Renee's Law. The New York State Senate today passed “Renee’s Law,” which would help protect staff of the state’s youth residential programs and ensure appropriate placement of youth based on their criminal history.
The bill (S.5565), co-sponsored by Senator Catharine Young (R,I,C – Olean) and Senator George Maziarz (R,C – Newfane), was prompted by the brutal 2009 murder of Renee Greco committed by youth in her care. Renee Greco was only 24-years-old when she was bludgeoned to death while supervising troubled teenagers at a group home in Lockport, Niagara County. “Renee Greco lived, worked, and was murdered in my Senate district,” Senator Maziarz said. “She was trying to make a difference in the lives of young people, but the system failed her. SENATE PASSES RENEE'S LAW. State Senator Hugh T.
Farley (R, C, I - Schenectady) announced that he and his colleagues in the New York State Senate passed "Renee’s Law" on June 15th, which would help protect staff of the state’s youth residential programs and ensure appropriate placement of youth based on their criminal history. The bill (S.5565) was prompted by the brutal 2009 murder of Renee Greco committed by youth in her care. Renee Greco was only 24-years-old when she was bludgeoned to death while supervising troubled teenagers at a group home in Lockport, Niagara County. On June 8, 2009, Renee was the sole supervisor of six males at the Avenue House for troubled youths. Two of the juveniles, 18-year-old Allen and 17-year-old Thousand, placed a blanket over Renee’s head and beat her to death with a wooden table leg while she sat at a table playing cards with other residents.
The bill has been sent to the Assembly. SEN. FARLEY AND TASK FORCE ON JUVENILE JUSTICE REFORM COLLEAGUES SEEK ANSWERS FROM OCFS. The murder of community residence worker Renee Greco in Lockport and the shooting of Rochester Police Officer Anthony DiPonzio has spurred a special legislative task force to seek state records for answers related to the increase of youth violence.
The Legislative Task Force on Reforming the New York State Juvenile Justice System today filed requests under the Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) with the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS), pursuing the release of documents and records pertaining to the increased rate of violence at state-run and licensed juvenile homes. The nine member Task Force was formed this year to address a growing concern by community members, youth facility staff, district attorneys, and law enforcement officials who cited the closure of 14 youth facilities throughout the state, along with newly-implemented policies set forth by OCFS Commissioner Gladys Carrion, as the reason for a rise in youth violence. Senator Hugh T. SENATOR NOZZOLIO ANNOUNCES “RENEE’S LAW” INTRODUCED IN STATE SENATE. New York State Senator Mike Nozzolio is co-sponsoring legislation that was introduced in the State Senate today to provide greater protection and disclosure to employees of facilities where dangerous juvenile delinquents and youthful offenders are placed.
The legislation is known as “Renee’s Law”, for 24-year-old Renee Greco, who was brutally murdered two years ago while supervising troubled teenagers at a group home. “As a co-sponsor of Renee’s Law, I believe this legislation is critical to protecting the safety of the men and women who work in New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) facilities and preventing future tragedies from occurring,” said Senator Nozzolio . “By giving staff at these facilities access to the records of the youths in their care, this legislation will reform our juvenile justice system.
Senator Nozzolio serves as Chairman of the Senate Crime Victims, Crime and Correction Committee, which will review and vote on Renee’s Law next week. TASK FORCE ON JUVENILE JUSTICE REFORM SEEKS ANSWERS FROM OCFS. Files FOIL Request To Shed Light on Increase of Youth Violence ALBANY – The murder of community residence worker Renee Greco in Lockport and the shooting of Rochester Police Officer Anthony DiPonzio has spurred a special legislative task force to seek state records for answers related to the increase of youth violence.
The Legislative Task Force on Reforming the New York State Juvenile Justice System today filed requests under the Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) with the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS), pursuing the release of documents and records pertaining to the increased rate of violence at state-run and licensed juvenile homes. Senator Catharine Young, Chair of the Task Force, said, “I am very concerned with the direction Commissioner Carrion has taken our juvenile justice system.
State Senator John Bonacic (R/I/C – Mt. Hope) said, “The State Office of Children and Family Services is the worst run public agency I have ever encountered. Senator Dale M. CSEA Challenges Close to Home Initiative over Criminal Background of Youth. ALBANY, NY (03/28/2012)(readMedia)-- CSEA today restated the dangers of fast tracking Governor Andrew Cuomo's Close to Home proposal for shifting juvenile offenders into nonexistent New York City programs as new information has come to light about the criminal background of those individuals who would be moved.
Thirty three percent of residents currently at Limited Secure facilities and 20 percent at Non-Secure facilities operated by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) had committed violent felony offenses, including aggravated assault and dangerous weapons possession, according to figures CSEA received in response to a Freedom of Information request.
The governor's initiative will not save any money and the agency has provided little detail about their plans. New York City does not have existing programs to handle this population. "There are real public safety concerns that need to be addressed here," CSEA President Danny Donohue said. Renee’s Law Seeks to Improve Workplace Safety in New York Group Homes. PEF Refutes Bloombergs Attempt to Restructure Juvenile Justice. Unions back youth prisons. Posted: 01/09/2011 11:35:30 PM EST0 Comments|Updated: 3 years ago Monday January 10, 2011 ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) -- New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has cast the state's juvenile detention system in harsh, almost Dickensian light as a violation of civil rights existing only to satisfy public employee unions. The High Cost and Harm of Juvenile Detention Centers. We can give them a better chance at rejoining society while spending less money. It seems unthinkable that we might support a juvenile correctional system that harms youth in the interest of preserving a few jobs.
However, New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo claimed that this is true during his recent State of the State address. Governor Cuomo pleaded that we shouldn't "put other people in prison to give some people jobs. " He cited New York State statistics that the 25 juvenile detention centers in the state, which house over 600 people between the ages of 7 and 15, cost more than $200,000 per juvenile per year. From these kids, 9 out of 10 will end up back in juvenile detention or prison, 46% of which will be readmitted the same year. Unions say Gov. Cuomo is wrong on harsh view of state's juvenile detention system.
Albany, NY — New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has cast the state’s juvenile detention system in harsh, almost Dickensian light as a violation of civil rights existing only to satisfy public employee unions. It was his most fervent passage in last week’s State of the State address, and his New York City minority-liberal base went wild. Cuomo said the 25 youth prisons where nearly 600 juveniles are incarcerated are ineffective, expensive and kept mainly to preserve jobs. It costs more than $200,000 a year for each juvenile, most far from their downstate homes. Nine out of 10 will later end up back in juvenile custody or prison, he said. “The reason we continue to keep these children in these programs that aren’t serving them but are bilking the taxpayers is that we don’t want to lose the state jobs that we would lose if we closed the facilities,” Cuomo said. “Don’t put other people in prison to give some people jobs!”
Albany, NY - Legislators Wants 'Group Homes' to Have Risk Reports. Albany, NY - The state Legislature has voted to require group homes and other private facilities licensed by the state to take juvenile delinquents to assess workplace safety, record violent incidents and take preventive steps. The legislation follows the 2009 beating death of Renee Greco by two juveniles in Lockport, north of Buffalo.
Greco, 24, had been supervising troubled teens at the group home. Assemblyman Rory Lancman, a Queens Democrat who sponsored the bill, said his subcommittee reported last year that staff at the private not-for-profits taking youths designated delinquent by family courts generally lack the tools and training needed to protect themselves. Facilities licensed by the state Office of Children and Family Services, which also operates New York’s shrinking juvenile detention centers, would be subject to the Workplace Violence Prevention Law. Sen.
OCFS declined to comment on Monday’s vote. The bill goes to Democratic Gov. Senate Passes Renee’s Law. Senate measure improves safety in residential youth facilities - ObserverToday.com. ALBANY - The New York State Senate recently passed a measure to protect the staff and occupants in group homes and other youth residential facilities. "Renee's Law" (S2625), sponsored by Senator Catharine Young (R,C,I-Olean), increases the criminal history and other information available to those involved in residential placements for violent youth offenders so that a thorough evaluation of the youth's rehabilitation and the risk they pose to the community can be performed. "Again, the Senate has passed this bill to avoid another senseless tragedy like Renee Greco's death. We need a comprehensive approach to reforming the juvenile justice system to ensure the safety of both staff members and residents.
No one should be unknowingly placed in a dangerous situation like Renee was. By providing background information on residents and proper training, staff members can better protect themselves and other residents. The bill has been sent to the Assembly. New York. Trial Opens For Renee Greco, An OCFS Group Home Worker Who Was Slayed « The Truth about Prone Restraint. LOCKPORT — Thursday would have been Renee C. NY Senate Open Legislation - Enacts "Renee's law" to provide greater protection and disclosure to employees of facilities where juvenile delinquents and youthful offenders are placed.
Shutting Upstate Jails for City Kids Has Made a Fiery Bronx Bureaucrat a Host of Enemies. Culture of Violence Plagues New York's Juvenile Prisons. "The restraints were so bad that I would get carpet burns or I would get dislocated arms," said an anonymous 17-year-old girl from New York City, speaking of her experience at two state-run juvenile detention centers. "The thing is, the same person who did it to you would be there when you woke up the next day. " Over the last few years reports, by the Civil Liberties Union and Human Rights Watch, the U.S.
The Juvenile-Justice System: Why Reform Is So Hard. Among the kids, it was known as Rug Burn City, a reference to the injuries they sustained when guards at the Gossett juvenile prison in upstate New York routinely pinned young offenders face down on the carpeted floor. The restraints were supposed to be an infrequent last resort, but according to a damning recent Justice Department report, they ended up being used regularly as part of a culture of intimidation and control, sometimes for the slightest infractions, such as speaking out of turn, slamming doors and not properly making a bed. Juvenile Justice Reform Needed at OCFS. US reports cries "reform" in state's juvenile justice system. The U.S. Nozzolio co-sponsors 'Renee's Law', criticizes OCFS commish.
Legislation sponsored by state Senators Catharine Young and George Maziarz, along with area state Sen. Michael Nozzolio, was introduced Friday to help provide greater protection for those that work in group homes and facilities that house youth offenders. STATEMENT FROM SENATOR YOUNG REGARDING THE COMMISSION OF CORRECTION’S CRITICAL REPORT OF OCFS. “Something's rotten in the state of New York, and it starts with OCFS’s radical policies. This report verifies the appalling lack of judgment and gross mismanagement by Commissioner Carrion and her administration. To reward juvenile murderers in state custody with sex from a prostitute and an underage girl at the taxpayers' expense goes beyond the pale.” Senator Nozzolio Blasts OCFS Commissioner, Demands Resignation.