Albany, NY – Governor Signs Bill Targeting Probation Violators, All Probation Warrants to be Entered Into an Electronic Network

Albany, NY – Governor David A. Paterson signed into law legislation that will significantly strengthen the handling of probation violations in New York State. The probation legislation sets in place several new requirements that ensure rapid responses to reported probation violations to better protect victims and communities.

Under the new probation legislation, criminal courts must react promptly to a probation department’s request for a probation warrant or issuance of a declaration of delinquency. The law requires all probation warrants to be entered into the statewide law enforcement electronic criminal justice network within 48 hours of issuance, ensuring that all enforcement agencies are alerted to a probation violation. Courts must address probation violation cases within 72 hours of receiving a report of an alleged incident, and must ensure that alleged violators are promptly brought before court.

“This legislation provides probation departments with the necessary tools to make certain that alleged violations are addressed swiftly,” said Governor Paterson. “We will achieve greater offender accountability and better protect victims and our communities. I want to thank Senator Owen Johnson and Assemblyman Jeffrion Aubry, for sponsoring this important legislation, as well as State Director of Probation and Correctional Alternatives Robert M. Maccarone, and all of the many probation officials who have worked tirelessly on this issue.”

These measures received overwhelming support from probation departments across the State, including two professional associations, the New York State Council of Probation Administrators and the New York State Probation Officers Association. There are currently approximately 125,000 adult probationers in New York State. The new law will take effect November 1, 2009.