New York City spends billions on jail every year. Our new impact report shows what happens when that investment goes to supporting people instead.
The Problem
In 2025, New York City spent $3 billion to jail nearly 7,000 people per day. That’s more than $400,000 per person each year. So what did that spending buy New Yorkers? Not better jobs, more healthcare or safer streets. More than 60% of people released from Rikers Island are unemployed a year later, and one in three is rearrested within a year. People leaving Rikers are also 50 times more likely than the average New Yorker to have a psychiatric crisis. If incarceration is meant to make life in our city better, it isn’t working.
At CASES, we know there’s a better way. Our work shows that the city’s most deeply rooted problems are solved by supporting people, not jailing them. Our fiscal year 2026 Impact Report shows what this innovative approach makes possible.
The Solution
Last year, CASES served more than 12,000 New Yorkers through nationally recognized mental health services, proven alternatives to incarceration (ATIs) and evidence-based programs for young people. With our support and treatment, more than 9,000 people avoided unnecessary jail stays.
The results show up in people’s lives long after they finish our programs:
- 91% of young people had no new arrest after participating in our ATIs.
- 89% of participants in our flagship ATI for people with serious mental illness had no new arrests two years after completing our services.
- 92% of graduates of the same program were able to secure housing. That’s compared to 44% who were homeless upon intake.
- 83% of graduates of our new 32-week employment program earned at least one industry-standard credential, and more than half have already landed jobs.
Stability and wellness come first. Once people have a safe place to live and the right care, they can start working toward the goals they set for themselves.
Angel’s Story
Angel Z. knows what a strong foundation can make possible. A former participant in our evidence-based ACES violence prevention program, Angel trained in cognitive behavioral theory (CBT), which helped him build the skills he needed to pursue his GED and find steady work. Today he is a CASES youth worker, supporting other young New Yorkers on the same path.
“CASES gave me the tools to understand my emotions and take control of my future—through Rewire CBT, I built the skills to pursue my GED, find employment and stay on track.”
Looking Ahead
We’re building on this momentum. In 2027, our CRED employment program will expand to serve more than 100 system-impacted people ages 18 to 40, opening doors to jobs in construction, health care and social services, some of the fastest growing industries in the country.
CASES does what prisons cannot. We give New Yorkers the support they need to heal, grow and succeed in their communities.
Download the 2025-26 Impact Report. To help us reach more New Yorkers, support our work. Follow us @casesnyc and learn more at cases.org.
