TESTIMONY
Dalvanie Powell, President of the United Probation Officers' Association, on Pay Disparity and Working Conditions for Probation Officers in New York City
2:18:05
·
5 min
Powell testifies about the challenges probation officers in NYC face, including a diminished workforce, increased workload, retention issues due to low salaries compared to other law enforcement, and a need to be classified as law enforcement rather than civilians.
- There are only about 650 probation officers now, down from 1,550 before Bloomberg's administration
- Probation officer salaries lag far behind NYPD, corrections officers, even after 11 years of service
- Many probation officers are earning below their contracted wage rates
- Probation officers perform similar duties as police, including making arrests, but are not designated as law enforcement
- Powell requests probation officer salaries be restructured to reach max pay in 5.5 years like other peace officers
Dalvanie Powell
2:18:05
Thank you.
2:18:06
Good afternoon, chair and members of the committee.
2:18:09
I am the president of the United Probation Officer's Association.
2:18:12
I think the committee of parity, disparity, and the municipal workforce for fawning me on behalf of the members of the United Probation Officer Association.
2:18:20
Currently, there are approximately 650 Probation Offices and supervising a large number of our members, a woman and people color.
2:18:28
Significantly lower than excuse me.
2:18:31
Lower than nearly 22 decades ago.
2:18:33
Prior to mayor Bloomberg's administration, they was surprised to me 1550 for based offices.
2:18:39
But those numbers have steadily dropped to more than half in the recent years, even as our workload has increased due to a combination of factors such as bill reform and implementation of the race to aid litigation.
2:18:51
That increase the number of people we serve to continue performing our duties to the best liabilities we need to help.
2:18:57
The Department of Probations to the Department of Probations serves serves issues with retention has severe issues with retention and recruitment according to the Department of Citywide Administration.
2:19:09
We fall under the category of heart to heart.
2:19:12
Why?
2:19:12
Because our members are leaving for other high paying positions in the criminal within the criminal justice system.
2:19:17
While they are civil service examinations for probation officers in July 2022 and one for a supervisor's probation officer in May 2021, There's not been an example for administration probation officer since 2017, though we just recently scheduled July 16th this year.
2:19:34
In addition to an increased case lows, morale has plummeted, and our members are beyond frustrated because our salaries are the lowest in the metropolitan area, including or Long Island, Westchester County, Suffolk County.
2:19:46
Our compensation lags behind other law enforcement agencies, although we perform the same work as our colleagues in the nearby jurisdiction adhere to the same job requirements, work with the same population, and face the same similar dangers.
2:20:00
And our SIEM salaries are $30,000 less than the working than those working in the Department of Corrections, and even those considered communities corrections to divisions.
2:20:08
Members have been without a contract since November 2020.
2:20:11
This is simply not acceptable while we are in contract with negotiations that that has moved like a snail.
2:20:18
While there, it's a solid range for our title under the current and past contracts.
2:20:22
Many of our members are suppressed to the lower end of the range with little opportunity to even to earn more nor do our members ever reach the top salary for our title like other peace officers.
2:20:33
For example, The rate for a probation officer the rate for a probation officer is 45,0934.
2:20:40
Then current rate is 51,9003.
2:20:42
The max is 76,483.
2:20:45
And now it takes a probation over 11 years to hit 57,880.
2:20:50
In comparison to a correctional officer who earned $96,803 after 5 years and find a finding that city council point out in 2019.
2:21:00
We are aware that not only of those in city law enforcement workforce has reached their max maximum salaries, but there are several civilians who also reached their top salaries as well.
2:21:09
For example, deputy sheriff's were also peace officers, but a city civilians earned $92,000 after 5 and a half years.
2:21:16
Additionally, dozens of UPOA members are earning below contractual wage rates, which we have been demanding that the city rectified.
2:21:24
Simply put, we are please be able to almost finish.
2:21:27
We are continually being asked to do more with less, to do more.
2:21:30
We must find ways to be more efficient and productive, and we see receive additional training and better equipment.
2:21:37
Our members have the skills and knowledge.
2:21:38
They have bachelor's and master's degrees in education and experience in social work to serve our our clients so they can live productive love by their lives.
2:21:48
Our members of peace officers, we manage case those and who are part of the of task force with other law enforcement agencies such as US Marshals, Drug Enforcement, NYPD, and among others, we can't refile arms, make arrests, execute warrants, and we also rep prepare reports for cause for sentencing reasons.
2:22:06
We must designate we are we must be designated as uniform law enforcement members instead of civilians because we perform the same work as NYPD, and we face the similar dangers.
2:22:15
Recently, Let me give you an example.
2:22:17
In 2022, one of my members was severely injured when she was trying to make an arrest, and she's been out for 18 months on her assault grant.
2:22:25
And and and this is one of the reasons why we need to be classified as law enforcement.
2:22:29
Additionally, we are charged by the city to oversee over 15,000 men, women, and youth.
2:22:34
We have been convict who have been convicted of crimes and sentenced to probation, instead of jail, bail, and prison.
2:22:40
We are responsible for a show.
2:22:42
They do they do not violate terms of their probation, and we work to turn their lives around.
2:22:47
This alone serves the city and the state.
2:22:49
This alone serves the city and the state considerable cause so so that I'll so that I would charge do not so they do not return to we to facilitate, I would like off the concluding.
2:23:00
Would like to request that after this hearing that the UPA can simply arrange meetings with the committee to present more in-depth picture of and discuss on how we can work together to improve the work the the work of city of probation officers and supervise and receive appropriate I'm not in funding so that we can perform my duties efficiently and effectively.
2:23:20
Most importantly, our salaries must be restructured to reach the pay in five and a half years.
2:23:25
And must be adjusted in parity with the peace purposes such as corrections, police purposes, and sheriff's.
2:23:31
I thank you and I apologize.
2:23:32
No.
← Previous Chapter
Michael Greco, Vice President of Local 2507 representing EMTs, paramedics, and fire inspectors serving in the FDNY, on Pay Disparity and Inequity Within the FDNY Workforce
Next Chapter →
Kyle Simmons, President of the New York City Labor's Union Local 9 24, on Racial and Gender Disparities in New York City's Construction Industry
