Welcome to eFocus, an electronic newsletter produced by the NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services Office of Probation and Correctional Alternatives (OPCA). OPCA publishes this newsletter to further its goal of promoting public safety through probation services and other community corrections programs. We welcome your suggestions.
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eFocus, Issue Number 107, July 9, 2012
New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services
Office of Probation and Correctional Alternatives
Robert M. Maccarone, Deputy Commissioner and Director
Nicole A. Aldi, Editor
http://www.criminaljustice.ny.gov/opca
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In this Issue:
1. Statewide Notice of Arrival Policy for Interstate Cases
2. Proposed Probation Supervision Rule Progresses
3. OPCA graduates fifth NIC OWDS Class of 27
4. Stable 2007 and Acute 2007 Trainings completed
5. State Director Addresses 2012 COPA Summer Conference
6. Neighborhood Opportunity Network (NeON) Implemented in NYC
7. Additional Training, Awards, Events and News
8. Quick Facts
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1. Interstate Notice of Arrival Policy - In a continuing effort to comply with the Interstate Commission for Adult Offender Supervision (ICAOS) rules and regulations and to be proactive in monitoring interstate offenders as they travel from one state to another, OPCA has developed a policy for county probation departments to use when submitting a Notice of Arrival (NOA) in ICOTS. The implementation of this policy will significantly reduce the number of delinquent NOAs, increase offender accountability, enhance public safety by expediting the supervision of interstate transfers, and develop a uniform system throughout New York State. This important new policy was outlined in State Director’s Memorandum # 2012-11. For additional information, contact Matt Charton at Matthew.Charton@dcjs.ny.gov or (518) 485-2402.
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2. Proposed Probation Supervision Rule – OPCA has submitted a Notice of Proposed Rule Making with respect to the Probation Supervision Rule (9 NYCRR, Repeal of Part 351, add new Part 351) to the Department of State which appeared in the State Register on June 20, 2012. A copy of the proposed rule text is available on our agency website www.criminaljustice.ny.gov, within the Probation Services Suite of eJustice and was previously sent to all probation directors/commissioners. Please submit any written comments regarding this rule change by close of business Monday, August 6, 2012 to Linda Valenti at Linda.Valenti@dcjs.ny.gov. For additional Information contact Patti Donohue at Patti.Donohue@dcjs.ny.gov or (518) 485-5168.
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3. OPCA Graduates Fifth NIC OWDS Class- On June 14, 2012 the Office of Probation and Correctional Alternatives, in collaboration with the NYS Department of Labor and County Probation Departments, celebrated the completion of the fifth class of Offender Workforce Development Specialists (OWDS) from its In-State Partnership with the National Institute of Corrections (NIC). This year’s class included Probation Officers, Alternative to Incarceration Programs, Re-entry staff and participants from the NYS Department of Corrections and Community Supervision. With the addition of the 27 professionals who successfully completed the 180- hour training, there are now 114 OWDS trained through the partnership with NIC. Along with the two teams that attended NIC’s national training, 131 OWD Specialists have now completed the program. Patricia Taylor, program specialist for NIC, and Rebecca Bell of EAC TASC both spoke at the graduation. For more information on OWDS, contact Cynthia Blair at Cynthia.Blair@dcjs.ny.gov or (518) 485-5145.
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4. Stable 2007 and Acute 2007 Trainings completed - OPCA is pleased to announce the completion of three regional trainings in the certified use of the Stable 2007 and Acute 2007 specialized risk and need assessment instruments for the management of sex offender probationers. The training was conducted by Dr. Robin Wilson Ph.D., ABPP. The three regional training sessions occurred the week of June 18-22, 2012 in Syracuse, Dutchess, and Suffolk Counties. Upon completion of each training session, all 90 participants were certified in the use of the Stable 2007 and Acute 2007 risk assessments. The Stable 2007 and Acute 2007 assessments, along with the Static-99R will be used in the supervision of Sex Offenders under Community Supervision. The Stable 2007 and Acute 2007 Instruments are available to certified. For more information contact Gary Govel at Gary.Govel@dcjs.ny.gov or (518) 457-4336.
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5. State Director Addresses 2012 COPA Summer Conference – DCJS Deputy Commissioner and State Probation Director Robert Maccarone addressed nearly 50 Probation Directors in attendance at this year’s COPA Summer Conference held in Lake Placid, New York. This year’s discussion included: annual probation block grants and the new automated quarterly payment system implemented by DCJS; status of the new proposed probation supervision rule and its expected implementation December 1, 2012; the new Notice of Arrival procedure for interstate transfers; the new Interstate Juvenile Data System (JIDS); new quarterly performance reports for “Leandra’s Law” and the use of Ignition Interlock Devices; Probation NYCOMPAS Version 8 and a new pretrial services screen; proposed amendment to the interstate/intrastate rule to address Interim Probation Supervision; amended Case Record Management Rule; the presentence investigation report repository as part of the New York Adult Offender Data Sharing (NYOADS) System; and the new Probation/ATI Service Plan format and its emphasis on data analysis.
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6. Harlem Neighborhood Opportunity Network (NeON) - On June 15, 2012 the New York City Department of Probation launched the Harlem Neighborhood Opportunity Network (NeON). In December 2011, Mayor Bloomberg opened the first NeOn in Brownsfille; additional NeONs will open this year in South Jamaica, Staten Island, the South Bronx, East New York and Bedford Stuyvesant. The NeON is an important part of New York City’s Young Men’s Initiative, which is designed to help black and Latino youth achieve their professional, educational, and personal goals. NeON staff will take an active role in helping clients navigate local networks and access resources and opportunities. Network organizations will be able to help clients find a mentor, get a job, enroll in a healthcare program, obtain academic support, improve their neighborhood through community benefit projects, advance their education and locate an afterschool program.
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7. Additional Training, Awards, Events and News
~ Former State Probation Director Edmund B. Wutzer was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Council of Probation Administrators (COPA) at the 2012 Summer Conference in Lake Placid, New York. Our congratulations to Ed Wutzer!
~ The NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services Office of Probation and Correctional Alternatives (OPCA) is pleased to announce Probation Supervision Rule Live Meeting training is now available in pre-recorded format via the Ejustice Probation Services Suite, under the Training Tab. If you have questions about this training, contact Patti Donohue at Patricia.Donohue@dcjs.ny.gov or (518) 485-5168.
~ OPCA recently posted the IID Vendor Reports through March 2012 and the IID Fee Schedules through May 8, 2012 on the OPCA website. For additional information, contact Patricia Hogan at Patricia.Hogan@dcjs.ny.gov or (518) 485-8855.
~ OPCA announces the next Interstate Unit Live Meeting dates; July 19, 2012 and August 23, 2012. Additionally the Quarterly Interstate ICAOS Rule training on Violations, Probable Cause Hearings, and Retakes is scheduled for July 26, 2012. For more information contact Matt Charton at Matthew.Charton@dcjs.ny.gov or (518) 485-2402.
~ New York City Commissioner Vincent Schiraldi was recently interviewed by The New York Law Journal; interview documented in the May 25, 2012 issue. The interview focused on the Commissioner’s work with Probation to reduce criminal recidivism and increase community involvement in the rehabilitation of offenders sentenced to Probation. For the complete interview, please click on the hyperlink provided http://www.newyorklawjournal.com/PubArticleFriendlyNY.jsp?id=1202555952494&slreturn=1
~ OPCA would like to congratulate Elizabeth Greathouse, Schenectady County Probation Officer who is being honored with the Task Force of law enforcement agencies that were instrumental in making a career case against the Four Block gang. They’re receiving the award of “Gang Case of the Year for the Northeastern Region for 2011”; this award includes major cities like Boston and NYC. This award is given by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and will be presented to the Task Force in Dallas, Texas this Friday. Liz received an all-expense paid invitation by the FBI and will be representing herself and Schenectady County proudly. Congratulations Liz and Probation!
~ The National Association of VOCA Assistance Administrators is pleased to announce the availability of funding for next year’s National Crime Victims' Rights Week Community Awareness Projects. Thanks to support from the Office for Victims of Crime, at least 60 communities will receive up to $5,000 each to support events and activities to promote public awareness of crime victim rights and available services during National Crime Victims' Rights Week, April 21 – April 27, 2013. Visit the NCVRW CAP website, http://cap.navaa.org, for additional information and applications.
~ NIC presents a PREA 101 Webinar Series focusing on the U.S Department of Justice’s National Standards to Prevent, Detect, and Respond to Prison Rape. The goal of the series is to: (1) assist agencies in triaging their response to the standards; (2) share information and resources; and (3) answer questions. The Series consists of four events: Adult Prisons: June 25, 2012 – 12:00pm - 01:30pm EDT; Jails and Lockups: June 25, 2012 – 02:00pm – 03:30pm EDT; Community Corrections: June 26, 2012 – 12:00pm – 01:30pm EDT; Juvenile Agencies: June 26, 2012 – 02:00pm – 03:30pm EDT. To register for any of these events go to: http://www.wcl.american.edu/endsilence/webinar_registration.cfm
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8. Quick Facts: Over the past twelve months, the statewide cumulative DNA sample collection rate for probation departments was 95%.
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eFocus is the property of the Office of Probation and Correctional Alternatives. Articles may be reprinted with attribution to the Office. For more information on any of the topics mentioned above, to report any difficulties you may have experienced receiving this email, or, if you have information you would like posted in the next issue of OPCA's eFocus, please contact Nicole Aldi at (518) 485-8457 or Nicole.Aldi@dcjs.ny.gov.
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The eFocus is now distributed to thousands of community corrections professionals across New York State. You may receive more than one copy if your name and email address appear on different criminal justice and community corrections mailing lists. If so, please e-mail Nicole Aldi the name you would like removed from distribution.
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