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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) is required to have 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.
Edward Fergus, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Chair
Temple University
Nina Aledort, Ph.D., Deputy Commissioner
New York State Office of Children and Family Services
Jenny L. Almanzar, Director
The Journey Project, Family and Children’s Counseling Services
Brendan J. Cox, Director
Policing Strategies, LEAD National Support Bureau
Michelle A. Diaz
Youth Member
Hon. Brenda Freedman
Erie County Family Court
Niasha Hamilton
Youth Member
Heather A. LaForme, Director
Bureau of Native American Services, New York State Office of Children and Family Services
Precious Lugo
Youth Member
Robert M. Maccarone, Esq., Deputy Commissioner and Director
New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services
Hon. Edwina G. Mendelson, Deputy Chief Administrative Judge for Justice Initiatives New York State Unified Court System
Suzanne E. Miles-Gustave
Acting Commissioner, New York State Office of Children and Family Services
Diana Palmer, Council Member
City of Glens Falls
Meredith Ray-LaBatt, MA, MSW, Deputy Director
New York State Office of Mental Health
Allen Riley, Chair
New York State Commission of Correction
Euphemia Strauchn
Chief Executive Officer, Families on the Move of New York City
Emily Tow, President
The Tow Foundation
Jason Williams
Youth Member
Lester W. Young, Jr., Member
New York State Board of Regents
As of March 2023
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.
Rossana Rosado, Chair
Commissioner, New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services
Kevin Gallagher, Regional Director
Northeast Region, National Insurance Crime Bureau
Edmund Golat, Major Case Specialist
Progressive Special Investigations Unit, Progressive Insurance
Joseph Kenny, Inspector
New York City Police Department
James Potts, Jr.
Special Investigations Unit, New York Central Mutual Fire Insurance Company
Owen McShane, Director of Field Investigations
New York State Department of Motor Vehicles
As of March 2023
Law Enforcement Agency Accreditation Council (LEAAC)
The Law Enforcement Agency Accreditation Program is voluntary and designed to improve an agency’s effectiveness, efficiency and professionalism; promote training and foster public confidence in law enforcement. Police departments and sheriffs’ offices are eligible to participate in the program. The Accreditation Council oversees the program and grants accreditation and reaccreditation. It has 19 members representing law enforcement, academia, victim services, the community, and elected officials. The Council meets quarterly and the Governor appoints its members.
Chief Gregory Austin, Chairman
Village of Rye Brook Police Department
Sheriff Todd Baxter
Monroe County
Sheriff Michael Filicetti
Niagara County
Sgt. Leighton Filiatrault
St. Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office
Chief Martin Flatley
Southold Town Police Department
Martin Floss, Ph.D.
Hilbert College
Chief Eric Hawkins
Albany City Police Department
Sheriff Robert Maciol
Oneida County
Mayor Robert Palmieri
City of Utica
Detective Michelle Randall-Williams (ret.)
New York City Police Department
William Rivera, Crisis Intervention Director
Opportunities for Otsego
Rev. Dr. Marlowe Washington
Agape Fellowship United Methodist Church, Rochester
Richard Wells, President
Police Conference of New York
Ex Officio
Acting Superintendent Steven Nigrelli
New York State Police
Commissioner Keechant Sewell
New York Police Department
As of March 2023
Security Guard Advisory Council (SGAC)
The 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 Council has 17 members. It meets as necessary, but at least once a year, and members are appointed by the Governor.
Jessica Johnson, Chair
President, Johnson Security Bureau Inc.
Nicholas Auletta
President, TruView B.S.I., L.L.C.
Bruce Hulme
President, Special Investigations Inc.
Edward Lentol
President, Edward S. Lentol & Associates Ltd.
Anthony Lauro
Assistant Vice President, Macerich Security Services Inc.
U. Nicholas Michailides
School Director, Armed and Unarmed Inc.
Matthew Ventura
President, Atlas Security Services Inc.
David Zeldin
President/CEO, Investicorp Inc.
Ex Officio
Secretary of State Robert J. Rodriguez
New York State Department of State
Commissioner Rossana Rosado
New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services
As of March 2023
Commission on Forensic Science
The 14-member Commission is empowered to develop minimum standards and a program of accreditation for all public 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.
Rossana Rosado, Commissioner
New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services
White Plains, New York
Pasquale Buffolino, Ph.D.
Nassau County Office of the Medical Examiner
East Meadow, New York
Lydia M. de Castro
Westchester County Division of Forensic Sciences
Valhalla, New York
Jill Dooley, Ph.D.
New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services
Albany, New York
William J. Fitzpatrick, Esq., District Attorney
Onondaga County
Syracuse, New York
Jessica Goldthwaite, Esq.
Legal Aid Society
New York, New York
Michael Marciano, Ph.D.
Syracuse University
Syracuse, New York
Angela M. Mazzarelli, Associate Justice, Appellate Division
New York, New York
Michelli Schmitz
Erie County Central Police Services Forensic Laboratory
Buffalo, New York
Ann M. Willey, Ph.D., J.D.
Chatham, New York
Ex Officio
James V. McDonald, M.D., Acting Commissioner
New York State Department of Health
Albany, New York
DNA Subcommittee Members:
Chair: Bruce Weir, Ph.D.
Seattle, Washington
Katherine Butler Gettings, Ph.D.
Gaithersburg, Maryland
Frederick Bieber, Ph.D.
Boston, Massachusetts
Kathleen Corrado, Ph.D.
Syracuse, New York
Kenneth Kidd, Ph.D.
New Haven, Connecticut
Jenifer Smith, Ph.D.
Washington, DC
Amanda Sozer, Ph.D.
Alexandria, Virginia
As of February 2023
Municipal Police Training Council (MPTC)
The Municipal Police Training Council promulgates minimum training requirements for newly appointed police, peace and correction officers; a course of training for police officers appointed to supervisory positions; certifies instructors and courses; and develops and approves law enforcement model policies, among other responsibilities. The Council has 10 members representing law enforcement, academia, victim services, and the community. The Council meets quarterly and the Governor appoints its members.
Sheriff Ronald G. Spike, Chairman
Yates County
Inspector Michael E. Cassidy
New York City Police Department
Maureen Curtis, Vice President
Safe Horizon
Debra Long
Poughkeepsie
R. Bruce McBride, Professor Emeritus
Utica College
Chief John Mueller
MTA Police Department
Chief Timothy D. Parisi
Ilion Police Department
Assistant Commissioner Opal Rivera
New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision
Sheriff Errol David Toulon, Jr. Ed.D.
Suffolk County
Ex Officio
Deputy Superintendent George Nohai
New York State Police
As of March 2023
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.