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 113, March 29, 2013
New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services
Office of Probation and Correctional Alternatives
Robert M. Maccarone, Deputy Commissioner and Director
Patricia M. Hogan, Editor
http://www.criminaljustice.ny.gov/opca
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In this Issue:
1. Seven Probation Departments pilot test Caseload Explorer Version 5.2
2. ICAOS progress reports policy will ensure compliance with federal regulations
3. 486 individuals complete “Ready, Set, Work!” employment groups in 2012
4. Probation Violation Residential Center Model is expanded
5. OPCA Trainings
6. Recent 2013 State Director’s Memoranda
7. Awards, Events, Additional Trainings and News
8. Quick Fact
9. Practice Tip
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1. Seven Probation Departments pilot test Caseload Explorer Version 5.2 — Probation Departments in Jefferson, Suffolk, Nassau, Ulster, Dutchess, Tompkins and Warren counties are pilot testing the Caseload Explorer Version 5.2 through April 10; changes to the system are required to implement the new Probation Supervision Regulation, effective June 1, 2013. The scope of the testing includes reviewing changes to the statewide pre-sentence investigation template, additions to supervision rules to include merit credit and administrative supervision, the Integrated Probation Registrant System, legal history grid, DP30/30A Probation Workload Reports, Sex Offender Quarterly Address Confirmation Report, the DPCA (OPCA) 401 and 402 quarterly reports, the periodic supervision report as well as changes to the overview screen. Implementation of the production version of 5.2 will commence April 11, 2013.
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2. ICAOS progress reports policy will ensure compliance with federal regulation — State Directors Memorandum #2013-6, dated March 4, 2013, establishes a new policy to address the timely submission of annual progress reports owed to other states for interstate probationers being supervised in New York State. Effective Monday, March 18, 2013, the OPCA Interstate Unit began implementing the new practice of informing local probation departments three weeks prior to Progress Reports’ due dates and requiring probation departments to complete and submit progress reports one week in advance of their due date in the Interstate Compact Offender Tracking System (ICOTS). With the help of probation departments, New York has made great strides in ensuring that it is in compliance with the Interstate Commission for Adult Offender Supervision (ICAOS) federal regulations, but the timely submission of annual Progress Reports remains a problem. In the coming weeks, OPCA Interstate staff will conduct another Live Meeting to highlight this new practice and reiterate the recently implemented Notice of Arrival (NOA) Procedure. For more information, see State Director’s Memorandum # 2013-6 in the eJusticeNY Legacy Probation Suite.
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3. 486 individuals complete “Ready, Set, Work!” employment groups in 2012 —Probation Departments, ATI Programs, Probation Violation Residential Centers (PVRCs) and Federal Probation convened 86 “Ready, Set, Work!” (RSW!) employment groups in 2012. A total of 486 individuals, including 356 probationers, completed the 20-hour cognitive-behavioral employment readiness groups and 264 (54 percent) obtained employment within 90 days. Offender Workforce Development Specialists (OWDS) in 11 probation departments conducted 33 RSW! groups, including four groups in RSW! for sex offenders, and RSW! for persons in recovery with mental illness. Seven ATI Programs and four PVRCs conducted 46 RSW! groupsand 283 individuals completed the groups in 2012. Click here for more detailed information.
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4. Probation Violation Residential Center (PVRC) Model is expanded—OPCA held a forum on Feb. 21, 2013, with representatives from the PVRCs, local probation departments, and alternatives to incarceration programs to discuss the expansion of these pilot programs, which are designed to address the treatment, employment and cognitive needs of felony offenders under probation supervision and/or participating in a community-based corrections programs who are at risk of violation or termination and incarceration in state prison. The PVRC provides short term (between 45 and 180 days) residential, cognitive-based intervention services for these offenders. The new program model, the Probation Violation Residential Stabilization Center (PVRSC), will include individuals participating in community- based corrections programs who have been convicted of felony offenses and are at risk of program termination and incarceration in state prison. There are four Probation Violation Residential Stabilization Centers—two in New York City, one in the Hudson Valley and one in the Capital District that will expand to serve individuals from counties throughout New York State. For more information, see State Directors Memorandum # 2013-7 or contact Community Corrections Representative Nancy Andino at nandino@probation.nyc.gov
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5. OPCA Trainings
~ A class of 30 newly hired Probation Officers from 18 counties throughout New York State completed the 90-hour Fundamentals of Probation Practice Training Program held Feb. 25 through March 15, 2013 at the state Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) in Albany. Special thanks to Ramona Preston, who, as a new staff development officer in Monroe County, attended the entire class in preparation for her own Fundamentals Program beginning April 8, 2013. Thank you also to the following individuals - Michael Wright of Madison County, Kristine Maloney and Shane Wisner of Jefferson County, Jay Van Aken and Teresa Hansen of Rensselaer County, Mark Pisano of Ulster County, Linda Valenti, Esq. of the DCJS Office of Legal Services, Matt Slater of the DCJS Office Public Safety, and Bill Schaefer of the DCJS Office of Program Development and Funding - for volunteering their time and expertise as instructors. OPCA also extends its gratitude to the Probation Directors/Commissioners and Supervisors who authorized their participation. This commitment is an invaluable resource to the success of the training.
~ On Feb. 27, 2013, the OPCA Ignition Interlock Department, in conjunction with the state Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), held a Live Meeting about new DMV regulations for persistently dangerous drivers. More than 150 individuals from local probation departments, IID manufacturers, DMV and the state Office of Court Administration attended. The meeting helped to clarify some of the confusion between the court-ordered IIDs and the new administratively ordered IIDs. An audio recording of the Live Meeting and access to the handouts are posted to the eJusticeNY Legacy Probation Suite, Training tab.
~ OPCA conducted a Thinking for a Change course in New York City on March 1,8,15 and 22 and a second class is scheduled in New York City on April 5, 12, 15, and 19. For more information, contact Nancy Andino at nandino@probation.nyc.gov or (718) 876-7658.
~ The three-week Offender Workforce Development Specialist (OWDS) training has commenced. The class is being held on the following dates: March 18 through22, May 6 through10 and June 17 through 21 at the state Department of Labor in Albany. A second OWDS training will be held in the fall of 2013. For more information, contact Cynthia Blair at Cynthia.Blair@dcjs.ny.gov or (518) 485-5145.
~ OPCA will be conducting a series of regional trainings throughout the state during the month of April to prepare for the implementation of the new Supervision Rule, which takes effectJune 1, 2013. These regional trainings will be followed by four Live Meeting sessions in May. For more information, contact Patricia Donohue at Patricia.Donohue@dcjs.ny.gov or (518) 485-5168.
~ OPCA will conduct a series of Live Meetings on Caseload Explorer/IPRS/PWS/SORA forms in April. The sessions will have the same content for both the morning and afternoon sessions. The schedule is as follows: 10 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on the following days: Tuesday, April 2; Wednesday, April 3; and Thursday, April 4.. The Live Meetings also will be recorded and made available for future use via the EJusticeNY Integrated Justice Portal Probation Services Suite.
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6. Recent State Director’s Memoranda: Each of these memos is posted to the eJusticeNY Legacy Probation Suite under State Director Memoranda.
SDM # 2013-4: “Leandra’s Law”−Status Report on Implementation
Attachment 1: October 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012 IID Quarterly Report
Attachment 2: August 15, 2010 - September 30, 2012 IID Total Program Report
Attachment 3: Manufacturer/Vendor Report thru November 2012
SDM # 2013-5: Critical Incident Reporting Policy and Procedures - Revised
Attachment 1: Critical Incident Policy
Attachment 2: Critical Incident Form OPCA-670A
Attachment 3: Critical Incident Form OPCA-670B
SDM # 2013-6: ICAOS Progress Reports –New Policy to Ensure Compliance with Federal Regulations Effective March 18, 2013
SDM# 2013-7: Probation Violation and Residential Stabilization Centers (PVRSC) –Expansion of Counties and Population Eligible for Services
NEW YORK STATE “LEANDRA’S LAW” ADVISORY #2013-1 -– Probation and Monitors of Ignition Interlock Devices – Reporting back to the Court and District Attorney
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7. Awards, Events, Additional Trainings, and News
~ OPCA recently surveyed all Probation Departments about the collection of financial obligations; the results of that survey, which includes local and statewide totals of restitution collection, DWI supervision fees, and court-ordered fees, fines and penalties were collected and reported by Probation Departments for 2010, 2011 and 2012. Results are posted to eJusticeNY Legacy Probation Suite - New Information.
~ ATI Programs continue to provide critical services to New York State's criminal justice system by providing cost-effective programs that reduce unnecessary reliance on local and state incarceration, reduce recidivism, promote public safety and assist individuals change their lives to become productive residents of. More information is posted to eJusticeNY Legacy Probation Suite - New Information.
~ OPCA recently conducted a quick survey concerning pre-trial screening, supervision and monitoring, and practices pertaining to bail-expediting and the use of pre-trial screening tools. More information is posted to eJusticeNY Legacy Probation Suite - New Information.
~ OPCA has continued its effort to provide guidance to New York State officials in the area of Ignition Interlock and, more specifically, Leandra’s Law. On March 8, 2013, training was held for the New York Association of Drug Treatment Court Professionals (NYADTCP) in Saratoga Springs. This session reviewed the challenges faced by DWI treatment courts in keeping up with the many legislative changes concerning this area of the law and utilization of the ignition interlock device. On March 11, 2013, OPCA provided training in Latham to 50 judges for the Association of Towns (AOT), centering on Leandra’s Law and enforcement and compliance issues that arise. The AOT training was filmed and placed online for judges who could not attend the conference and also will be aired at local district training sites this spring and fall. To view the recording, visit www.nycourts.gov/justicecourts
~ The Middle Atlantic States Correctional Association (MASCA) is pleased to announce that it is again offering one scholarship to cover the $1,500 cost of tuition for the American Probation and Parole Association (APPA) Leadership Institute to a deserving MASCA member. The APPA Leadership Institute is a nationally recognized, year-long program designed to develop and enhance leadership skills and abilities in motivated individuals. Click here for information for scholarship details and instructions for how to apply. Applicants for the scholarship must also apply to APPA for the Leadership Institute by May 1, 2013. Leadership Institute applications can be found on the APPA Website: http://www.appa-net.org/eweb/
~ Innovative approaches to corrections in New York City leads to nationally recognized reductions in incarceration rates. Over the past decade, while the incarceration rate has risen 6 percent nationally, New York City's rate has fallen 32 percent, thanks to creative parole and probation programs. New York City Probation has made a conscious decision to focus its energies on those offenders who pose a high or moderate risk of re-offending and requesting early discharges for those offenders who have performed well and pose a lesser risk of re-offending. To read the full article, click here.
~ Troubled teens on probation for theft, fighting, fare-beating or other crimes in New York City are giving back to a community devastated by Hurricane Sandy. Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/brooklyn/troubled-teens-giving-back-gerritsen-beach-article-1.1284797#ixzz2NcIBEcEy
~ The DCJS Office of Public Safety is pleased to announce upcoming Investigating Animal Cruelty workshops for 2013. In a cooperative effort among DCJS, the New York State Humane Association, the Yonkers Police Department and the Essex County Sheriff’s Office, this one-day course will be offered Tuesday, April 30, 2013 in Westchester County and Saturday May 11, 2013 in Essex County. The application may be downloaded by clicking here. Information also is available on the DCJS training calendar: http://calendar.dcjs.state.ny.us, just click on the above dates to learn more. For more information, please contact Scott Neff at Scott.Neff@dcjs.ny.gov or at (518)485-7542.
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8. Quick Fact: A total of 41,158 Ignition Interlock Devices (IIDs) were court-ordered from the inception of “Leandra’s Law,” Aug. 15, 2010, through Dec. 31, 2012, but only 12,055 (29.3 percent) of those IIDs ordered were actually installed. Please be reminded that IID monitors should report back to the sentencing court regarding the device installation status and provide documentation verifying installation or non-installation by the operator.
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9. Practice Tip: Once an interstate compact-eligible offender has reported and provided the probation department with photo identification and contact information, the receiving officer or designee should immediately submit a Notice of Arrival in ICOTS. See SDM# 2012-11
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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 included in the next issue of OPCA's eFocus, please contact Patricia Hogan at Patricia.Hogan@dcjs.ny.gov or (518) 485-0905.
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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 Patricia Hogan the name you would like removed from distribution.
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