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 115, May 22, 2013
New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS)
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. Roadside Stop Project is Implemented
2. Caseload Explorer Version 5.2 implemented in 35 counties throughout NYS
3. ICAOS New Violation Process
4. DCJS/OPCA Interstate Unit awarded the 2013 Public Service Award of Merit
5. “Re-entry Initiatives” webpage now available on the DCJS website
6. OPCA Trainings
7. 2013 State Director’s Memoranda
8. Awards, Events, Additional Trainings and News
9. Quick Fact
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1. Roadside Stop Project is Implemented– As you know, when a probationer with an open supervision case in IPRS is rearrested for a fingerprintable offense, a notification of that rearrest is forwarded to the supervising agency. That notification is crucial in the supervision process because it provides timely information to the probation department about the offender’s continued criminal behavior. However, probation professionals also are aware that probationers frequently have contacts with police officers that do not result in arrest and historically, police were not informed during a routine record check that an individual may be under probation supervision. OPCA is pleased to announce that this gap in information sharing was narrowed on May 15, 2013, through the Roadside Stop project, a collaborative effort between DCJS and the New York State Police. Police inquiries now will return a possible match for probationers as well as supervising agency information, which will improve police officer safety during traffic stops and enhance the communication between police and the supervising probation officers about offender behavior in the community. For more information, see State Director’s Memorandum #2013-10, or contact Gary Govel at Gary.Govel@dcjs.ny.gov or (518) 457-4336.
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2. Caseload Explorer Version 5.2 has been implemented in 35 counties to date– The following counties have implemented Caseload Explorer Version 5.2: Jefferson, Nassau, Ulster, Warren, Albany, Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Chenango, Clinton, Columbia, Delaware, Erie, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Genesee, Hamilton, Herkimer, Montgomery, Madison, Dutchess, Niagara, Onondaga, Ontario, Orleans, Oswego, Otsego, Rockland, Saratoga, Schenectady, Cortland, Schuyler, Green and Tompkins. Seneca, St. Lawrence, Steuben, Sullivan, Tioga, Monroe, Wyoming and Yates counties are also scheduled to install the updated program soon. OPCA staff again sends its thanks to the seven counties that piloted Version 5.2, as well as DCJS and AutoMon staff for all of their hard work.
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3. ICAOS New Violation Process – The Interstate Compact for Adult Offender Supervision (ICAOS) has implemented a new violation process, which took effect on May 22, 2013. This new process will make the submission of violation reports between the Compact State more uniform and will improve compliance with the Rules on Retaking. The new process also will allow for addendums to be used when a violation of probation needs to be updated. Please note that there are no rule changes with the implementation. The New York State Interstate Compact Office will conduct training on the new process via Live Meeting from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 23, 2013. If you are unable to attend that meeting, , please use this link – https://interstatecompact.webex.com – to attend the training with the National Office beginning May 22 through 24, 2013, . For more information, please contact Nicole Aldi at Nicole.Aldi@dcjs.ny.gov or (518) 485-8457.
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4. DCJS/OPCA Interstate Unit awarded the 2013 Public Service Award of Merit – The award, presented by the New York State Academy of Public Administration, recognized the impressive strides the unit has made in complying with critical success factors and performance measures as required by the federal Interstate Commission for Adult Offender Supervision (ICAOS) in a very short time. In this time of a seemingly permanent fiscal crisis, when public administrators are being called upon to use their ingenuity to improve services with fewer resources, this award recognizes those who go above and beyond. Congratulations to the DCJS/OPCA Interstate Team! We recognize the work of the Interstate Team and our local probation professionals.
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5. Updated“Re-entry Initiatives” information now available on the DCJS website –A variety of news and information is highlighted, including detailed information about County Re-Entry Task Forces; editions of Re-Entry Today, which detail upcoming training opportunities, best practices and task force performance measures; and links to recorded training webinars that professionals can watch at their convenience. This information will be updated often to reflect emerging news, programs and initiatives. Bookmark this link: http://www.criminaljustice.ny.gov/crimnet/ojsa/initiatives/offender_reentry.htm and send your suggestions, feedback and news that showcase the re-entry initiatives in your communities to Margaret Chretien at margaret.chretien@dcjs.ny.gov .
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6. OPCA Trainings
~ Five regional training sessions on the new supervision rule for supervisors and directors, and all five topical webinars for line staff, have been completed. All webinars are recorded and can be accessed via the eJusticeNY Integrated Justice Portal (IJ Portal). After logging on, click the “Resources” tab, then: “Reference Library,” “Probation” and “Training,” in that order. For more information, please contact Patricia Donohue at Patricia.Donohue@dcjs.ny.gov or (518) 485-5168.
~ Three trainings on Motivational Interviewing will be offered on Wednesday, June 6 and Thursday, June 7, 2013, at DCJS in Albany; Thursday, July 11 and Friday, July 12, 2013, in Plattsburgh; and Thursday, Aug. 1 and Friday, Aug. 2, 2013 in Erie County.
~ DCJS/OPCA has just completed the fourth of five scheduled Thinking for a Change facilitator trainings for 2013. Thinking for a Change (T4C) is a National Institute of Corrections (NIC) four-day integrated cognitive behavioral change program for use with criminal justice populations at medium to high risk of recidivism. OPCA extends its appreciation to Schenectady County Probation Supervisor Barbara Cervasio and Michelle Regan, formerly of Ulster County Probation, for helping OPCA to provide this training.
A total of 73 participants, representing 12 probation departments and alternatives to incarceration programs, Probation Violation Residential Centers, County Re-Entry Task Forces, and 200% of Poverty grantees, completed the training and received certificates.
The next T4C training, scheduled for June in New York City, is full, but OPCA is taking names for a waiting list. Send an e-mail to Sonya.Gomes@DCJS.ny.gov if you are interested.
~ Earlier this month, State Director Robert Maccarone delivered a presentation on “Leandra’s Law” to an audience of professionals dedicated to the reduction of alcohol-related deaths and injuries at the annual New York State Association of Drinking Driver Programs (DDP) conference in Saratoga Springs.. One of the highlights of the presentation focused on two newly developed ignition interlock reports distributed by OPCA: the negative events and failed test reports, each of which provide insight into the drinking and driving behaviors of DWI offenders who have an ignition interlock device installed in their vehicles as a result of being sentenced under Leandra’s Law. Both of these reports relate directly to offender accountability and provide a measure of potential drinking and driving events that were thwarted by the interlock device. For more information, please refer to State Director’s Memorandum 2013-8, which is posted to the IJ Portal.
~ The Fourth Annual Ignition Interlock Device Qualified Manufacturers Conference will be held on Thursday, June 13, 2013, at the Empire State Plaza in Albany. For more information, please contact Shaina Kern at Shaina.Kern@dcjs.ny.gov or (518) 485-8855.
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7. Recent State Director’s Memoranda
All State Director’s Memoranda can be viewed via the IJ Portal. Follow these links: Resources, Reference Library, Probation and then, Director’s Memos.
SDM #2013-8 Leandra's Law Status Report on Implementation
SDM #2013-9 Warrant Survey
SDM #2013-10 Roadside Stop Probation/Parole Inquiry Response Program
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8. Awards, Events, Additional Trainings and News
~ Crime Time Online was created and maintained by the New York Prosecutors Training Institute (NYPTI). CrimeTime quickly calculates permissible sentences for New York crimes, taking into account the conviction and the defendant's age and criminal history. It is especially helpful with complicated cases, such as sex offenses and DWIs. Among other features, it provides information on Sex Offender Registration Act requirements, Ignition Interlock Devices, special conditions and more.
~ OPCA acknowledges the work of the Monroe County Office of Probation, which between Jan. 1, 2013, and April 15, 2013, conducted a total of 60 searches of probationers’ residences, yielding six guns, 31 edged weapons, 354 units of ammunition, more than 700 grams of various drug seizures with a street value of approximately $6,400 and more than $2,000 in cash.
~ The DCJS Office of Public Safety is pleased to announce the availability of a new and contemporary training course, The Impact of High Stress Events: Training, Investigation, Policy and Liability Issues for Law Enforcement Officers. This one- day training course will assist officers, investigators and supervisors to have a better understanding of how their decisions and actions before, during and after an emotionally intense incident can affect the outcome of that incident. This course will be held in Columbia County on Tuesday, June 4, 2013, and in Lake Placid, Essex County on Tuesday, June 11, 2013. Additional courses will be scheduled in the fall of 2013 on Long Island and in the Western New York and Hudson Valley regions. Registration is required and any interested individuals must register at least one week prior to the course using the downloadable form accessible here. Seats are limited and interest in the course is expected to be high. After registration, the location of training and class times will be provided through an e-mail confirmation. If you are not currently connected to the Internet, you can visit the DCJS training calendar - http://calendar.dcjs.state.ny.us/ - at your convenience. Click on the link there for additional information. For more information, please contact Senior Training Technician Molly Bates at molly.bates@dcjs.ny.gov or (518) 485-5304.
~ The Chautauqua County Jail, in partnership with the Chautauqua County Office of Probation, graduated the first “Ready, Set, Work!” participants last month. “Ready, Set, Work!” (RSW) is a 20- hour intensive program created out of the National Institute of Correction’s Offender Workforce Development trainings by Offender Workforce Development Specialists. It is intended to provide former offenders with tools and information to achieve not only employment, but the start to a career. Congratulations to all of the graduates.
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9. Practice Tip: Using the Watch feature of Justice Xchange (JXC) can help locate probation absconders by providing e-mail notification directly to you if the absconder is booked into a participating correctional facility anywhere in the country. Probation professionals are encouraged to work with their Sheriffs’ Departments as each office has a Justice Xchange terminal.
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10. Quick Fact: Probation departments across New York State conducted 2,171 searches of the state’s Domestic Incident Report (DIR) Repository, about 25 percent of all searches made in 2012.
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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 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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