New York City Department of Correction

New York City Department of Correction
Abbreviation DOC or NYCD

Patch of the New York City Department of Correction

Shield of the New York City Department of Correction.
Motto New York's Boldest
Agency overview
Formed 1895
Employees 14,000
Legal personality Governmental: Government agency
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdiction* City of New York in the state of New York, USA
Map of New York City Department of Correction's jurisdiction.
Legal jurisdiction New York state
Constituting instrument New York City Charter
General nature
Operational structure
Headquarters Jackson Heights, Queens
Correction Officers 9,500
Commissioner responsible Joseph Ponte
Agency executive Martin Murphy, Chief of Department
Website
Official Site
Footnotes
* Divisional agency: Division of the country, over which the agency has usual operational jurisdiction.

The New York City Department of Correction (DOC or NYCD) is the branch of the municipal government of New York City[1] responsible for the custody, control, and care of New York City's imprisoned population, housing the majority of them on Rikers Island.[2] It employs 8,000 uniformed officers and 1,400 civilian staff, has 543 vehicles,[3] and processes over 100,000 new inmates every year,[4] retaining a population of inmates of between 13,000 and 18,000.[3] Its nickname is New York's Boldest.[4] Its regulations are compiled in title 39 of the New York City Rules. Previously located in Manhattan, the Department of Correction headquarters has now moved to the Bulova building in the northern section of Jackson Heights, Queens, minutes from Rikers Island. The agency is headed by the Correction Commissioner, who is chosen and appointed by the Mayor of New York City.

History

The New York City Department of Correction was first founded as a separate entity in New York City in 1895 after a split from the Department of Public Charities and Correction.[2] Roosevelt Island, then called Blackwell's Island, was the main penal institution under the jurisdiction of the DOC until the 1930s when it was closed. The penal institutions moved to Rikers Island, which the city purchased for $180,000, where 10 prisons and 12,000 inmates are now held.[2]

In 1995, the New York City jail system was one of the most violent in the United States, averaging more than 100 stabbings and slashings per month. Between January 1995 and January 2002, the department achieved a 93% reduction in inmate on inmate violence as a result of a management system recognized by Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government, called Total Efficiency Accountability Management System (TEAMS).[5] By 2007, the number of stabbings was reduced to 19, making that year the Department of Correction's safest on record, although the issue of underreporting of incidents has not been addressed.[4]

In 2009, former commissioner of both the Missouri and Arizona prison systems Dora Schriro was selected to head the department, with some citing a need in the department for a boost in morale.[6] Schriro was named in several federal court cases such as Schriro v. Smith and Schriro v. Summerlin. Schriro served with the United States Department of Homeland Security prior to coming to the Department.

Power and Authority of Correction Officers

Correction Officers are New York State peace officers and hold such status both on duty and off duty under the NYS CPL 2.10 (25).

Command Structure

There are nine uniformed titles (referred to as ranks) in the New York City Department of Correction.

From highest to lowest, the uniformed ranks are:

Title Insignia
Chief of Department
Bureau Chief
Assistant Chief
Warden
Deputy Warden in Command
Deputy Warden
Assistant Deputy Warden
Correction Captain
Correction Officer

There are certain civilian leadership positions in the agency which have power equivalent to the high ranking uniformed personnel. If they outrank a present uniformed officer, they are saluted due to agency customs and courtesies.

From highest to lowest, the civilian leadership ranks are:

Title Insignia
Correction Commissioner
First Deputy Commissioner
Deputy Commissioner
Associate Commissioner
Assistant Commissioner

The Correction Commissioner is the highest ranking official in the agency and is in command of all uniformed and civilian personnel.

Tour of duty

In the New York City Department of Correction, one day is divided into three 8-hour and 31-minute shifts: 11:00 PM to 7:31 AM (called a 2300hrs to 0731hrs), 7:00 AM to 3:31 PM (called an 0700hrs to 1531hrs), and 3:00 PM to 11:31 PM (called a 1500hrs to 2331hrs). Officers work 4 of these shifts per week based upon a rotating squad chart (i.e. 4 working days, 2 days off then another 4 working days and 2 days off). There is also a 5 and 2 squad (5 days on; 2 days off) for specialized units (i.e. Investigation Division, Intelligence Unit, Academy and Firearms Training Units, etc.)

Equipment and vehicles

Correction officers are trained in the use of a firearm, but only certain post assignments require officers to be armed due to the potential threat of prisoners overpowering an officer. Officers assigned to prisoner transport units, outside hospital posts, exterior patrol posts, and security posts carry a firearm. On duty firearm is provided (Smith & Wesson 5946 DAO) however should the member elect there is a list of authorized firearms such as Glock, SIG Sauer, Beretta, etc. For officers hired before March 1994, the model 10 & 64 revolvers are still an option. Correction officers must be approved by a warden to carry firearms off duty. Officers' options include the on duty firearms and, but not limited to, the Glock 26 and the Beretta 92D.[7]

The department uses numerous vehicles including Chevrolet Impalas, Ford vans, transport buses, firetrucks, and riot vehicles.[8][9]

Notable people of NYC DOC

Over the years, several notable people have come through the ranks of DOC:

See also

References

  1. ↑ New York City Charter § 621; "There shall be a department of correction the head of which shall be the commissioner of correction."
  2. 1 2 3 History of the DOC New York City Department of Correction, retrieved March 13, 2008
  3. 1 2 Facilities Overview New York City Department of Correction, retrieved March 13, 2008
  4. 1 2 3 Press Release - January 6, 2008 New York City Department of Correction, available here retrieved March 13, 2008
  5. ↑ http://www.nytimes.com/1999/11/08/nyregion/lockdown-special-report-iron-hand-rikers-island-drastically-reduces-violence.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm
  6. ↑ City Jails Get a New Commissioner The Village Voice
  7. ↑ Firearms Directive
  8. ↑ NYC Corrections Chevy Impala
  9. ↑ NYC Corrections Vehicles
  10. ↑

External links

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