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1961 | In New York City, prior to 1960, separate probation divisions existed in the Domestic Relations Court, Magistrate's Court, The Court of Special Sessions and the five County Courts. |
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NYCHS presents, with permission, the chronology excerpts as a timeline on the agency's beginnings. For more information on the agency, visit the NYC Probation Dept. home page.
1970 |
A Probation Methadone Program was developed and implemented to serve the Criminal Court. This program was the first medical treatment program in the United States for hard-core addicts placed on probation. The program was phased out in 1973, when the increased availability of community programs obviated the need for probation methadone treatment facilities. |
1973 |
The Alternatives to Detention program for juveniles, initiated in 1971 by a federal grant and absorbed by the Office of Probation, was institutionalized by the Office of Probation, and still continues as an integral part of the Department's services to juveniles. |
1974 |
The New York State Legislature provided for the creation of the New York City Department of Probation through the consolidation of the four separate probation departments serving the Supreme Court, Family Court and Criminal Court. Probation services were removed from the jurisdiction of the Judicial Conference of the State of New York, and the newly created agency became part of the executive branch of City government. Probation services in the City of New York were now consolidated into a single department with a Director to be appointed by the Mayor. |
1975 |
As a result of reduced staff allocations from New York City's fiscal crisis and a high attrition rate, severe staff shortages were experienced by the Department. |
1976 |
The Community Resource Information Center was developed under a federal grant awarded and monitored by the New York City Criminal Justice Coordinating Council. This program located, evaluated and systematically codified relevant community resources to facilitate their utilization by staff. |
1977 |
Through funding by the New York State Division of Probation, this Department converted from a manual record and case supervision registration system to a computerized probation registration system (PRS) for all adult cases. |
1978 |
An Intensive Supervision Program, fully funded by the New York State Division of Probation, was initiated. This program utilizes concepts of limited caseloads, intensive and innovative services, and community inter-relationships to better ensure an intensive surveillance and counseling supervision program for high?risk offenders. |
1979 |
A Warrant Enforcement program funded by the NYS Division of Probation was instituted to expedite the execution of probation violation warrants in cooperation with the NYC Police Department. A city-wide Community Based Juvenile Probation Intake Program was initiated which expedites the intake process by placing probation officers in a number of police precincts in areas reporting high incidences of juvenile misconduct cases. Managerial personnel in the Department received a comprehensive training course preparatory to establishing a Management Performance Appraisal Program (MPA). The implementation of the MPA provided supervisory personnel with a more uniform and objective task-oriented evaluation instrument. Managerial staff participated in an extensive training program designed to increase managerial skills. The program was developed at the Department's request by the Economic Development Council. |
1980 |
The Department initiated a Differential Supervision Program (DSP) in the Bronx and Staten Island. DSP is a case management process that objectively sorts the caseload into three standardized classifications. |
1981 |
Overcrowded conditions in the City's correctional facilities threatened to put the City in violation of a Federal court order limiting the number of inmates per cell. The New York City Department of Probation, under a directive by Mayor Koch, undertook emergency measures to relieve the overcrowding in the City's own facilities. In March 1981, the Department initiated an overtime program for investigative staff and condensed the content of the Pre-Sentence Report. Within a month the Department effectively reduced by half the number of defendants held by the Department of Correction at Rikers Island. As a result of Mayor Koch's Criminal Justice Enhancement Program, the Department of Probation experienced a 7.4% increase in overall staff, thus reversing a six-year trend of loss of staff through attrition. |
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