DA McMahon leads tour of future location of Staten Island Community Justice Center

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — District Attorney Michael McMahon gave a tour Friday of what he says will transform public safety on Staten Island.

Joined by local elected officials and New York Chief Justice Rowan Wilson, McMahon praised the new Staten Island Community Justice Center in what was once the island’s criminal justice building at 67 Targee St. in Stapleton.

Mayor Eric Adams and Councilwoman Kamillah Hanks (D-North Shore) announced a $5 million investment Thursday to establish the first justice center of its kind on the island.

“Quite simply, the arrival of a Staten Island Community Justice Center would transform public safety and justice in our borough, and the reclamation of 67 Targee Street, our borough’s former criminal courthouse, will be the physical representation of that transformation,” McMahon said. “Staten Island is well on its way to receiving its own Community Justice Center — a critical community-based diversion and service center that every other borough in New York City already enjoys.”

The center is a project of the Center for Justice Innovation (CJI) and offers programs for children and adults affected by the justice system.

Community justice centers focus on addressing the root causes of criminal behavior, rehabilitating individuals, and creating a sense of community responsibility.

CJI already offers some evidence-based programs for eligible defendants at its office at 30 Beach St., Stapleton, but CJI Director Courtney Bryan said the new Community Justice Center will allow the organization to provide more robust services.

“It was an exciting honor to tour the historic Targee Street Courthouse with our Staten Island partners today,” Bryan said. “We look forward to new collaborations and enhanced programming in what we all want to be a truly community-focused space.”

McMahon said his office has been working with CJI since 2018 to explore the feasibility of a community justice center on Staten Island.

The $5 million allocation is a significant step toward making the center a reality, but additional funding is still needed for the full opening of the Staten Island Community Justice Center, which is still years away.

Also present with McMahon on Friday were New York City Chief Deputy Administrative Judge for the Courts Deborah Kaplan, New York City Criminal Administrative Judge Tamiko Amaker, Civil and Criminal Administrative Judge Desmond A. Green, Surrogate Court Judge Matthew Titone, State Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton (D-North Shore/South Brooklyn), a representative from the Office of New York City Chief Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright, along with representatives from Hanks, Gov. Kathy Hochul, Rep. Charles Fall (D-North Shore/Brooklyn/Lower Manhattan), Rep. Michael Tannousis (R-East Shore/South Brooklyn), the Office of Court Administration (OCA), the Center for Justice Innovation (CJI), and the Department of Citywide Administrative Services.

“I am so pleased that Mayor Adams and Councilmember Kamillah Hanks are investing $5 million to revitalize the former criminal justice building into a community courthouse,” said Scarcella-Spanton. “Thank you to District Attorney Mike McMahon for leading this effort and recognizing that keeping our communities safe is a multifaceted challenge that should include programming that addresses the root causes of public safety issues. I look forward to continuing to work with our public safety partners to move this project forward and bring it to fruition.”