QUESTION
What is the sheriff's office role in electronic monitoring, and are there any backlogs in screening?
5:40:19
·
3 min
The NYC Sheriff’s office plays a key role in the electronic monitoring program by screening defendants and monitoring compliance, with no current backlogs in screening.
- The sheriff’s office determines eligibility for electronic monitoring by assessing factors like stable housing, electricity availability, and adult contacts.
- Currently, 285 individuals are actively monitored, with the department actively pursuing non-compliant participants.
- Lack of stable housing, particularly for those without a fixed address, is a common reason for ineligibility.
- The sheriff’s office has 24 deputies assigned to screening and monitoring duties, with discussions on expanding the program.
- The specific inventory of electronic monitoring devices remains undisclosed due to a lack of immediate information.
Crystal Hudson
5:40:19
Judges in New York City can order electronic monitoring in place of bail for pre trial detainees on Ryker's Island since 87% of the jail population are people incarcerated as a result of pending criminal cases The ability of judges to utilize ankle monitors has the potential to decrease the jail population significantly.
5:40:36
The sheriff's office budgeted budgets for the purchase of ankle monitors and also administers the program.
5:40:41
Can you describe the role of the sheriff's office in administering electronic monitoring for the court system.
5:40:46
It's our understanding that they're both screening defendants to determine whether they're suitable to receive an ankle monitor and also monitoring compliance the terms set for these devices.
5:40:55
Do you know if that's accurate?
Preston Niblack
5:40:56
That's correct.
5:40:57
We we we we get information on the and the the basic things we're looking at is Is there electricity did they have a stable housing?
5:41:06
Is there electricity at the stable housing so they can charge their ankle bracelet?
5:41:10
And is there an adult contact person who can be reached?
5:41:15
If those simple criteria are satisfied, we advise the judge, and then it's up to the judge to make a placement when we get placements.
5:41:23
So we have about 285 active placements right now.
5:41:28
Then we monitor 247 the status.
5:41:31
And if somebody, you know, ankle bracelet goes out, we give them we start by giving them a call, occasionally someone will, you know, cut their bracelet essentially and or and leave the the city of the state.
5:41:44
We've pursued a couple of people who have left and brought them back.
5:41:48
So, you know, we're actively monitoring people who are in the program.
Crystal Hudson
5:41:53
Thank you.
5:41:54
Is there a backlog of is waiting to be screened for electronic monitoring devices?
5:41:58
And if so, how many people are currently in the screening pipeline?
5:42:01
What are the common reasons people are deemed un dutable for electronic monitoring and how often is homelessness the reason people are rejected for electronic monitoring.
Preston Niblack
5:42:10
Rejection, there is no backlog right now.
5:42:12
We we keep up pretty well.
5:42:15
I mean, there are people who are sort of in the process, but I wouldn't say there's a backlog at all.
5:42:22
We don't reject very many.
5:42:24
The vast majority are approved.
5:42:26
And again, because it's a fairly simple, straightforward set of criteria that's has to be met that are pretty easy to meet.
5:42:34
So I don't yeah, I don't think that I'm sorry.
5:42:38
I forgot the middle part of your question.
Crystal Hudson
5:42:39
Just the common reasons people are deemed unsold for electronic monitoring.
Preston Niblack
5:42:43
You you know, it's it's so in frequent, it's if we really cannot pin down somebody's address and get don't think they have stable housing, we will usually report that back to the judge.
Crystal Hudson
5:42:54
So it's safe to say then that homelessness might be a reason that people are rejected for electronic monitoring.
Preston Niblack
5:43:00
I mean, we would take somebody who was in a shelter, who was, you know, could be could be who might be living in a shelter.
5:43:05
But if they couldn't if they were living on the street and didn't have any fixed address that they could provide to us, that that we could verify, then, yeah, we might go back to the judge and say we we can't monitor this person.
Crystal Hudson
5:43:15
Okay.
5:43:16
How many staff in the sheriff's office are assigned to either screen defendants or monitor compliance with electronic monitoring devices, and do you have enough staff to fulfill these functions?
Preston Niblack
5:43:25
There are 24 deputy sheriffs currently assigned or budgeted for this task.
5:43:33
We've been talking to OMV actively I'm sure you're aware there's discussion about expanding the use of electronic pre trial, electronic monitoring.
5:43:41
So we've been talking with OMB about what resources we would need in order to expand it.
Crystal Hudson
5:43:48
Okay.
5:43:48
And just one last question.
5:43:49
How does the sheriff's office procure electronic monitoring devices?
5:43:53
How many total prices are in your inventory.
5:43:56
And of that total, how many are already assigned to defendants, and how many are currently available if judges opted for electronic monitoring instead of setting bail?
Preston Niblack
5:44:04
I will have to come back to you with that information.
5:44:06
I don't have that handy.
Crystal Hudson
5:44:07
Okay.
5:44:08
Thank you.
5:44:08
Thank you, chair.
5:44:09
Appreciate it.