Glossary

adjudication

A guilty finding for juvenile delinquents; the equivalent to a "conviction" for an adult accused of a crime.

aftercare

Programs and services mandated by OCFS for a child released from OCFS custody; the equivalent of "parole" in the adult criminal system.

commitment facility

An institution in which children may be held after they are found to have committed a criminal act; the equivalent to a "prison" in the adult correctional system.

detention facility

An institution in which children may be held while delinquency proceedings are underway; the equivalent to a "jail" in the adult correctional system.

disposition

The equivalent of "sentencing" in the adult criminal system.

juvenile delinquent

A child between the ages of seven and fifteen who is found to have committed an act that would be a crime if committed by an adult; delinquency cases are reviewed by the Family Court.

limited secure facility

A facility classified by OCFS as a restrictive environment in which children found to be juvenile delinquents are held.

non-secure facility

A facility classified by OCFS as the least restrictive environment in which children found to be juvenile delinquents are held.

OCFS

The New York State Office of Children and Family Services; a state agency whose Department of Rehabilitative Services administers juvenile placement facilities and programs and aftercare. Other departments of OCFS administer foster care, services for disabled adults, and other programs.

OJJDP

Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention; a federal government agency which provides grants to state and local juvenile justice agencies, develops policy, and funds research and training on juvenile justice issues.

PINS

Person In Need of Supervision; under 712 of New York's Family Court Act, a child who is found to be truant or "incorrigible, ungovernable, or habitually disobedient and beyond the lawful control" of a parent or guardian, or who possesses marijuana. (See "status offense").

placement

One of four dispositions (sentences) available for juvenile delinquents or juvenile offenders; similar to "incarceration" in the adult system, but juveniles can be "placed" in relatively home-like non-secure facilities.

reception center

A facility in which children remanded to OCFS custody are held for an initial period. Reception centers are charged with assessing children's needs to determine where they should be placed.

secure facility

A facility classified by OCFS as the most restrictive environment in which children found to be juvenile offenders, and some children found to be juvenile delinquents, are held.

status offense

An act that is only illegal when committed by a child, such as truancy, disobedience of parents, and incorrigibility. In New York, status offenders are defined and processed as "Persons in Need of Supervision." (See "PINS").

YDA

Youth Division Aide; a staff person within an OCFS facility.

YDC

Youth Division Counselor; the head of a unit within an OCFS facility.