Department of Correction

Correction


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THE CITY OF NEW YORK

OFFICE OF THE MAYOR

NEW YORK, NY 10007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – December 4, 2015

CONTACT: pressoffice@cityhall.nyc.gov, (212) 788-2958

FACT SHEET: de Blasio Administration Investments in DOC Officer Safety

Serious assaults on officers down 11 percent this calendar year.

Use of Force with serious injury down 17 percent this calendar year.

Zero stabbings/slashings in units sorted through new housing classification tool, with additional programming and better-trained staff.

More contraband seized: drug contraband recovery is up 21 percent and weapons contraband recovery up 28 percent in 2015 (through October 30).

Swifter and more numerous arrests: Visitor arrests rose 21 percent in FY15 over FY14. Person in custody arrests have more than doubled from 50-60 a month from January to July 2015 to 100-150 a month from August through October.

New officers who have gone through strengthened training: 1,239.

Overtime cut: In 2015, the addition of 508 more officers allowed for an anticipated daily overtime reduction of 2,681 hours of double shifts.

Equipment and Protective Gear

$72.5 million invested in equipment and protective gear:

Before: Only 20 percent of DOC facilities covered with cameras. Outdated magnetometers and boss chairs (which detect metal inside persons in custody bodies) hampered contraband detection. Intakes (where persons in custody are processed when they first enter the jail system) had outdated, insecure locks. Officers used outdated, non-standard riot gear.

Now: $70.1 million provided for 100 percent camera coverage of DOC facilities by the end of 2016. $1.2 million provided for purchase of 20 dual-view Entry Point Search X-ray Machines to reduce the flow of contraband into facilities to lower violence. $800,000 provided for lock replacements for all Intake Pens. $350,000 provided for replacement splash shields and vision panels on riot gear.

Transportation

$19.4 million allocated in safer transportation:

Before: Staff needed new Emergency Service vehicles and used older, less secure person in custody transportation buses. Aging fleet is less safe generally because of outmoded technology.

Now: $19.4 million has been allocated on 73 light- and 44 heavy-duty vehicles, including person in custody transport buses, staff route buses, passenger vans, pickup trucks, cargo vans, sedans and SUVs. Most new vehicles support expanding operations such as K-9 and Emergency Services Unit.

Training

$23.5 million investment in the training of uniformed staff:

Before: Inadequate training for dealing with special person in custody populations such as adolescents and the mentally ill promoted violence. No front-entrance staff trained on Transportation Security Administration (TSA) front entrance procedures to reduce contraband, which drives violence.

Now: $20 million invested in new training initiatives to reduce violence, including best front-entrance procedures, mandatory Safe Crisis Management training for officers dealing with adolescents and young adults and crisis intervention and de-escalation techniques. $2.2 million supports a system that will track and evaluate staff performance. $1.3 million to improve leadership development and culture.

Staffing

$51 million allocated for the hiring of new officers:

Before: Fewer staff on posts created more dangerous jails. Small Academy classes meant fewer officers on posts and more overtime. Higher ratio of persons in custody to officers in many units, because of poor staffing, compromised safety. No Enhanced Supervision Housing for persons in custody who drive violence. Poor model for Mental Health Housing led to greater violence and poor person in custody outcomes. Inadequate Emergency Response System meant slower responses to crises. Inadequate candidate vetting led to safety issues.

Now: Two largest Academy classes – 343 and approximately 600 – graduate, with more to come. $11 million annually for 138 additional positions in Enhanced Supervision Housing to help reduce violence. $6.7 million annually for 82 additional officers and conversion for therapeutic mental health housing to reduce violence, and improve person in custody outcomes. $25.3 million beginning in FY16 to enable 282 uniformed and six civilian positions and officer training for higher quality services for Young Adult persons in custody. $6.9 million for 69 uniformed first responders and overhaul of equipment, plant and response procedures enables best emergency practice – Incident Command System. $1.1 million to enhance applicant investigation and hiring practices to ensure a better candidate pool.

Information Technology

$16.5 million invested in information technology:

Before: Lack of modern systems and information needed to conduct data analysis. Security-related information was not readily available to staff. Lack of evidence-tracking system for the Correction Intelligence Bureau hampered the prosecution of person in custody crime in the jails. Outdated methods of logging watch tours slowed down jail operations. Lack of visibility into open work orders and person in custody supply requests promoted inefficiency and person in custody frustration.

Now: $7 million for data analytics to measure incidents and develop plans to counter emerging problems within facilities and across the Department. $3 million for modernizing measurement of staff training and performance to reward and promote high-performing staff and identify and remedy underperformance.

Population Management Tools

$12.7 million invested in population management tools:

Before: Facilities has fewer strategies for person in custody management, hampering safety. Few persons in custody wore standard uniforms, providing greater avenues for contraband smuggling, which drives violence. Fewer idleness-reduction programs kept persons in custody occupied, stoking violence.

Now: $1 million spent for standard person in custody uniforms for many persons in custody in FY15 and $500,000 for each year thereafter, lessening avenues for contraband smuggling and the opportunity for violence. $11.7 million or robust idleness-reduction programs to keep persons in custody occupied and reduce violence.