Youth detention center psychologist charged with 65 criminal sexual acts
CLAVERACK — A psychologist at Brookwood Secure Center for Youth was arrested and charged with rape and other sexual crimes involving eight victims at the state youth detention center between 2020 and 2022.
Maya Hayes, 46, of Albany, was arraigned Friday before Judge Brian Herman at Columbia County Court. She was indicted by a grand jury on 65 counts of criminal sexual acts, including three counts of rape, according to Columbia County Chief Assistant District Attorney Cheryl Botts, lead prosecutor on the case.
The indictment identifies eight victims between the ages of 16 and 18 whom Hayes reportedly targeted between 2020 and 2022, according to Botts. The investigation that led to her arrest began in December 2022 after unspecified contraband was found at Brookwood. It was conducted by the Justice Center, which investigates allegations of abuse or neglect of individuals with special needs. State Police and the Columbia County district attorney’s office were also part of the investigation.
Brookwood is one of three secure juvenile detention facilities overseen by the state Office of Children and Family Services. It houses male and female offenders who committed certain violent felonies before they turned 16 and were convicted and sentenced in adult criminal court or via family court as part of changes enacted by the Raise the Age legislation. They may remain in custody up to age 21, depending on the crime.
The number of youth held in state-run juvenile centers soared in the years after New York raised the age of criminal responsibility to 18, according to a recent state comptroller’s audit. The state’s three secure youth facilities — Brookwood, Go
shen Secure Center in Orange County and Maccormick Secure Center in Tompkins County — saw a 200 percent increase in population from 2019 to 2022.
That spike led to an increase in incidents involving assault, contraband, self-harm, employee misconduct and the use of physical restraint, according to the audit.
The Raise the Age changes six years ago aligned New York’s juvenile justice system with all but one other state. They were meant to remove 16- and 17-year-olds from the adult criminal justice system and place them in settings where they could receive more appropriate services and treatment.
But the Times Union previously reported that many of the support programs that were supposed to accompany the rollout of the Raise the Age statute — and steer teenagers away from criminal activity — were never put in place.
A receptionist at Brookwood directed all inquiries to the state Office
of Children and Family Services. OCFS Acting Director of Public Information Karen Male said in a statement that “upon discovery of these deeply troubling allegations, OCFS removed Dr. Hayes from the facility and took measures to support impacted youth.” The agency declined further comment.
Hayes was released under the supervision of the Columbia County Probation Department with daily reporting requirements and has surrendered her passport, Botts said. Her next court appearance is July 12.