NYC Taps Bank Forfeiture Funds for Criminal Justice Program
Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg is launching a $3 million program to connect recently arrested people with peers and social services.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg is using funds seized from banks to fund a program that will connect arrested individuals with voluntary social services once they are released.
Photographer: Selcuk Acar/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
New York City is adding to its ecosystem of programs aimed at keeping people out of jail with a new initiative in Manhattan courts.
The program, called Court Navigators, will connect people arrested and released in Manhattan who may be suffering from mental illness or substance use disorder with social workers who have had with similar life experiences. Those peers are tasked with building relationships and helping the individuals navigate the social safety net with the goal of reducing recidivism.