BILL NUMBER: S6863

SPONSOR: AKSHAR
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the criminal procedure law, in relation to retaining
peace officer status for parole officers

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

Relates to retaining peace officer status for parole officers in prison
facilities.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 amends subdivision 23 of section 2.10 of the criminal proce-
dure law, which prescribes that parole officers or warrant officers in
the department of corrections and community supervision and offender
rehabilitation coordinators with certain job functions be trained in the
use of firearms and the handling and discharge of firearms.

              

Section 2 contains the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Recently, the State Department of Civil Service approved a new policy
that changed the title of prison facility parole officers to offender
rehabilitation coordinators and removed their status as peace officers.
Between 13 and 14 percent of all parole officers were affected by this
combination.Incidents such as the Attica riot of 1971, when the DOCS
controlled parole functions, have proved that inmates need to see a
clear line between those who house them and those who decide when they
should be released. This legislation would restore the status under
current law, which already grants to parole officers or warrant officers
in the department of corrections and community supervision, to offender
rehabilitation coordinators whose job functions include the following:
assigned to one or more of the state's correctional facilities; provide
guidance to an assigned caseload of inmates and assess needs, prepare
evaluations, and prepare eligible inmates for release into the communi-
ty; make recommendations to the board of parole regarding inmate's read-
iness for release; perform both social work and law enforcement func-
tions; trained in use of firearms, handle and discharge firearms.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:

To be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.