The Town of Mount Pleasant has nonsecure residential treatment
facilities and residential treatment centers as defined by state law
and herein within its boundaries. Youths are placed in the care of
these facilities for comprehensive treatment, specialized education,
supervised living, support and safety. In an effort to achieve these
goals, it is imperative that the youths remain in program at these
facilities. To that end, sufficient supervision of these youths is
necessary to ensure their safety and the safety of persons within
the borders of the Town of Mount Pleasant.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
AWOL
Absent without official leave; a youth placed at a facility
that leaves campus without proper permission from the facility personnel
or without supervision.
CAMPUS
The geographic boundaries of the facility.
FACILITY
A nonsecure residential treatment facility/center within
the Town of Mount Pleasant, licensed and monitored by the New York
State Office of Children and Family Services with respect to residential
treatment centers (RTC) and the New York State Office of Mental Health
with respect to residential treatment facilities (RTF). The facility
provides a nonsecure level of placement for youth referred by the
New York State Department of Social Services, Administration for Children's
Services of New York City (ACS), New York State Office of Mental Health,
local County Committee on Special Education, or other authorized agency.
Services provided include education, employment training, recreation,
counseling, and medical and mental health services.
NEW YORK STATE FAMILY COURT ACT
A New York State law regarding domestic issues, including
abuse and neglect, juvenile delinquency, and child custody. The Family
Court Act, under § 718, authorizes police officers to apprehend,
restrain and return runaways and/or AWOL children back to the custody
of the authorized agency/facility where the youth is placed.
SUPERVISION
Supervision of a youth is conducted by staff of the relevant
facility and means actually supervising in close proximity a youth's
off-campus activity. Supervision does not include simply following
a youth off campus by vehicle.
YOUTH
Any person under the age of 21 years old in placement at
a residential treatment agency or special act school.
No youth that has been placed at a facility by the State of
New York or any subdivision of the state or agency of the state or
the City of New York shall be unsupervised by staff of the facility
while off campus. Failure of the staff of a facility to supervise
youth as contemplated by this chapter shall constitute a violation
of this chapter.
A facility that fails to supervise youth in violation of this
chapter shall be subject to a fine of $250 for each occurrence.