The Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs
Chapter 501 of the Laws of 2012: “Protection of People with Special Needs Act” is effective on June 30, 2013 and makes changes to the requirements for the standards for the protection of day and residential students who attend a residential school (i.e., the New York State School for the Blind, the New York State School for the Deaf, a State-supported school which has a residential component, a special act school district, or an approved private residential school). Chapter 501 also established the Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs, which will assume the functions and responsibilities of the former Commission on Quality of Care and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities. The Justice Center will be responsible for investigations of allegations of serious abuse and neglect of vulnerable persons in State-operated and licensed facilities, including residential schools under the State Education Department's (SED) oversight; overseeing implementation of the procedures of State oversight agencies for tracking, investigating and monitoring corrective actions of allegations of abuse, neglect and significant incidents; maintaining a register of individuals who have committed serious acts of abuse (Staff Exclusion List); and establishing codes of conduct of ethical standards to which all individuals who have regular contact with people with special needs would be held accountable. Additional information regarding Chapter 501, the Justice Center and a full text of the law are available on the Justice Center webpage. To view Justice Center Resources for Success, materials produced by the Justice Center to help equip staff and advocates with the needed skills to prevent abuse and neglect, please visit the Justice Center’s Resources for Success webpage.
Incident Management Unit (IMU)
The Incident Management Unit (IMU) was created in March 2014 to oversee the New York State Education Department’s activities pursuant to Chapter 501 of the Laws of 2012 and the creation of the Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs. Specifically, IMU responsibilities include tracking and monitoring safety plans, plans of prevention and remediation of allegations of abuse, neglect and significant incidents in approved residential schools serving students with disabilities; investigating significant incidents in approved residential schools serving students with disabilities and ensuring appropriate actions are conducted by the schools in response; remaining a primary point of contact and liaison to the Justice Center, approved residential schools, and other impacted stakeholders relating to reportable incidents or requests for technical assistance pursuant to the responsibilities under Chapter 501 of the Laws of 2012; collaborating with the Justice Center to ensure approved residential schools serving students with disabilities receive all necessary information and training as required under the law.
IMU Offices
Eastern Regional Office
NYS Education Department
Office of Special Education
Special Education Quality Assurance (SEQA)
89 Washington Avenue, Room 309 EB
Albany, NY 12234
Telephone: (518) 473-1185
Fax: (518) 474-6963
Alan Mueller, Supervisor, (518) 473-1185
Hudson Valley Regional Office
NYS Education Department
Office of Special Education
Special Education Quality Assurance (SEQA)
1 Park Place, 3rd Floor
Peekskill, NY 10566
Telephone: (914) 940-2900
Fax: (914) 402-2180
Alan Mueller, Supervisor, (518) 473-1185
Western Regional Office
NYS Education Department
Office of Special Education
Special Education Quality Assurance (SEQA)
2A Richmond Avenue
Batavia, NY 14020
Telephone: (585) 344-2002
Fax: (585) 344-2422
Alan Mueller, Supervisor, (518) 473-1185
Guidance Documents Related to the Justice Center/IMU
Chapter 501 of the Laws of 2012 (“Protection of People with Special Needs Act”) – Vehicle and Traffic Infraction Reporting and Classification Guidance-Field Advisory and Vehicle and Traffic Infraction Reporting and Classification Guidance - June 2018
Chapter 501 of the Laws of 2012 ("Protection of People with Special Needs Act") - Immediate Protections Safety Assessment-Advisory, Immediate Protections Safety Assessment Template, and Residential School Contact Information - June 2018
Reporting of Incidents to the Justice Center – NYSED Quick Reference Guide- Advisory and NYSED Quick Reference Guide - February 2018
Relief from Requirements for Multiple Reporting of Reportable Incidents-Field Advisory, Relief from Requirements for Multiple Reporting of Reportable Incidents-Attachment and Relief from Requirements for Multiple Reporting of Reportable Incidents-Guidance - June 2017