NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY

Assemblyman Felix Ortiz 51st A.D.

Albany Office Room 826, Legislative Office Building Albany, New York 12248 518-455-3821 District Office 404 55th Street Brooklyn, New York 11220 718-492-6334

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 7, 2012

Contact: (518) 455-3821

New Justice Center a Step in the Right Direction

Assemblyman Ortiz applauds the New Justice Center and will continue to advocate for preventative measures to keep our most vulnerable population safe.

(Albany, NY) Assemblyman Felix W. Ortiz (Brooklyn) attended a Press Conference today which proposed a new Justice Center for the victims of abuse and neglect. The new Justice Center, which will have a Special Prosecutor and Inspector General, will investigate reports of abuse and neglect, and will prosecute the allegations that rise to the level of criminal offense. While the Assemblyman is pleased with the creation of this new Justice Center, he will continue to fight to prevent abuse and neglect, by enforcing laws that are already in place. I am pleased with the progress that has been made since government, businesses, and patients began to work closely together to find solutions to the issues in the mental health and developmental disabilities communities around the state. I look forward to continuing this progressive approach to problem solving in our state, stated Ortiz. The Assemblyman supports the new Justice Center is hopeful that it will provide a great relief for families, advocates, and self-advocates. We must focus our efforts where they are most efficient and effective. We must also be vigilant and be ready to take immediate action when a person in our States care is in jeopardy, stated Assemblyman Ortiz. As activists, lawmakers, and parents, we will not, and cannot, stop until all abuse and mistreatment ends in our mental health care facilities, he added. -- 30 --