Policy Boards, Commissions & Councils

Each year since the early 1980's, the Division applies for and accepts federal formula grant funds to improve the functioning of New York's juvenile justice system. As a condition of receiving these funds, federal law requires states, including New York, to establish an advisory group with between 15 and 33 members appointed by the governor. Each member's appointment is based on his or her training, experience, or special knowledge concerning the prevention and treatment of juvenile delinquency or the administration of juvenile justice.

To comply with federal requirements, the New York Juvenile Justice Advisory Group (JJAG) was first established in the 1970's to oversee the strategic planning and formula grant funding allocation to programs and service organizations addressing juvenile delinquency and prevention issues. With DCJS staff support, the JJAG finalizes the Three-Year Juvenile Justice Plan to identify priority areas for funding. Federal formula grant funds are allocated as seed money to demonstrate new and innovative projects. These projects are designed to measurably reduce juvenile crime, promote individual accountability, enhance public protection, and prevent delinquency through positive youth development.

Contact:
Jacquelyn Greene, Director of Juvenile Justice Policy
NYS DCJS
4 Tower Place
Albany, New York
(518) 485-9609

The JJAG Funding Strategy for 2009 summarizes the strategy that the JJAG adopted in June to guide its decision making for the next three years.

The 2010 JJAG Annual Report to the Governor "Tough on Crime"

Members of the NYS Juvenile Justice Advisory Group:

Motor Vehicle Theft and Insurance Fraud Prevention (MVTIF) Board
Article 36-A of the Executive Law established the New York Motor Vehicle Theft and Insurance Fraud Prevention Demonstration Program within the Division to support a variety of initiatives aimed to reduce motor vehicle theft and related motor vehicle insurance fraud. To do this, the program provides funding for specialized law enforcement units and prosecutors at the local level. Neighborhood or community-based programs and educational programs designed to reduce the incidence of motor vehicle theft and motor vehicle insurance fraud may be supported by funding from this program.

A twelve-member board chaired by the Commissioner of DCJS directs program administration. All Board Members are appointed by the Governor to serve four-year terms: three appointees are recommended by the Speaker of the Assembly; three are recommended by the Temporary President of the Senate; and five members are selected by the Governor. The Board represents consumers of motor vehicle insurance, motor vehicle insurance companies, law enforcement agencies, and the judicial system. It is required to meet no less than four times during the year. Each year, the Board develops and recommends to the DCJS Commissioner a coordinated plan to reduce motor vehicle theft and motor vehicle insurance fraud statewide.

Members of the New York State Motor Vehicle Theft & Insurance Fraud Prevention Board

Chair: Sean M. Byrne, Esq., Acting Commissioner, DCJS

The New York State Law Enforcement Agency Accreditation Program was initiated in 1989 to promote public confidence in the effectiveness of law enforcement operations through the appropriate training of law enforcement officers through the efficient use of equipment and facilities. The Accreditation Program also promotes increased cooperation and coordination among law enforcement agencies and within the criminal justice system. It is comprised of 132 standards within three categories: Agency Administration, Training and Operations. Law enforcement agency accreditation is a progressive and contemporary way for police agencies to evaluate and improve their overall performance. It formally recognizes an organization that meet or exceeds quality standards within the law enforcement field. Agency Accreditation acknowledges the implementation of conceptually sound and operationally effective policies.

The Accreditation Council consists of 17 members who are appointed by the Governor. Members include representatives from the State Chiefs and Sheriffs Associations, an official of a statewide police labor organization, an incumbent police officer, a deputy sheriff and a college professor of criminal justice. Other members are sponsored by the NYS Association of Counties, the NYS Association of Towns, the NYS Conference of Mayors, the Temporary President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the New York State Assembly. The Council meets quarterly to issue standards, recommend policy initiatives and to grant accreditation status to law enforcement agencies that demonstrate successful achievement of all program standards.

• 2010 Annual Report (pdf)

Members of the New York State Law Enforcement Agency Accreditation Council

Chair: Chief Lloyd Perkins
Skaneateles, New York

The Security Guard Act of 1992 mandates the Division to oversee the training of security guards and to approve private security training schools. The Act requires certain private security training to be State-approved and that all private security instructors providing this training to be State-certified. The Division's Office of Public Safety provides administrative oversight for private security guard training in New York State. The New York State Department of State, Division of Licensing Services, is responsible for the registration of all security guards.

Executive Law §841–b and General Business Law Article 7-A, established the Security Guard Advisory Council to consider program and policy requirements and to recommend rules and regulations to the Commissioner concerning:

• Approval or revocation of Security Guard Training Schools and training programs;
• The minimum courses of study and all requirements to be fulfilled by such schools;
• The minimum qualifications for instructors at approved security guard training schools and training programs; and
• Training requirements for unarmed and armed security guards.

The Security Guard Advisory Council recommends studies, surveys and reports to be made by the Commissioner on security guard training related issues. The Council may recommend to the Commissioner, the Governor, the Legislature and the Secretary of State, activities and initiatives to carry out the Council's statutory functions. As prescribed by Executive Law, the Council is composed of eight members appointed by the governor and an additional nine members appointed by the Governor upon the recommendation of the New York State Legislature. There are also two ex-officio non-voting members. All members of the Council are appointed for terms of three years.

Members of the New York Security Guard Advisory Council:

The Commission on Forensic Science and the DNA Subcommittee were established by Article 49-B of the Executive Law. The Commission is empowered to develop minimum standards and a program of accreditation for all forensic laboratories in New York State. Accreditation of a forensic DNA laboratory is granted through the DNA Subcommittee. The Subcommittee also advises the Commission on any matter related to the implementation of scientific controls and quality assurance procedures for the performance of forensic DNA analysis.

The Office of Forensic Services (OFS) monitors forensic laboratories' compliance with accreditation standards established by the NYS Commission on Forensic Science. The laboratories must demonstrate compliance with the standards of the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors/Laboratory Accreditation Board (ASCLD/LAB), the American Board of Forensic Toxicology (ABFT), and/or the Quality Assurance Standards for Forensic DNA Testing Laboratories published by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in connection with DNA laboratory accreditation and the NYS DNA Databank. As such, OFS provides quarterly reports to the Commission on Forensic Science and its DNA Subcommittee regarding the accreditation of public forensic laboratories operating in New York.

Executive Law §995-a provides for the appointment of 14 members to the Commission on Forensic Science as follows: the Commissioner of the Division of Criminal Justice Services serves as the Chair; the Commissioner of the Department of Health, or his or her designee, serves as an ex-officio member; and the remaining twelve members are appointed by the Governor pursuant to statute. The Chair of the Commission on Forensic Science appoints the Chair of the DNA Subcommittee, who then appoints six other members to the Subcommittee in accordance with Executive Law §995-b.

Members of the Commission on Forensic Science:

Chair: Sean M. Byrne, Esq., Acting Commissioner, DCJS

Members of the DNA Subcommittee

Chairperson
Dr. Jack Ballantyne

Representative of the discipline of laboratory standards & quality
Dr. Allison Eastman

Representative of the discipline of population genetics
Dr. Kenneth Kidd

Representative of the discipline of forensic science
Dr. Charles Hirsch

Representative of the discipline of population genetics
Dr. Frederick Bieber

Representative of the discipline of molecular biology
Dr. Mark Batzer

Representative of the discipline of forensic science
Dr. Eric Buel

The State of New York, by virtue of Chapter 446 of the Laws of 1959, became the first state in the nation to establish basic training for newly appointed police officers. Chapter 399 of the Laws of 1972 created the Municipal Police Training Council (MPTC). Responsibilities of the MPTC include recommending rules and regulations to the governor regarding municipal police and peace officer training schools; supervisory training, recruitment policies; minimum courses of study for basic and in-service courses; minimum standards for instructors; attendance requirements; and minimum height, weight and physical fitness requirements. Because of amendments in 1996, the height, weight and physical fitness requirements of law enforcement officers now comply with the Americans With Disabilities Act and are published in Title 9 of the Official Compilation of Codes, Rules and Regulations of the State of New York, Part 6000. Most recently, the Council assumed oversight of training for county correction officers.

Members of the Municipal Police Training Council (MPTC)

Chair: Sheriff Ronald Spike
Yates County