Our Mission

The mission of Esperanza is to create a safe, supportive and productive response to the challenges and needs of young people who are court-involved that decreases crime and incarceration and increases positive outcomes for the families we serve.

History

Founded in 2002 as a project of the Vera Institute of Justice and incorporated as an independent 501(c)(3) organization in 2006, Esperanza was established in response to the dismal outcomes of juvenile incarceration. These outcomes were highlighted in a 1999 study which showed that many young people were incarcerated for first-time, misdemeanor convictions, at a cost of up to $150,000 per year, and that 81% of youth released from New York State facilities were rearrested within three years. Drawing upon research demonstrating that intensive, home-based therapy produces better outcomes at costs considerably lower than incarceration, Esperanza began its direct services working with young people charged in family court. Beginning in 2012, Esperanza began to accept youth up to eighteen years of age being prosecuted in Criminal/Supreme Court on felony charges, including fourteen and fifteen year olds being charged as Juvenile Offenders. This now includes sixteen and seventeen year olds being charged as Adolescent Offenders under the Raise the Age legislation.

Board of Directors

  • Earl Ward
    Chair

    Partner, Emery, Celli, Brinckerhoff & Abady, LLP

  • Dr. Albert Widman
    Treasurer

    Professor, Rutgers University School of Communication & Information

  • Michael Jacobson
    Trustee

    Director, CUNY Institute for State and Local Governance

  • David Holman, Esq.
    Trustee

  • David Olsen
    Trustee

    President and Chief Investment Officer, Jump Trading

  • Karen Goldstein
    Trustee

    Counsel to the Executive Director, CUNY Institute of State and Local Governance

  • Greg Klemm
    Trustee

    Legal Services NYC, Chief Financial Officer

  • Jim Parsons
    Trustee

    Vice President Research, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning,Vera Institute of Justice

  • Casey Eiseman
    Secretary

  • Jenny Kronenfeld
    President & Executive Director

Still have Questions?

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