Andrew M. Cuomo Governor
The New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, guided by the Departmental Mission, is responsible for the confinement and habilitation of approximately 56,000 offenders held at 60 state facilities including the 915 bed Willard Drug Treatment Campus.
Governor Cuomo has issued an Executive Chamber proclamation declaring May 6 - May 12, 2012 Nurses Week in New York State. A number of openings exist throughout New York State correctional facilities where nurses play an important role in patient outcomes, while reinforcing our mission of quality care. Please consider joining approximately 1,100 dedicated nurses within our agency.
Commissioner Fischer’s September 2011 keynote address to a symposium at the University of Buffalo Law School titled, "New York’s State Prison 40 Years After Attica: What Has Changed and What Changes Lie Ahead" is featured in the April/May 2012 issue of Corrections Managers’ Report, the publication made by Civic Research Institute (CRI). According to the CRI’s web site, "Civic Research Institute is an independent publisher of reference and practice materials for professionals in the social sciences and law. CRI’s publications provide practical guidance, best practices and cutting-edge thinking, reporting, analysis and commentary, in all formats, including newsletters and journals, supplemented books and monographs, and loose-leaf services. Editors, authors and contributors are leading authorities and practitioners in their fields."
Building on Governor Cuomo’s directive last year to close seven prisons, which will save state taxpayers an estimated $184 million, the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision today announced that its annual review of residential staff housing will include the eventual elimination of staff residences that do not meet the core mission of the agency. Details are provided in a press release.
DOCCS Commissioner Brian Fischer has announced the Department’s annual review of all staff housing and property assets. The Department follows guidelines for housing rental rates based on collective bargaining agreements, which are promulgated in the recently updated NYS Division of Budget’s Budget Policy and Reporting Manual, B-300. Details are provided in a press release.
Updated New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) prison facility visitation regulations have been published in the New York State Register. In accordance with the State Administrative Procedure Act, DOCCS Commissioner Brian Fischer, on March 13th, filed a Notice of Adoption of visitation regulation changes with NYS Department of State. The updated visitation regulations will go into effect on October 1, 2012. Please see the press release and Visiting Program Guidelines.
Commissioner Brian Fischer appeared at the public hearing on the Public Protection portion of the 2012-13 Executive Budget, held by the State Legislature's fiscal committees on January 30, 2012, and presented testimony on the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision's proposed budget for the fiscal year that begins April 1, 2012.
Commissioner Brian Fischer presented testimony to the New York State Assembly Standing Committee on Correction regarding the merger of the Department of Correctional Services and the Division of Parole into the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision.
Work-Life Services provides New York State employees with a comprehensive network of resources to address their work, home, and life issues. Detailed information about these negotiated benefits is available at www.worklife.ny.gov and through program-specific telephone numbers and websites.
NYS-Balance, a confidential resource and referral service for NYS employees,
offers monthly webinars
.
A complete 2012 listing is available in two flyers,
January-June and July-December.
Additionally, we are pleased to share “Benefits
of the NYS Peer Employee Assistance EAP” with you. This document
describes the many benefits of the NYS EAP peer model and the wide range of
EAP services available to both employees and agencies.
Employees enrolled in the Flex Spending Account for the 2011 plan year have until March 31, 2012 to send in reimbursement requests for eligible expenses incurred under the Health Care Spending Account and the Dependent Care Advantage Account. For more information, log onto www.flexspend.ny.gov or call 1-800-358-7202.
Work-Life Services has scheduled full-day seminars for executive branch state employees to be held throughout NY. If you are eligible to retire in five years and have not previously attended a Directions: Pre-Retirement Planning Seminar, you are eligible to attend. Please contact your agency Human Resources Office to let your agency liaison know of your interest. You must be registered by your agency and have a confirmation notice in order to attend. Seminars have been planned at the following locations: March 8 in West Harrison, March 14 in Albany, March 22 in Liverpool, March 28 in Buffalo, April 5 in Albany, May 3 in Islandia, May 16 in Fishkill, May 23 in Binghamton, May 31 in Watertown, June 7 in Manhattan, June 11 in Albany, and June 28 in Rochester. For pre-retirement planning information including the Self Help Guide to Pre-Retirement Planning and 22 short videos, visit www.worklife.ny.gov/preretirement.