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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.