New York State Probation Domestic Violence Intervention Project Probation performs several critical functions throughout the criminal justice and Family Court systems in New York State. Probation offers pre-trial and intake services, conducts pre-plea, pre-sentence and pre-disposition investigation reports and provides supervision of adjudicated and convicted offenders for the court. Given the unique position of probation at several key points within these systems, it has become increasingly clear that probation plays a pivotal role in a coordinated community response to domestic violence. Current domestic violence policy guidance in New York State charges probation with the dual goals of enhancing the safety of women who are abused while simultaneously holding offenders accountable for their behavior. Probation officers provide referral services and facilitate payment of restitution for women who are abused, and also collect and report detailed and unbiased case information to the courts. They are in a position to educate judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, and other court personnel about domestic violence on a daily basis. Finally, as more abusers are arrested and enter the criminal justice system, it is extremely important that guidance and support be provided by New York State agencies to local administrators in the development of additional mechanisms to provide on-going offender accountability while prioritizing safety for women who are abused. State Level Coordination In 1998, the New York State Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NYSCADV), the New York State Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence (OPDV), and the New York State Division of Probation and Correctional Alternatives (DPCA) received an award under the Grants to Encourage Arrest Policies program of the US Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Violence Against Women Grants Office, to implement the Probation Domestic Violence Intervention Project (PDVIP). The Project relies upon a close working relationship and collaboration among Project Staff, which is comprised of individuals from NYSCADV (a private, not-for-profit, statewide organization), and two New York State government agencies, OPDV and DPCA. Probation Domestic Violence Intervention Workgroup The PDVIP has convened a Probation Domestic Violence Intervention Workgroup, which is facilitated by Project Staff and comprised of probation officers and probation department directors who have been recognized for their experience working on the issue of domestic violence. In addition to advising the State Director of DPCA on domestic violence issues, the Workgroup assists Project Staff in the development of model domestic violence policies, procedures, and protocols, and actively participates in Project training programs and technical assistance meetings across the state. Probation Domestic Violence Liaisons Every Probation Department in New York State has voluntarily designated Probation Domestic Violence Liaisons (PDVLs) to the Project. The number of Liaisons from each county ranges from one to seven, and many agency directors have even designated themselves as Liaisons. The Liaisons' skills and expertise continue to be enhanced through specialized Project trainings and regular meetings. Liaisons are intended to be "point people" on the issue of domestic violence in each department. They are actively participating in community domestic violence task forces and coalitions, acting as the primary contact between the Project and their local department in domestic violence matters, and assisting local probation directors in policy development. If you wish to inquire about current or future NYSCADV trainings to make a Donation, or for general assistance please contact our office: NYSCADV 350 New Scotland Avenue Albany New York, 12208 Phone: 518-482-5465 Fax: 518-482-3807 Email: nyscadv@nyscadv.org