Justice Center head departing for Human Rights post

After seven years leading the Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs, Denise Miranda is heading to another state agency, according to an email sent Friday to the center’s advisory council.

Miranda has accepted the leadership post at the state Division of Human Rights, which has been led for the last two-and-a-half years by Maria Imperial. This is the fifth publicly announced leadership change in the Hochul administration in the last two months.

“I have spent the overwhelming portion of my career focused and dedicated to working on behalf of marginalized and vulnerable populations to ensure respect, equity, and inclusion,” Miranda wrote to the center’s advisory council. “Given the vitriol and divisiveness facing our country, the task ahead of me is nothing less than daunting but absolutely necessary.”

Justice Center Advisory Council Chair Bill Gettman described Miranda as a tireless advocate for the adults, children, and families served by the center.

“Denise operated with an incredible and constant commitment to making meaningful and innovative changes in way the Justice Center operated,” he said. “She valued the front line workforce across the various sectors, always called for the highest standards of protection and investigation, promoted collaboration and transparency  and intentionally  moved the agency toward a culture of preventions.”

The Justice Center was launched about a decade ago under then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo and was tasked with overseeing the care provided to some of New York’s most vulnerable citizens. Miranda is widely credited with being a steady leader and bringing new levels of credibility to the agency.