Corrections and Community Supervision, Department of

Agency Web Site: http://www.doccs.ny.gov/

Mission

The Department of Corrections and Community Supervision is responsible for providing services that offenders need in safe and secure facilities, preparing offenders for release, and ensuring they receive appropriate monitoring and support while under community supervision. The goal of the Department is to enhance public safety by ensuring the successful completion of an offender’s sentence in order to lower the risk of reoffending.

Budget Highlights

The Executive Budget recommends $3.033 billion for the Department ($2.524 billion in the General Fund; $320 million in Capital Funds; and $189 million in Other Funds). This is a net increase of $90.6 million from the 2011-12 budget. Changes to appropriations primarily reflect increases and decreases necessary to realign appropriations with projected staffing and spending levels across the programs, and to reflect the full annual value of savings attributed to the 2011 facility closures. The appropriation increase also reflects amounts necessary to provide for the liquidation of prior year liabilities during 2012-13.

The Executive Budget recommends a workforce of 29,773 FTEs for the Department, unchanged from the prior year, and inclusive of both the former Department of Corrections and Division of Parole. This workforce level reflects an assumption that training classes for new correction officers will resume.

During 2011-12, the closure of seven prisons resulted in the reduction of 1,100 positions and more than 3,800 beds. In 2012-13, DOCCS seeks to improve its focus on programs which have the greatest impact on reducing recidivism and to employ research-based best practices. The agency is, therefore, undertaking a comprehensive review and restructuring of its workforce. Educational, vocational, and employment-readiness programs will be enhanced, with the goal of better preparing inmates for their return to the community. The agency is also redefining titles for counselors and facility parole officers in order to eliminate duplication, improve the process of preparing an inmate to appear before the Parole Board, and strengthen community supervision of those on parole.

For more information on this agency's budget recommendations located in the Executive Budget Briefing Book, click on the following link:

Briefing Book – Public Safety (PDF)

Note: Most recent estimates as of 1/17/2012

Click for additional detailed appropriation tables