New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision

The New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision^[1] or NYSDOCCS is the agency of New York State responsible for the care, confinement, and rehabilitation of approximately 63,000 inmates at 61 correctional facilities funded by the State of New York. The department employs approximately 31,300 workers, including approximately 23,000 uniformed correction officers. Currently, this is the 4th largest state prison system in the United States[1]. The headquarters is located in Building 2 of the W. Averell Harriman State Office Building Campus in Albany.^[2]

The Commissioner is currently Brian Fischer.

The Departmental Mission

The mission of NYSDOCS is to provide for public protection by administering a network of correctional facilities that:

• Retain inmates in safe custody until released by law;
• Offer inmates an opportunity to improve their employment potential and their ability to function in a non-criminal fashion;
• Offer staff a variety of opportunities for career enrichment and advancement; and,
• Offer stable and humane "community" environments in which all participants, staff and inmates, can perform their required tasks with a sense of satisfaction.

History

The New York State prison system had its beginnings in 1797 with a single prison called Newgate located in New York City. A second state prison opened 20 years later in Auburn in 1817, and in 1825 a group of Auburn prisoners made the voyage across the Erie Canal and down the Hudson River to begin building Sing Sing.

Facilities

List of New York state prisons

Correction Officer Training

Correction Officer Trainees with the New York State Department of Correctional Services are required to participate in, and satisfactorily complete, all requirements of a 12-month training program before they can advance to the position of Correction Officer. As part of this program, Correction Officer Trainees are required to attend the Correctional Services Training Academy for a minimum of eight weeks of formal training. Training at the academy includes academic courses in such areas as emergency response procedures, interpersonal communications, legal rights and responsibilities, security procedures, and concepts and issues in corrections. While at the academy, Correction Officer Trainees will be trained in defensive tactics, use of handcuffs and other physical restraints, use of a baton, use of chemical agents, use of firearms and use of physical and deadly physical force. Correction Officer Trainees will also receive rigorous physical training to develop fitness, strength and stamina while attending the academy. Upon graduating from the academy Correction Officer Trainees are sworn in as New York State Peace Officers and are issued their shield and identification card. After graduating from the academy, Correction Officer Trainees will receive three weeks of field training at a maximum security correctional facility.

Legal Power And Authority Of Correction Officers

New York State Correction Officers have Peace Officer status under section 2.10 of the New York State Criminal Procedure Law. This authorizes them to make warrantless arrests, carry and use a concealed/un-concealed firearm, and use physical and deadly physical force. New York State Correction Officers have Peace Officer status while both on duty and off duty.

Death row

Prior to the 2009 repeal of the death penalty, the male death row was at the Clinton Correctional Facility and the female death row was at the Bedford Hills Correctional Facility.^[3]

The last location for the execution chamber was in Green Haven Correctional Facility.^[4] The death chamber at Green Haven had never hosted an execution.^[5] Previously inmates were executed at the Sing Sing Correctional Facility.^[6]

Fallen officers

Since the inception of the New York State Department of Correctional Services, 32 officers have died in the line of duty.^[7]

See also

• List of United States state correction agencies
• List of law enforcement agencies in New York
• ParoleWatch

References

1. ^ http://www.docs.state.ny.us/NewsRoom/DCCS.pdf
2. ^ "Contact Information." New York State Department of Correctional Services. Retrieved on December 7, 2009. "NYS Department of Correctional Services Building 2 1220 Washington Ave Albany, New York 12226-2050 "
3. ^ "Repeal of Death Sentence Regulations (Section 103.45 of 7 NYCRR)." New York State Department of Correctional Services. Retrieved on September 2, 2010.
4. ^ "Inmate 99-B-0067." New York State Department of Correctional Services. Saturday January 16, 1999. Retrieved on September 2, 2010."The UCP at Clinton has been physically operable for use since August 31, 1995, the day before the death penalty law took effect, as has a similar three-cell UCP for females at Bedford Hills Correctional Facility in Westchester County plus the single-cell death house at Green Haven Correctional Facility in Stormville in Dutchess County. Neither of the two latter units will be staffed until there are inmates on them."
5. ^ Scott, Brendan. "GOV PULLS SWITCH ON DEATH CELL." New York Daily News. July 24, 2008. Retrieved on September 2, 2010.
6. ^ "Department Receives First Death Penalty Inmate." New York State Department of Correctional Services. July 22, 1998. Retrieved on September 2, 2010.
7. ^ The Officer Down Memorial Page

External links

• New York State Department of Correctional Services
• New York State Jail Facilities by County
• Corrections History Website