Division of Criminal Justice Services

Wishing you and your family a safe and happy holiday season!

Welcome to e-Focus, an electronic newsletter produced by the NYS 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 111, December 17, 2012
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
http://www.criminaljustice.ny.gov/opca/

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In this Issue:

1. COMPAS 8 Release and Implementation
2. Juvenile Interstate Data System Training
3. 2011 Probation Department Training Compliance
4. “Leandra’s Law”--Ignition Interlock Devices Request for Applications Issued
5. “Best Practices in the Management of Sex Offenders: A
Collaborative Approach”
6. Recently Issued State Director’s Memoranda
7. Additional Training, Awards, Events and News
8. Practice Tip
9. Quick Facts

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1. COMPAS 8 Release and Implementation – The COMPAS 8 “go live” date is now scheduled for January 14, 2013. COMPAS 8 will feature a refined Probation NYCOMPAS Pre-Trial screen based on the continuing research of Northpointe, with the input of OPCA and the DCJS Research Unit. It will also include specialized risk and need assessments such as the TCU Drug Assessment, and specialized instruments for the management of sex offender probationers including the Stable/Acute 2007 and the Juvenile Sex Offender Assessment Protocol (JSOAP II). The specialized sex offender management assessments can only be utilized by specially trained probation officers. COMPAS 8 will also be implemented for use throughout the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, with Core COMPAS being used at inmate reception, and COMPAS Re-entry being used at parole or upon other discharge into the community. To educate the Probation and ATI communities on the transition to COMPAS 8, OPCA conducted four very well attended online Live Meeting presentations. Further, a recent video presentation conducted by Laura Morris of Northpointe, and an updated COMPAS user manual will be posted in the eJustice NY Probation Services Suite in the near future. For additional information contact Gary Govel at Gary.Govel@dcjs.ny.gov or (518) 457-4336.

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2. Juvenile Interstate Data System Training (JIDS) – On November 5, 2012 JIDS, the national electronic system that has been implemented to expedite the facilitation of state-to-state transfers, returns, and travel for juveniles was launched nationally. In order to make the transition to an electronic system as smooth as possible, Live Meetings continue to be offered by both OPCA and the Interstate Commission for Juveniles (ICJ) National Office. The dates for the Live Meetings offered by the National Office are available at www.juvenilecompact.org. Once obtained, the links to attend these trainings will be e-mailed to Transfer Designees in addition to local Directors/ Commissioners. Additionally, information regarding the National Office trainings being offered was e-mailed to both Designees & Directors/Commissioners on November 16, 2012. Please encourage all applicable staff to attend these trainings or, if not able to attend a live session, view the recording(s) at your earliest convenience. Training materials, including FAQs, “How To” Guides, User Manuals, and Video Tutorials are also available 24/7 for all users on the Helpdesk at https://support.juvenilecompact.org. If you have any questions about the JIDS, please contact Kelly Palmateer at Kelly.Palmateer@dcjs.ny.gov or (518) 485-2398.

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3. 2011 Probation Department Training Compliance – As part of the Annual Plan process, counties are required to provide information to OPCA on compliance with 9 NYCRR Part 346, training provided to both new staff and the 21 hours annually required for veteran staff. During 2011, department compliance ranged from 44% to 100% with 46 of 58 probation departments achieving 100% compliance with Part 346. Counties with 100% compliance will soon be receiving a training achievement certificate signed by the State Director and Director of Training in the mail. Overall, of 525 supervisor/management probation staff, 514 received the required 21 hours, and of 2,219 line probation staff, 2,140 received the required 21 hours. This is a total of 2,674 of 2,764 probation staff in NYS who received the required 21 hours for a total of more than 61,000 hours of training during 2011. Congratulations to these county probation departments.

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4. “Leandra’s Law” - Ignition Interlock Device Request for Applications Issued – DCJS’ Office of Probation and Correctional Alternatives recently issued a Request for Applications (RFA) for qualified manufacturers of Ignition Interlock Devices who wish to do business in the State of New York. This application, available at http://www.criminaljustice.ny.gov/opca/index.htm, must be completed by all current qualified manufacturers who wish to continue doing business in New York, as well new manufacturers who wish to do business here. It is anticipated that manufacturers whose applications are approved under this RFA will have contracts featuring these changes effective in May 2013. Please contact Shaina Kern at Shaina.Kern@dcjs.ny.gov or (518) 485-5166 with any questions.

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5. “Best Practices in the Management of Sex Offenders: A Collaborative Approach” – OPCA was pleased to announce the rescheduled “Best Practices in the Management of Sex Offenders: A Collaborative Approach” presented by David A. D’Amora, M.S., LPC, CFC. This one-day presentation exploring a collaborative management approach for the community management of sexual offenders will take place on Monday December 17, 2012 at the Monroe County Public Safety Training Facility Room 117A, Monroe Community College, 1190 Scottsville Road, Rochester NY 14624. Contact Patti Donohue at Patricia.Donohue@dcjs.ny.gov or (518) 485-5168 for more information.

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6. Recently Issued State Director’s Memoranda

State Director’s Memoranda are sent out to address changes in policy, procedure, and law affecting probation practice and programs in community corrections’ alternatives to incarceration. The links to the State Director’s Memoranda distributed in the months of July and August are below. We encourage probation officers to review all State Director’s Memoranda, and recommend that they be utilized as training opportunities provided within probation departments.

November 2012

Director's Memo 2012-19 – “Leandra’s Law” - Status Report on Implementation – Issued November 5, 2012

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7. Additional Training, Awards, Events and News

~ OPCA is pleased to announce Save The Date(s) for several upcoming trainings in early 2013. All trainings are scheduled to be held at DCJS’ OPCA’s new home, the Alfred E. Smith (AES) Building located at 80 South Swan Street, Albany NY in the Third Floor Training Room. The first training, on February 5-8, 2013, is the NIC Thinking for a Change curriculum which will be presented to both Probation and County Re-entry Task Force members. The OPCA Annual Executive Leadership Training for new Probation Directors will be held February 13-14, 2013 at AES. The evidence-based Fundamentals of Probation Practice will be held February 25-March 15, 2013, which is the skill-based curriculum for new probation officers. Individual announcements are forthcoming with more specific information on each training. For questions, please email Patti Donohue at Patricia.Donohue@dcjs.ny.gov.

~ OPCA is pleased to announce our fifth annual Offender Workforce Development Specialist Training; March 18-22, 2013; May 6-10, 2013; and June 17- 21, 2013. Please Save the Dates for this NIC 180-hour certified curriculum. A training announcement will be sent to Probation, ATI and Re-entry Programs in early January of 2013.

~ Child Welfare Watch, a publication of The New School’s Center for New York City Affairs, recently released a report entitled “Brushes With The Law: Young New Yorkers and the Criminal Justice System.” The report includes two really fantastic articles about the good work New York City Department of Probation does every day. Attached are the links to the articles: Case Closed: Thousands More Teens are Now Diverted From Juvenile Court (PDF); Where People Live (PDF); New Options for Young Lawbreakers (PDF)

~ Across the country, jurisdictions are moving away from centralized juvenile justice systems and toward smaller, local programs. Local systems are less expensive and are proving to be highly effective. This growing movement was realized in New York State on September 1, 2012 when the State of New York began transferring the responsibility for its court-involved young people to New York City under a program initiative “Close to Home”. The first step in the process is reducing institutional placements of delinquent youth held in non-secure facilities. Between 2002 and 2011, the city reduced institutional placements by 62 percent, while experiencing a 31 percent decline in major felony arrests of juveniles. To view the entire article, please click on the link http://americancityandcounty.com/blog/viewpoints.

~ The New York Law Journal featured an article authored by Commissioner Vincent Schiraldi on November 30, 2012, describing the gains made by the NYC Department of Probation in assisting individuals obtain their Certificate of Relief from Disabilities (COR). CORs are valuable assets to persons who are convicted of misdemeanors or first-time felonies by providing the individual with a better opportunity for rehabilitation, gainful employment, and housing. Commissioner Schiraldi traced the original intent of the COR to the vision of Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller, when signing the legislation into law in 1966, he stated “This bill will reduce the automatic rejection and community isolation that often accompany conviction of crimes, and will thus contribute to the complete rehabilitation of first offenders and their successful return to responsible lives in the community."

~ Chautauqua County: November 11, 2012, A 22-year-old Rochester woman is facing numerous charges after she was found in possession of narcotics and drug paraphernalia. Dunkirk Police report Jenna Lynn Phillips was taken into custody this morning on two outstanding bench warrants out of the city of Dunkirk court. While in custody, Phillips was found in possession of a quantity of crack cocaine as well as items used to weigh and package the narcotic. In addition to the outstanding warrants, she was charged with the felonies of fourth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and a misdemeanor of second-degree criminally using drug paraphernalia. Phillips was arrested during several local bar inspections conducted by Dunkirk police, Chautauqua County probation, federal probation and the state Liquor Authority. She was held in city jail awaiting arraignment.

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8. Practice Tip: When receiving an interstate transfer, it is very important that the receiving probation department submit the Notice of Arrival (NOA) in ICOTS indicating whether the offender has arrived, as directed or failed to report, as directed. The submission of the NOA allows the sending state to verify that the offender has or has not arrived at their destination and that the receiving state has assumed supervision. NYS policy, as outlined in State Director Memorandum #2012-11, New York State Probation Interstate Notice of Arrival (NOA) Procedure, provides guidance to probation departments that the receiving county must submit the NOA within 5 business days of the sending state’s Notice of Departure submission, consistent with the federal ICAOS Regulations.

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9. Quick Facts: At the end of December 2011, 42 county probation departments were utilizing Caseload Explorer to support the local probation function. Thirty-nine counties have integrated Caseload Explorer with the Integrated-Probation Registrant System (I-PRS) and 36 counties are integrated with YASI assessments.

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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 email, or, if you have information you would like posted in the next issue of OPCA's eFocus, please contact Nicole Aldi at Nicole.Aldi@dcjs.ny.gov or (518) 485-8457.

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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 email 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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