A New York state psychologist who worked with teens at the Brookwood Secure Center is set to be sentenced on September 10, 2025, after pleading guilty in June to a criminal sexual act involving a youth in her care. Prosecutors say the 47-year-old, Maya Hayes, faces up to two and a half years in prison, followed by a decade of post-release supervision and at least 20 years on the state’s sex-offense registry. Four former patients, ages 15 to 18, also accuse her of repeated abuse during counseling sessions, alleging she threatened to harm their chances of release if they reported her. Court filings further claim she was moved from a camera-equipped office to one without surveillance, and that a window was covered without being flagged as a policy violation.
The case has intensified concern about the rollback of federal infrastructure meant to prevent sexual abuse behind bars. Though the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) of 2003 still requires regular audits, training and data collection in youth and adult facilities, key supports that help facilities comply have been sharply curtailed this year. In April, the federal PREA Resource Center—run by Impact Justice—lost more than $8 million in funding, temporarily shutting down its online audit system and limiting training and technical assistance that many facilities rely on. While auditor training has since been restored, experts say much of the on-the-ground help that strengthens compliance remains unfunded.
Advocates and researchers warn that these cuts fall heaviest on youth lockups, where young people are especially vulnerable and the consequences can be lifelong. They note that some programs previously available to juvenile facilities have disappeared from the resource center’s website, and that states have already reported grant money being pulled mid-stream—signs that local systems may be left to fill widening gaps with their own budgets.
Policy shifts under a January 20 executive order have also sowed confusion in facilities’ day-to-day decisions, particularly around the housing and safety of transgender and intersex people in custody. PREA calls for individualized placements to protect residents from harm, but experts worry that new directives will lead to rushed, blanket decisions without adequate training—raising the risk of abuse.
Brookwood Secure Center underwent a PREA audit in May 2021 and was found to meet or exceed all 43 juvenile standards—yet the conduct to which Hayes admitted allegedly occurred around that time, underscoring the limits of paper compliance when staff culture, reporting pathways and supervision break down. New York’s state youth facilities collectively hold roughly 165 residents ages 14 to 21; in 2023, the agency reported 16 substantiated incidents of sexual abuse among 607 youth admitted, including four cases involving staff. Advocates say that with federal support diminished, states will need to step up funding for training, technical assistance and meaningful oversight to keep young people safe.