CASES designs programs to meet the needs of the offenders mandated to us. For adolescent offenders - who often come to us with low self-esteem, few skills, and no goals - services are based upon a youth development approach. CASES' Court Employment Project (CEP) is among the first to apply these methods - proven successful with at-risk youth nationwide - to a criminal justice context. CEP programming focuses on three core competencies: Intellectual and Career Development, Health and Well-being, and Judicial and Civic Accountability.

As part of our emphasis on youth development, CEP operates The Career Exploration Project, which provides its participants with internship opportunities that require responsibility and develops leadership skills. The Career Exploration Project increases participants' career awareness, enhances their understanding of the connection between education and employment, and gives them the skills they need to get a job. The Career Exploration Project was recognized by the National Youth Employment Coalition with a Promising and Effective Practices Network (PEPNet) Award in 1999 - one of eight programs recognized nationwide. Through CEP's newest program, the Youth Enterprise Project (YEP) we have launched a greeting card and t-shirt company - Shout Out Productions - managed by CASES participants. In 2002, YEP was awarded first prize in the Fleet Youth Entrepreneur Competition held by the Citizens Committee of New York City.

CASES also provides services to adult offenders. For mentally ill offenders in need of additional supervision, the Nathaniel Project provides vigilant case management and links participants to community-based treatment. The project is the first in New York City to offer a safe and humane alternative-to-incarceration for men and women with serious mental illness. For chronic misdemeanor offenders, the Community Service Sentencing Project offers supportive services that help them complete their sentences and get on with their lives. Whether it is shoes, groceries, or a job when their sentence is finished, CASES staff works to meet participants' needs. For misdemeanor drug offenders and prostitutes, the Treatment Readiness Program offers a two-day program to address the underlying addiction that spurs criminal behavior. Every year, the Treatment Readiness Program educates more than 2,000 misdemeanor offenders about the dangers of sexually transmitted diseases and treatment options for chemical abuse. Each participant is offered help finding and entering a treatment option that will help them end the addiction that caused the arrest.

Beginning in 2000, CASES spearheaded efforts to address the needs of youth released from custody who are expected to continue their education - many under judicial mandate. However, data suggest that over two-thirds of these young people never return to school, many of whom will re-enter the criminal justice system. Hoping to broker solutions across agencies, CASES organized the Committee on Court-Involved Students. Comprised of policymakers from the criminal and juvenile justice systems as well as the City Department of Education, the Committee has met regularly for the past two years and has made significant progress towards resolving the obstacles facing court-involved youth's re-enrollment in the community. CASES' School Connection Center and the Community Prep High School are the result of the Committee's vision and diligence. The School Connection Center accepted its first participant in June 2002. The Center ensures a smooth transition for youth moving from custodial schools to community schools. The Community Prep School is a collaborative effort of CASES, the Department of Education's Superintendent of Alternative, Adult and Continuing Education Schools and Programs, and the Office of Academic Affairs at CUNY. Community Prep is a transitional school serving 14-17 year olds returning from custody.