In re Crystal L.

172 Misc. 2d 434, 658 N.Y.S.2d 188, 1997 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 184
CourtNew York City Family Court
DecidedApril 3, 1997
StatusPublished

This text of 172 Misc. 2d 434 (In re Crystal L.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New York City Family Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In re Crystal L., 172 Misc. 2d 434, 658 N.Y.S.2d 188, 1997 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 184 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 1997).

Opinion

OPINION OF THE COURT

Kerry R. Trainor, J.

[435]*435Crystal L. has submitted a motion to dismiss a juvenile delinquency petition accusing her of assault in the third degree. The common application on technical grounds has been combined with a claim of immunity from a Family Court juvenile delinquency proceeding for the alleged acts.

The respondent states that at the time of the events alleged in this petition, she had already been adjudicated a juvenile delinquent by the Bronx Family Court and placed in the custody of the Division for Youth (DFY). Crystal L. asserts that she cannot be charged in Suffolk Family Court for an alleged assault on a DFY employee who was caring for her during her placement in the nonsecure Brentwood Residence Center. She claims that since DFY has taken administrative action that has already resulted in her transfer to the more secure Tryon for Girls DFY facility, she cannot be charged in Family Court and the petition must be dismissed.

The problem presented here appears to carry with it the same issues that were recently resolved by the New York Court of Appeals decision Matter of Cordero v Lalor (89 NY2d 521). Although the relief sought is identical, the theory is different.

Cordero (supra) involved applications by adult sentenced prisoners that had committed criminal acts while incarcerated. They claimed that since prison authorities had administratively punished them, the "Double Jeopardy Rule” as set forth in CPL article 40 and the United States and New York Constitutions barred criminal prosecution in a court of law.

Even though this is a juvenile delinquency proceeding, which is statutorily defined as "civil” in nature, the same double jeopardy claim could have been made by this respondent. Family Court Act § 303.2 states:

" § 303.2. Double jeopardy
"The provisions of article forty of the criminal procedure law concerning double jeopardy shall apply to juvenile delinquency proceedings.”

The Court of Appeals rejected the double jeopardy claim under the facts presented in Cordero (supra). Arguably, Crystal L.’s claim could be resolved in the same manner. This respondent, however, has elected not to make a double jeopardy claim.

Instead, Crystal L. asserts a claim to immunity. Her petition states that all that can be done is being done and, therefore, the juvenile delinquency petition cannot in good faith allege the necessary language of Family Court Act § 311.1 (3) (j) which states: "(j) a statement that the respondent requires supervision, treatment or confinement”.

[436]*436In essence the claim is that supervision, treatment or confinement has already been provided and therefore, the petition must be dismissed. In support of this proposition, the respondent has referred this court to Matter of Jamie T. (96 Misc 2d 173 [Fam Ct, NY County 1978]). This reliance is misplaced.

In Jamie T. (supra), the court had to determine if the statutory immunity for an adult subpoenaed to testify before a Grand Jury also applied to a juvenile. The court was not called upon to, nor did it, establish a new form of immunity. It simply reached a determination that juveniles, as well as adults, are entitled to the existing protection and therefore, dismissed the juvenile delinquency petition that was pending against Jamie T.

It is doubtful that this or any other New York State court has the authority to fashion a new form of immunity. Traditionally the various immunities in this State have been legislated, and the role of the judiciary has been limited to enforcement and interpretation. Even if this court does have the discretion suggested without legal authority by the respondent, the application must be rejected in this case.

The court has considered the juvenile delinquency petition and supporting deposition, respondent’s application and supporting deposition, and the presentment agency’s opposing papers. The review of all these documents makes it clear that the determination of this motion has serious public policy and safety implications.

Crystal L. was adjudicated a juvenile delinquent by the Bronx Family Court on December 19, 1996 and placed with the New York State Division for Youth. DFY, in turn, had placed Crystal at the nonsecure Brentwood Residence Center in Suffolk County.

It is alleged that on February 10, 1997 at approximately 8:50 p.m. the complainant, Vanessa W., was working as a DFY aide supervising the residents of the facility. Crystal L. picked up the phone to make a call. Ms. W. repeatedly told her to put the phone down. Crystal ignored this. Ms. W. tried to take the phone away. At this point, Crystal L. and another resident allegedly assaulted this aide. A co-worker was able to stop the alleged attack, but only after Ms. W. had been proportedly subjected to repeated punching in the face, about the body and hair pulling.

Following the alleged incident, DFY transferred Crystal L. to the more restrictive "Tryon for Girls”. According to the [437]*437respondent’s motion, this is a secure facility and the respondent received more intensive group and individual counselling than she had at Brentwood. There is no apparent dispute concerning this claim.

The petition does not allege a wrong against DFY, but against an individual employee. The administrative actions of the employer in this situation cannot bar the employee’s access to a court of law. Vanessa W. has serious responsibilities caring for delinquent girls. The dangers and need for protection are obvious. Children such as Crystal L. are in her care because they have already demonstrated a willingness to violate rules. Some of them are potentially dangerous. To maintain order in a juvenile facility, the Family Court must remain available to hear allegations of assaults by residents against aides. Immunity from court process would place women like Vanessa W. in greater danger. The residents must understand that they will be brought before the court if they are accused of attacking an aide.

If this 15-year-old juvenile delinquency respondent had been a 16-year-old sentenced adult prisoner accused of assaulting a correction officer in the same manner and with the same results as are alleged in this case, her circumstances would be quite different. As an adult under the laws of this State, she would be facing indictment for assault in the second degree and if convicted, subject to a term of imprisonment that would only commence after she completed her present term (Penal Law § 70.25).

This is so because correction officers are peace officers (CPL 2.10 [25]). Any assault on one of them while carrying out their official responsibilities is at least the class D felony of assault in the second degree (Penal Law § 120.05 [3]). Although the dangers and need for protection may be analogous, an aide in a DFY facility is neither a police officer nor a peace officer. An assault against one of them is the same as an assault against any other civilian in any other circumstance; the gradations begin with assault, third degree, a class A misdemeanor.

If this court was to grant the respondent’s motion, then the protection for the DFY aide would be reduced to even less than those afforded to other civilians. They would not even have the protection of a potential misdemeanor adjudication.

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Related

People v. Vasquez
678 N.E.2d 482 (New York Court of Appeals, 1997)
In re Jaime T.
96 Misc. 2d 173 (New York Family Court, 1978)

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Bluebook (online)
172 Misc. 2d 434, 658 N.Y.S.2d 188, 1997 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 184, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-crystal-l-nycfamct-1997.