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Q&A
Safety concerns and resource needs for probation officers
1:33:53
ยท
3 min
Council Member Farias inquires about safety concerns for probation officers advocating for client incarceration and the department's resources to handle increased cases due to expanded alternatives to incarceration (ATIs).
- Commissioner Holmes dismisses safety concerns, viewing probation officer presence in court as a positive security measure
- Holmes emphasizes the importance of probation officers being familiar with their clients' cases
- Regarding resources for increased cases, Holmes acknowledges that while current caseloads are manageable, more staff will be needed for new initiatives
- The department is managing the Conditional Release Commission with existing resources but needs more people as de-incarceration efforts progress
- Holmes plans to request additional headcount to support various initiatives, including de-incarceration, electronic monitoring, and enhanced case supervision
Amanda Farias
1:33:53
Is DOP aware that requiring probation officers to advocate for the incarceration of a client in court may put their safety at risk when they must later visit the client's home or supervise them?
Juanita Holmes
1:34:04
No.
1:34:04
I'm sorry.
1:34:05
Sure.
1:34:05
You have more, go ahead.
Amanda Farias
1:34:06
Previously court liaison officers acted as a buffer between POs and clients.
1:34:12
How does this department expect to plan to mitigate these risks and you can answer on whether or not you think.
Juanita Holmes
1:34:18
Okay, so no I don't believe that's a risk.
1:34:22
Like I said, I I've I don't I just don't believe that's a risk.
1:34:26
I believe that's a positive.
1:34:28
I want to tell you why.
1:34:29
There are a lot of probation of probationers clients that would leave court especially in The Bronx, especially in Brooklyn.
1:34:36
The DAs have spoken to this and met with gang violence, met with being in a fight.
1:34:42
When that probation officer is sitting there with them through court and they leave it's like, come on, get out, go ahead home or whatever, don't get in any trouble.
1:34:48
So I look at that as more security buffer and it's your person.
1:34:54
That it's your person like this is your client.
1:34:57
I'm concerned about it and I'm concerned about the right message being given to the judge.
1:35:02
I'm concerned about me as a probation officer.
1:35:06
I'm going to know the improvement of this kid.
1:35:08
I'm going to know whether they need extra whatever prodding or maybe electronic monitoring.
1:35:13
I'm intimate with that.
1:35:15
There is no such thing as a buffer.
1:35:17
The case liaison officers did great work.
1:35:21
I thank them for the work they did.
1:35:23
And when it came to family court like the general counsel said, they were doing the same work that is electronically supported.
1:35:31
So no, I don't think that is a risk.
Amanda Farias
1:35:35
Okay, thank you.
1:35:36
Given the plans to lower the population on Rikers by expanding ATI's and supervised release, Does DOP have the resources to take on the anticipated increase of cases and clients?
Juanita Holmes
1:35:47
So we, as I said, we're met with attrition but you can see our caseloads are manageable according to the American Probation and Parole Association.
1:35:57
They recommend 33 to 50 something cases.
1:36:00
We're within that parameter.
1:36:03
I need more people for those new needs.
1:36:05
DOP is growing.
1:36:07
We have the Conditional Release Commission.
1:36:11
We have the Conditional Release Commission.
1:36:13
Naturally, we're managing that.
1:36:17
That took resources from our existing resources to do those investigations.
1:36:21
We have not replaced those individuals.
1:36:24
On top of that, as those cases begin to come, you know, as we begin to as we begin to de incarcerate, right, and every bed counts and they're coming under the canned custody of probation, We need more people to manage them because right now they're going into our existing caseload.
1:36:43
So I'm not going to say we have enough people.
1:36:45
I'm going to say with an increase in headcount, which I'm looking for to restore some numbers back to some numbers that were given up, you know, budgeted headcounts, I guess as a result of pegs or whatever they were given before my time.
1:36:59
But I like the way the numbers look to 2019.
1:37:02
I think it's going to help support in service training.
1:37:04
It's going to help de incarceration.
1:37:07
It's going to help electronic monitoring unit and in service training, enhance case supervision.
1:37:14
So, I'm not going to say that we have what we need.
1:37:16
I'm going to say I'm going to be asking for what we need.