STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Mayor Eric Adams and Councilwoman Kamillah Hanks announced on Thursday that a significant investment had been made toward the future creation of the borough’s first community justice center .
The $5 million capital investment, which was part of the city’s 2025 budget, marks a significant step forward in the plan to bring a dedicated state-of-the-art space to the former criminal courthouse on Targee Street in Stapleton. By offering alternatives to traditional court processes to eligible defendants, community justice centers work to address underlying causes of criminal behavior, rehabilitate individuals and bring about a sense of accountability within the community. Here are four things to know about the project on Staten Island: ADDITIONAL FUNDING NEEDED While the $5 million allotment is a significant step toward the realization of the center, additional funding is still being sought and a potential opening for the center would be years away, a source said.
As outlined in the Adams administration’s “Blueprint for Community Safety,” the center would follow the community justice model of similar centers in other boroughs, rooted in evidence-based practices and emphasizing community engagement and collaboration. “What was once a criminal court will now be transformed into a community-driven center that will focus on giving our youth the tools and opportunities needed to succeed and contribute to our society over their lifetimes,” Adams said..