Criminal Justice Policy Boards and Commissions

The Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) supports six advisory boards and commissions, members of which are appointed by the governor. These boards formulate public policy, develop strategic plans and advise the DCJS commissioner, governor and legislators in areas of DNA, juvenile justice, motor vehicle theft and insurance fraud prevention, police training and accreditation, and security guard training.

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Juvenile Justice Advisory Group (JJAG)

Federal law requires all states to establish an advisory group to oversee the strategic planning and federal grant funding allocation to organizations that address juvenile delinquency and prevention issues.  The Juvenile Justice Advisory Group (JJAG) has between 15 and 33 members who must have training, experience, or special knowledge in the areas of prevention and treatment of juvenile delinquency or the administration of juvenile justice.  

With DCJS staff support, the JJAG finalizes New York’s Three-Year Juvenile Justice Plan, which identifies funding priority areas.  Federal juvenile justice funds are used as seed money to establish and support new and innovative projects that seek to measurably reduce juvenile crime, promote individual accountability, enhance public protection, and prevent delinquency through positive youth development. 

JJAG Members:

Chair: John E. Carter, Jr.
Saratoga Springs, New York

Euphemia S. Adams, Executive Director
Families on the Move
Staten Island, New York

Thomas Beilein, Chairman
New York State Commission of Correction 
Albany, New York

Jenny Besch, Director
Westchester and Rockland Mediation Centers
New York, New York

Elmer Blanco, Youth Member 
Bronx County

Laurence Busching, Executive Deputy Commissioner
New York City Administration for Children’s Services
New York City

Gladys Carrión, Commissioner
New York State Office for Families and Children
Rensselaer, New York

Joseph Cocozza, Ph.D.
Policy Research Associates, Inc.
Delmar, New York

Shane Correia, Youth Member
Bronx County

Edward A. Fergus, Ph.D.
New York University
New York City

Nancy L. Hollander
New York City

Martha W. Hood, Supervising Judge
Family Courts in the Fifth Judicial District
Syracuse, New York

Judge Judy Kluger
New York State Office of Court Administration
New York City

Robert Maccarone, Esq., Deputy Commissioner and Director
DCJS Office of Probation and Correctional Alternatives
Albany, New York

Emmanuel McCall
Schenectady, New York

Janice Nittoli, President
The Century Foundation
New York City

Haley Reimbold, Youth Member
Oneida County

Karen Richmond, Executive Director
Children’s Home of Jefferson County
Watertown, New York

Billy Rodriguez, Youth Member
Bronx County

Michele Sviridoff, Deputy Coordinator
Office of the Criminal Justice Coordinator for the City of New York
New York City
  
Meredith Wiley, State Director
FIGHT CRIME: INVEST IN KIDS New York
Albany, New York

Motor Vehicle Theft & Insurance Fraud Prevention Board (MVTIF)

The 12-member New York Motor Vehicle Theft and Insurance Fraud Prevention Board oversees a demonstration program that supports initiatives designed to reduce motor vehicle theft and related motor vehicle insurance fraud. The program provides state funds to support police and prosecutors in communities with high incidents of motor vehicle theft and insurance fraud, allowing those jurisdictions to support specialized law enforcement strategies to combat the crimes.  

The Board has representation from the motor vehicle insurance industry and consumers, law enforcement agencies, and the judicial system. The Board also develops an annual plan with recommendations on how to reduce motor vehicle theft and motor vehicle insurance fraud statewide.

Board Members:

Chair:  Michael C. Green, Executive Deputy Commissioner
New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services
Albany, New York

Kristina L. Baldwin, Assistant Vice President
Property Casualty Insurers Association of America
Albany, New York

District Attorney Richard A. Brown
Queens County

District Attorney Janet DiFiore
Westchester County

Barbara J. Fiala, Commissioner
New York State Department of Motor Vehicles
Albany, New York

Gary Henning
Glenmont

District Attorney Robert T. Johnson
Bronx County

Deputy Inspector Joseph Kenny
NYPD Auto Crime Division
College Point, New York

Thomas W. Lohmann, Director of Field Operations  
National Insurance Crime Bureau
Melville, New York

James E. Potts, Jr.
New York Central Mutual Fire Insurance Company
Cooperstown, New York

Law Enforcement Agency Accreditation Council (LEAAC)

The Law Enforcement Agency Accreditation Program began in 1989 and is designed to be a progressive and contemporary way of helping police agencies evaluate and improve their overall performance. The program has four principle goals: to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of law enforcement agencies utilizing existing personnel, equipment and facilities to the extent possible; to promote increased cooperation and coordination among law enforcement agencies and criminal justice agencies;  to ensure the appropriate training of law enforcement personnel; and to promote public confidence.

The 17-member Law Enforcement Agency Accreditation Council provides overall direction for the program by issuing standards and setting policy; the Council also has exclusive authority to grant accreditation status.

Council Members:

Chair:  Chief Michael D. Ranalli
Glenville Town Police Department

Chief Michael C. Biasotti
Town of New Windsor Police Department

Deputy Sheriff Erin N. Fuller
Genesee County

James Hoffman, Chairman
Wayne County Board of Supervisors

Chief Charles W. Koenig
Ballston Spa Village Police Department  

Sheriff Gary T. Maha
Genesee County

Sheriff Philip C. Povero
Ontario County

Mayor Louis Rosamilia
City of Troy

Chief Margaret Ryan
Dryden Village Police Department

Supervisor Edmond J. Theobald
Town of Manlius

Sheriff Kevin E. Walsh
Onondaga County

Richard A. Wells, President
Police Conference of New York

Professor Rob E. Worden
University at Albany

 

Ex officio members:

Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly
New York Police Department

Superintendent Joseph A. D’Amico
New York State Police

Security Guard Advisory Council (SGAC)

DCJS is required to oversee the training and registration of security guards and to certify private security training schools. 

The seventeen-member Security Guard Advisory Council addresses program and policy requirements and recommends rules and regulations to the DCJS Commissioner concerning: approval or revocation of security guard training schools and training programs; the minimum courses of study and all training requirements to be fulfilled by schools; the minimum qualifications for instructors at approved security guard training schools and training programs; and training requirements for unarmed and armed security guards.

The DCJS Office of Public Safety provides administrative oversight for private security training in New York State, while the New York State Department of State is responsible for licensing security guards.

Council Members:

Chair:  Michael E. O’Neil
Michael Stapleton Associates, Inc.
New York City

Vice-Chair:  Robert S. Tucker, Chairman and CEO
T&M Protection Resources
New York City

Robert A. Green, Supervisor
Town of Bristol
Ontario County

Professor Robert A. Hair
John Jay College of Criminal Justice
New York City

Bruce H. Hulme, President
Special Investigations, Inc.
New York City

Jessica A. Johnson, President
Johnson Security Bureau, Inc.
Bronx, New York

Anthony Lauro, Assistant Vice President
Macerich Security Services, Inc.
Elmhurst, New York

Edward S. Lentol, President
Edward S. Lentol & Associates, Ltd.
South Richmond Hill, New York

Rainer Melucci, Private Investigator
EED Co., Inc.
Brooklyn, New York

U. Nicholas Michailides
Security Consultant
Patterson, New York

Steven A. Pagones, President
Pagones – O’Neil, Inc., Investigations and Security
Beacon, New York

Anthony Pancella III, President
Security Professionals, Inc.
West Babylon, New York

David E. Zeldin, President and CEO
Investicorp, Inc.
Bellmore, New York

 

Ex-Officio members:

Cesar A. Perales, Secretary
New York State Department of State

Michael C. Green, Executive Deputy Commissioner  
New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services


Commission on Forensic Science

The 14-member Commission is empowered to develop minimum standards and a program of accreditation for all forensic laboratories in New York State.  Accreditation of a forensic DNA laboratory is granted through the seven-member DNA Subcommittee, which also advises the Commission on any matter related to the implementation of scientific controls and quality assurance procedures for the performance of forensic DNA analysis.

Commission Members:

Chair:  Michael C. Green, Executive Deputy Commissioner
New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services

Kathleen Corrado, Ph.D., Director
Onondaga County Forensic Science Laboratories

Superintendent Joseph A. D’Amico
New York State Police
Albany, New York

District Attorney William J. Fitzpatrick
Onondaga County

Brian J. Gestring, Director
DCJS Office of Forensic Services
Albany, New York

Richard Jenny, Ph.D.
New York State Department of Health
Albany, New York

District Attorney James Murphy
Saratoga County

Peter J. Neufeld, Esq.
New York City

Marvin E. Schechter, Esq.
New York City

Barry E. Scheck, Esq.
New York City

Marina J. Staji, Ph.D., Director of Toxicology Laboratory
Office of the Chief Medical Examiner
New York City

Ann M. Willey, Ph.D.
Chatham, New York

 

Ex-officio:

Commissioner Nirav R. Shah, MD, MPH
New York State Department of Health

 

DNA Subcommittee Members:

Chair:  Dr. Jack Ballantyne
Orlando, Florida

Dr. Allison Eastman
Albany, New York

Dr. Kenneth Kidd
New Haven, Connecticut

Dr. Charles Hirsch
New York City

Dr. Frederick Bieber
Boston, Massachusetts

Dr. Mark Batzer
Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Dr. Eric Buell
Alburgh, Vermont

Municipal Police Training Council (MPTC)

The eight-member Municipal Police Training Council (MPTC) promulgates minimum training requirements for newly-appointed police officers and a course of training for police officers appointed to supervisory positions. It also recommends rules and regulations for minimum standards for law enforcement and correctional training programs; instructor certifications and develops and approves law enforcement model policies designed to enhance the way local law enforcement agencies serve and protect their communities.

Council Members:

Chair:  Sheriff Ronald G. Spike
Yates County

Superintendent Joseph A. D’Amico
New York State Police

John M. Klofas, Ph.D
Rochester, New York

Sheriff Patrick O'Flynn
Monroe County

Deputy Commissioner James O’Keefe
New York Police Department

Chief David K. Rouse
Bath Police Department

Chief Joseph D. Waldron
Mechanicville Police Department

New York's Open Meetings Law recognizes your right to watch your government perform public business. Now, you can monitor what we do at DCJS, view meetings in real-time and even recall sessions that you missed. A schedule of upcoming meeting webcasts and links to archived meetings can be found on the DCJS Open Meeting web page.