To pilot the use of technology to assist parole officers in their monitoring and direct services to parolees in designated caseloads. Will include policy review and recommendations to executive staff

DOCCS is requesting $850,000 in Federal funds (under Category 2- Smart Supervision) to pursue a project employing the use of smart phones to enhance supervisory methods in three pilot areas. Two of the proposed sites, New York City (New York, Queens, Bronx, and Kings) and Rochester (Monroe) contain counties qualifying this application for priority consideration as noted in Appendix A—Counties with Largest Number of State Prisoners Released in 2019.  The third site is located in northern New York and is rural. The COVID-19 Pandemic and two laws enacted in NYS in the past few years have influenced the Department to seek additional technology, in form smart phones, to assist with parolee compliance and needed services. It is anticipated through the use of the Federal funds, supplemented when necessary by state funds, DOCCS will provide approximately 100 smart phones per year to the pilot population, consisting of a rolling caseload per site. Numbers include 70 in New York City, 20 in Rochester and 10 in upstate New York. The caseloads will primarily   consist of pre-trial and pre-adjudicated parolees  pending additional criminal and administrative hearings. Additionally, some more serious and intensive supervision parolees  may be added to the caseload.