Judge Rice Celebrates OYP’s Third Anniversary with High Achieving All Stars, Court, and Community Partners
New Rochelle City Court Judge Jared Rice recently celebrated the third anniversary of the Court’s transformative Opportunity Youth Part (OYP) initiative that gives Justice-involved Emerging Adults, ages 16-24, a second chance at succeeding in life. This compassionate, life-affirming initiative is fast becoming a model for other communities to replicate.
“In year one, we introduced the field of emerging adult justice, a field where young people aged 16-24 are recognized as different from adults and juveniles in our criminal justice system,” Judge Rice explained to those attending the celebration in his courtroom for the celebration on November 3. “In year two, we talked about the brain science, how the brain works in certain ways.”
“In year three,” he continued, “we focused on our full fledged involvement with the community and the notion of community justice. Community justice is working with the community to create a criminal justice system that is led by the community and works for the community.”
He then went on to welcome a number of OYP “All Stars” to tell their stories. Their case managers who work for direct service providers in New Rochelle, White Plains, Mount Vernon, Yonkers, and the Bronx introduced them. This groundbreaking initiative has engaged more than 250 individuals since its creation in the fall of 2020. OYP currently has 84 participants, 76% of whom are male, and 90% of whom are Black and Latino.
OYP 2021 All Star MVP Kevin Brickle then presented City Manager Kathleen Gill with the 2023 Community Most Valuable Player award. In her comments, Gill said, “For the past two years the City Council has voted to support this program. … I know I can speak for every member of Council when I say that investing in our young people is a top priority…. This is your [Judge Rice’s] inspiration. You and your team have designed and implemented an amazing program. … I’m honored to be a part of it. My heart is in it, too.”
Among others who gave high praise to the OYP initiative were Westchester County Executive George Latimer, Westchester County District Attorney Mimi Rocah, and the Honorable Karen Friedman, Director of Criminal Justice Innovation, Development and Engagement for the federal Bureau of Justice Assistance.
Judge Rice created the Opportunity Youth Part (OYP) initiative in the New Rochelle City Court, Ninth Judicial District on October 29, 2020. This community-centric initiative links disconnected Emerging Adults ages 16 to 24 that are facing misdemeanor or felony charges to local service providers who offer workforce development, job placement, mentors, assistance with behavioral health and substance abuse challenges, and access to college and GED classes.
Colleen Gardephe is OYP’s Court Coordinator. For more information contact her at cgardephe@nycourts.gov or call (914) 400-6040.
Read more about the OYP anniversary celebration:
OYP All-Stars Tell Their Stories
In a very moving and emotional part of OYP’s Third Anniversary Celebration, each All-Star was asked to say a few words about their experience, including Tylique, Adrian, Gehiner, Jordany, Kassim, and 2023 OYP All-Star MVPs Paol and Tijier.
“This year coming up, 2024, will pose new opportunities. It’s up to you to make the best out of your life. … Life is a bunch of roadblocks and if you maneuver through them you work it out.” —Adrian
“Thank you Judge Rice for everything you have done for me. You have helped me to go back to school and do my studies, that has changed my life.” —Gehiner
“The first time I saw Judge Rice, I was so nervous. I didn’t know what I was going to do, what was going to happen. He gave me an opportunity, a chance to better myself, and I thank you for that.” —Jordany
“The program speaks for itself: Opportunity Youth Part.” —Kassim
Notables Honor Judge Rice and the OYP All Stars
Among the many notable people present at the OYP Third Anniversary Celebration were: Westchester County Executive George Latimer; U.S. Director of Criminal Justice Innovation, Development and Engagement, Honorable Karen Friedman; Westchester County District Attorney Mimi Rocah; Program Coordinator, My Brother’s Keeper (MBK New Ro), Nate Adams; New Rochelle City Manager Kathleen Gill; and OYP Defense Attorney Cynthia Lobo.
Here are some excerpts of what they said:
“We look with great pride at this innovation because this is an opportunity to save individual lives and to do that in a very cost-efficient way. We look at this as something that can be replicated. It’s also a message to all of us in all areas of public policy: be thoughtful, be innovative, come up with something that will actually help people, and actually do it. Your honor, you’ve actually done it.” —George Latimer, Westchester County Executive
“I travel and go to courts all over the country. This is not the norm. This is what the norm needs to be. What Judge Rice has done is to understand the power of the robe. To invest yourself in the success and the transformative change of the people that come before you, that is power. … This is innovation. This is investing in our young people. This is creating communities that are safer. That’s what it’s all about, investing and creating opportunities for young people to reach their full potential.” —Honorable Karen Friedman, U.S> Director of Criminal Justice Innovation, Development and Engagement
“We are all so hungry for positive outcomes and the people and community coming together to make good things happen. Judge Rice is making that happen. … The new generation of Assistant District Attorneys are hungry for this. They want to do this. They look at this as a privilege to be able to participate in this.” —Mimi Rocah, Westchester County District Attorney
“When Judge Rice started OYP we began to understand better the need to be more proactive to address the challenges our youth are facing. Be on the lookout for the Youth Justice Equity Team (YJET) as we are about to takeoff to serve our 11 – 17 year old population by bringing the community together to be more proactive and not reactive to their situation.” —Nate Adams, Program Coordinator, My Brother’s Keeper (MBK New Ro)
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We’ve all made mistakes when we were young. … Some of us got into trouble because of those mistakes. But that trouble should never ruin your lives. … This program helps young people who make a mistake, like everyone, and gives them that second chance. … Everyone in the room is here for you. Your community is here for you. Congratulations!” —Kathleen Gill, New Rochelle City Manage
“Let’s thank the mentors, the members of the community who have volunteered, who knocked on our door to say, “I’d like to take someone under my wing.” To our community internship providers, the merchants of the City of New Rochelle, thank you for joining in on our village project, a new court system, a new vision for the future.” —Cynthia Lobo, OYP Defense Attorney
More About OYP
The Three Goals of OYP
- To link OYP participants to positive community resources that will open career and educational doors and to help participants with behavioral health challenges.
- To build positive relationships by connecting OYP participants to caring adults, including case managers, service providers, mentors and Court personnel.
- To improve case outcomes by increasing the likelihood that an OYP participant who follows his or her Court-designed Wellness Plan will avoid incarceration, receive a conditional discharge, and complete the program without a criminal record.
