Division of Criminal Justice Services

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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 Division of Forensic Services
Westbury, New York

Lydia M. de Castro
Westchester County Department of Laboratories and Research Division of Forensic Science
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, Retired Associate Justice, Appellate Division
New York, New York

Steven Nigrelli, Superintendent
New York State Police
Albany, New York

Beverly Rauch
New York State Department of Health
Albany, 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: Michael D. Coble, Ph.D.
Fort Worth, Texas

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.
Edgewater, MD

Amanda Sozer, Ph.D.
Alexandria, Virginia

As of July 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.