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518-549-0200
- 161 Delaware Avenue Delmar, New York 12054-1310 General Phone 518-549-0200 Relay users, please dial Dial 7-1-1 and give the operator (518) 549-0200 Email for general inquiries: webmaster@justicecenter.ny.gov
Contact. NYS Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs. 161 Delaware Avenue. Delmar, New York 12054-1310. General Phone. 518-549-0200. Relay users, please dial Dial 7-1-1 and give the operator (518) 549-0200.
- Advocacy & Support
The Justice Center has advocates available to help victims...
- Justice Center
Call 1-800-624-4143. New York State Justice Center....
- Reporting an Incident
The Justice Center’s Vulnerable Persons’ Central Register...
- Advocacy & Support
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Call 1-800-624-4143. New York State Justice Center. Protecting the health, safety, and dignity of all people with special needs. Make a Report. About the Agency. Supporting Vulnerable Populations. Training for First Responders and Law Enforcement.
The Justice Center’s Vulnerable Persons’ Central Register (VPCR) operates a centralized, statewide toll-free hotline and incident reporting system 24 hours a day, 7-days a week.
The Justice Center operates a Vulnerable Persons’ Central Register (VPCR), a 24/7 hotline to receive such reports. The toll-free number of the Vulnerable Persons Central Register Hotline is 1-855-373-2122. Operators and staff of FTHAs are subject to the requirements of the Justice Center.
- Introduction
- Resource
- Background
- Reports of Abuse and Neglect
- Administrative Proceedings
- Criminal Prosecution
- Accountability
- Conclusion
- Endnotes
The New York State Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs was created in 2013 to standardize oversight of the care of vulnerable people1 receiving services in hundreds of programs operated, licensed, or certified by six New York State agencies.2 Its authority includes investigating allegations of abuse, neglect, and other si...
For a list of the types of facilities and providers under the jurisdiction of the Justice Center, see Who Is Protected by the Justice Center?
Protecting vulnerable individuals from abuse and neglect in state-operated or -licensed programs traditionally was carried out in New York by state agencies with expertise in mental health, healthcare, substance abuse, social services, and developmental disabilities.8 Service providers and their employees were disciplined in accordance with regulat...
The Center is responsible for receiving and investigating reports of abuse and neglect of people within its jurisdiction19 and operates the Vulnerable Persons Central Registry, a hotline with trained staff to facilitate such reporting.20 Nine types of incidents21 must be reported by persons considered mandated reporters.22 The nine uniformly define...
A. Investigations
The Center may conduct the administrative investigation itself or may delegate that responsibility to the oversight agency which may in turn delegate it to the provider, “depending on the severity and setting of the allegation.”27 In any event, the Center reviews all completed investigations and makes the final determination of whether the allegations are substantiated or unsubstantiated.28 A substantiated case must be supported by a preponderance of evidence.29 Unsubstantiated findings are s...
B. Administrative Penalties
Substantiated findings of abuse or neglect are divided into four categories, based on the severity of the conduct. Category 1 offenses of abuse and neglect include “serious physical abuse, sexual abuse or other serious conduct.”31 Persons with a Category 1 finding are placed on the Staff Exclusion List (Exclusion List) which is maintained as part of the Vulnerable Persons Central Register.32 The Exclusion List identifies staff who have been found responsible for either serious or repeated act...
C. Administrative Review
Substantiated findings of abuse and neglect can be challenged through an administrative appeal50 to the Center’s Administrative Appeals Unit.51 Following that review, the party has the right to a hearing before an administrative law judge to challenge a finding that the report was substantiated.52 The standard of review is de novo.53 The Center must prove by a preponderance of the evidence that the person committed abuse and neglect.54 If it fails to do so, the Center must amend its records t...
In addition to conducting an administrative investigation of allegedly criminal conduct,56 the Center was authorized to prosecute alleged crimes of abuse or neglect through its Special Prosecutor, who is appointed by the Governor.57 The Special Prosecutor could file criminal charges in any court, including a town court. 58 The only restriction on t...
Since its creation, the Center has published monthly data reports on the results of its investigations.63 This information is also included in its annual reports to the Governor.64 Center records are subject to the Freedom of Information Law,65 and are available in particular circumstances under the Social Services Law.66 The decisions of its admin...
New York has a long-standing policy of protecting vulnerable individuals through oversight of service programs operated, licensed, or certified by New York State. With over one million individuals receiving services in hundreds of these programs, oversight is an important obligation.
* Rose Mary Bailly is a special consultant on aging law with the Government Law Center. Editorial assistance by Michele Monforte. This explainer is drawn in part from Rose Mary Bailly & Dena M. DeFazio, Justice or Injustice: A History and Critique of The New York State Justice Center For The Protection of People With Special Needs, 80 Alb. L. Rev. ...
Report all Significant Incidents regarding vulnerable persons to the Justice Center by calling the VPCR at 1 (855) 373-2122. Continue to call the Statewide Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment if they have reasonable cause to suspect abuse or maltreatment of children in family and foster homes, and day care settings.
Below is a list of incidents that mandated reporters must report to the New York State Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs (Justice Center) if they have reasonable cause to suspect that a reportable incident occurred, either by directly witnessing an incident or by being told about it.
