Division of Criminal Justice Services

Welcome to eFocus, an electronic newsletter produced by the New York State 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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e-Focus, Issue Number 112, Feb. 21, 2013
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
Patricia M. Hogan, Contributing Editor
http://www.criminaljustice.ny.gov/opca

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In this Issue:
           
1.  2013 Executive Leadership Training Program
2.  COMPAS 8 Implemented on Jan. 14, 2013
3.  NYS Probation Technology—A Look Forward
4.  OPCA Expands Probation Violation Residential Centers Program Model
5.  OPCA Trainings
6.  2013 State Director’s Memoranda 
7.  Awards, Events, Additional Trainings and News
8.  Quick Fact

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1. 2013 Executive Leadership Training Program: Eight counties participated in the 2013   Executive Leadership Training Program for new Probation Directors recently held in Albany at the Alfred E. Smith Office Building.  Participants included Steven Bayle (Saratoga); Stephanie Fiorini (Chemung); Dan Kibbler (Columbia); Cynthia Licciardi (Fulton); Jeffrey Rougeux (Ontario); Andrew Sicherman (Onondaga); Patrice Dlhopolsky (Suffolk) and Kelly Murphy (Cayuga).   On the second day, a Probation Director’s Panel was conducted with Probation Directors Patrica Aikens (Albany); Laura Bauer (Rensselaer); Joe Mancini (Schenectady); and Mary Ellen Still (Dutchess), each of whom provided valuable information to new Directors.  This was the first probation training program conducted in the new training room located at OPCA’s new location in the Alfred E. Smith Office Building, 80 South Swan St., Albany. 

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2. COMPAS 8 now available: The DCJS Information Technology (IT) team successfully transitioned New York State from Version 7 of the COMPAS Risk/Need Assessment software to Version 8, effective Jan. 14, 2013.  COMPAS 8 now includes the Probation NYCOMPAS, DOCCS Core COMPAS and COMPAS Re-entry risk and need assessment instruments, along with a number of specialized assessment instruments, including the Texas Christian University (TCU) Drug and Alcohol, the Stable and Acute 2007, and the Juvenile Offender Assessment Protocol II.  OPCA will be providing additional guidance on Probation and ATI Program access to the NYCOMPAS and specialized risk and need assessment instruments in the future.  Individuals who use the specialized Stable and Acute 2007 and the JSOAP II must be trained and certified.  OPCA will be providing additional training in the JSOAP II during the fall of 2013.    A limited number of defects in the COMPAS 8 software were identified with the current release, and DCJS IT staff is working with Northpointe Programmers to correct these issues, which we expect will be resolved by early March.  Questions by probation officers and ATI program staff should be directed to your department/agency COMPAS “Super Users” prior to submission to the Customer Contact Center.  COMPAS 8 user guides and blank copies of the various COMPAS assessments have been uploaded into the COMPAS “Help” menu for the reference of users.  The COMPAS 8 Assessment tools are accessed through the E-JusticeNY Integrated JusticePortal within the New York Offender Assessment Data Sharing (NYOADS) Server.  

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3.  NYS Probation Technology — A Look Forward: DCJS IT and OPCA have been working diligently with AutoMon, Inc. since November 2012 to program changes in the Caseload Explorer (CE) applicationand the statewide Integrated Probation Registrant System (IPRS) in preparation for the implementation of the new Probation Supervision Rule (9 NYCRR Part 351) on June 1, 2013.  Six CECounty Probation Departments have been identified topilot test the new application during March 2013, and a well-planned schedule of installations within the remaining counties will follow.  DCJS IT and OPCA will soon be distributing guidance to all Probation Directors and their IT Directors to announce the installation schedule, and a series of trainings to assist CE Userswith the new functionality.  Enhancements to the CE Application will also result in the implementation of the new statewide Presentence Investigation Report Template, which will enable DCJS to complete Phase 3 of the New York Offender Assessment Data Sharing (NYOADS) Initiative, completing the establishment of a statewide PSI Repository.  Probation professionals throughout New York State will be able to search and obtain access to previously completed PSI documents.  Lastly, with the programming changes made to the CE Application, specifically CE Reports, DCJS will implement a new web service that will allow CEProbation Departments to automatically upload the DP30 and 30A Reports. 

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4.   OPCA Expands Probation Violation Residential Centers Model in New York State: OPCA has invited ATI Program providers in counties served by the regional Albany and Project MORE (Dutchess County) Probation Violation Residential Centers (PVRC) to attend a one-day forum on Thursday, Feb. 21, 2013 at the OPCA offices on the third floor of the Alfred E. Smith Building, 80 South Swan St., Albany. TASC of the Capital District and Project MORE, Inc.  will provide information on the PVRC 90 to 180-day program model directed to address the “criminogenic” needs of offenders and stabilize program participants.  PVRC programs serve felony probationers at risk of violation and incarceration.  The PVRC intervention includes cognitive behavioral intervention programming and participation in the Ready, Set, Work!employment readiness groups.  During 2012, OPCA expanded the PVRC Model in New York City to address the needs of individuals participating in ATI Programs, and a similar program expansion will be addressed at this one-day forum.   Probation professionals are welcome to attend to learn more about this exciting cognitive-based program.  For more information, please contact Nancy Andino at Nandino@probation.nyc.gov or (718) 876-7658.

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5.   OPCA Trainings

~  Upcoming Training Program: Last fall, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced a multi-pronged initiative to keep drivers with histories of repeat alcohol or drug-related driving convictions off the road in New York State.  Among the various requirements is the installation of ignition interlock devices (IIDs) in the motor vehicles of certain drivers, an action imposed administratively by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).  Please see State Director’s Memorandum #2012-20.  OPCA and DMV will be conducting a Live Meeting from 10 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013, to provide information to probation departments, IID monitoring agencies, and IID Qualified Manufacturers and Installers. For more information, please contact Maureen McKeown at Maureen.McKeown@dcjs.ny.gov or (518) 485-9941.

~   OPCA conducted the NIC “Thinking for a Change” Cognitive-Behavioral Intervention Training earlier this month and 33 probation officers, ATI Program professionals, and re-entry coordinators and service providers completed the four-day intensive training.

~  OPCA hosted its third in a series of statewide webinars for New York State’s 19 County Re- entry Task Force (CRTFs) Coordinators, County/DOCCS co-chairs and service providers on Feb. 7, 2013.  The program addressed the needs of “Veterans in the Criminal Justice System.” For more information, please contact Margaret Schieferstine at Margaret.Schieferstine@dcjs.ny.gov or (518) 485-5157.

On Jan. 23, 2013, the New York State OPCA Interstate Compact Office held a Live Meeting  regarding the functionality of the Juvenile Interstate Data System (JIDS) as well as the Interstate Commission for Juveniles (ICJ) Rule Amendments, effective April 1, 2013.   The program educated participants on the new JIDS, which was launched nationally on Nov. 5, 2012, to expedite the transfer, travel and return of juveniles under supervision.  Probation JIDS users were provided practical information on how best to navigate the JIDS.   To access the slides, handouts and video from the Live Meeting, please click on the following link https://www.livemeeting.com/cc/dcjs/view

~  OPCA partnered with Orbis Partners, Inc. to provide eight regional training programs on “Advanced Evidence Based Practices.”   Trainings were conducted in Albany, Dutchess, NYC, Suffolk, Monroe, Steuben, Erie and Onondaga counties from January 14-25, 2013.  For more information, please contact Patricia Hogan at Patricia.Hogan@dcjs.ny.gov or 518-485-0905.

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6.    Recent State Director’s Memoranda

        SDM # 2013-1 - YASI Reports and Opportunity
        SDM # 2013-2 - Probation Guidance for Sex Offenders Discharged from Supervision
        SDM # 2013-3 - Chapter 491 of the Laws of 2012–New Domestic Violence Laws
        Attachment 1 - Chapter 491 of the Laws of 2012
        Attachment 2 - Criminal Procedure Law §510.30
        Attachment 3 - DIRR Fact Sheet  

        SDM # 2012-20 - Department of Motor Vehicles Regulation Changes - Ignition Interlock Devices (IIDs) Required for Certain Operators

       SDM # 2012-19 - “Leandra’s Law”− Quarterly Status Report on Implementation -
        Attachment 1 July 1, 2012 - September 30, 2012 IID Quarterly Report
        Attachment 2 August 15, 2010 - September 30, 2012 IID Total Program Report
        Attachment 3 August 15, 2010 - August 31, 2012 Manufacturer/Vendor Reports

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7.    Awards, Events, Additional Trainings, and News

The U.S. Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) is accepting applications for their Grants to Encourage Arrest Policies and Enforcement of Protection Orders Program.  Grant funds may be used “to develop and implement policies and training for probation in recognizing, investigating and prosecuting instances of sexual assault, with an emphasis on recognizing the threat to the community for repeat crime perpetration by such individuals.”  Applications must be submitted electronically by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on Monday, March 25, 2013.  For more information on this funding opportunity, please click on the following link: Grants to Encourage Arrest Policies and Enforcement of Protection Orders Program

On Friday, Jan. 11, 2013, OPCA’s Matt Charton attended a webinar titled, Cyber Offending and Topics in Assessment and Treatment, featuring Dr. David Delmonico of Duquesne University.  The webinar covered topics such as cybersex compulsivity and addiction, problematic online sexual behavior, out of control online sexual behavior, online sex offenders, juveniles online, understanding technology, psychology of the Internet, cyber user categories, assessment issues, treatment issues and the future of cybersex.  Additional information on this topic is available at www.internetbehavior.com/csom

~  The date for the annual VINE Conference has been changed; it is now scheduled for Wednesday, April 24, 2013, at the Holiday Inn on Wolf Road in Albany.  The deadline for registration is Monday, April 15, 2013.  The cost of registration is $50 and includes continental breakfast, networking lunch and refreshments. For more information, please contact Irene Colwill at icolwill@nysheriffs.org

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8.  Quick Fact: In 2011, Probation Departments in New York State collected $14.5 million in victim restitution, $4.2 million in DWI probation supervision fees, and $3.7 million in court fees, penalties and surcharges. 

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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 e-mail, 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 e-mail 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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