As a result of a new state statute, a greater number of juveniles accused of murder are being housed at the Bronx juvenile detention center, resulting in a rise in violence.
Horizon Juvenile Center in Mott Haven experienced 257 youth-on-youth attacks during the fiscal year ended June 30, nearly double the 135 instances during the same period in fiscal 2021, according to data from the city Administration of Children’s Services.
During the same time period, inmate assaults on employees increased 17%, from 128 to 150.
The city moved 16- and 17-year-old detainees from Rikers Island and other city lockups to Horizon by late 2019 in accordance with the Raise the Age statute passed by Albany lawmakers. Crossroads Juvenile Center in Brooklyn, also administered by ACS, joined Horizon by admitting 16- and 17-year-olds.
According to ACS, 132 of the 1,197 children who spent time at Horizon or Crossroads last fiscal year were charged with murder or attempted murder. This is an increase from 92 in fiscal 2021, when 909 individuals passed through both detention institutions, and 86 in fiscal 2019, when 1,563 individuals were lodged.
Zyairr Davis and Camrin Williams are two alleged murderers and renowned youths who have lately resided at both facilities.
Davis was sentenced to 18 months of juvenile detention for his role as a 13-year-old in a botched robbery that resulted in the 2019 stabbing death of Tessa Majors, a freshman at Barnard College.
Earlier this year, Williams was accused of accidently shooting an NYPD officer during a struggle in the Bronx. The gun and assault charges against the 17-year-old gangbanger known as C-Blu were dropped without reason in May, but he was arrested again in September for carrying a loaded firearm.
Horizon and Crossroads can each house up to 106 inmates, while Crossroads supervises all female inmates in the institution.
In contrast to Rikers Island and other adult jails, minors at both detention institutions reside in dormitory-like environments as opposed to locked cells. Their rooms are unlocked during the day, and they attend school and participate in other programs.
Horizon recorded 244 youth-on-youth assaults and 56 staff assaults in fiscal 2019, while still under the supervision of the Department of Correction.
Steve J. Martin, a court-appointed federal monitor supervising troublesome Rikers Island who also has oversight of Horizon, stated in an October report that the juvenile institution is plagued by violence and that personnel frequently do not interfere out of fear for their lives.
Martin noted that ACS employees were “hesitant to act physically, even when objectively necessary” and “explained their reluctance as being largely motivated by concern for their own safety and sometimes by a lack of trust or faith in their staff partner.”
ACS agreed to allow the observer to exert some control on Horizon.
From fiscal 2019 to fiscal 2020, violent attacks at Crossroads increased across the board, but there has been a steady drop since then despite an increase in inmate population. During the fiscal year ending on June 30, there were 210 assaults between juveniles and 144 assaults against staff.
This year, Camrin Williams, also known as the rapper C-Blu, was accused of shooting at an NYPD officer.
Marisa Kaufman, a spokesperson for ACS, stated, “The safety and security of adolescents and staff at Horizon Juvenile Center remain a major priority.”
“Since entering into the voluntary agreement with the [Rikers] monitors, significant progress has been made, and we are committed to continuing this progress, including by hiring and retaining highly-trained and dedicated staff, adding educational and career programming, reducing the length of stay for youth in detention, and enhancing safety features at the facility,” Kaufman said.
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