Division of Parole
The enacted budget makes the following changes to the Executive Budget (analysis as of March 29, 2006):
- Adds a $2,150,000 maintenance undistributed appropriation to the Parole Operations Program reflecting the rejection of the proposal to eliminate local conditional release
The Senate and Assembly made the following changes to the Executive Budget (analysis as of March 15, 2006):
Senate:
- Amended the Governor’s proposal for elimination of local conditional release to provide that persons conditionally released on a definite sentence in excess of 90 days be in the legal custody of the Division of Parole for one year from the date of their release.
- Accepted the Executive Budget proposal to eliminate 40 administrative positions.
Assembly:
- Added a $2.15 million maintenance undistributed appropriation in the Parole Operations program to restore 40 administrative positions.
The Executive Budget recommends (analysis as of January 25, 2006):
· A year end workforce of 2,029 FTEs, which represents a decrease of 40 FTEs from the estimated FTE workforce of 2,069 for 3/31/05. All reductions are in the Parole Operations Program, which is reduced from 1,962 FTEs to 1,922 FTEs. The 1,962 figure includes the 47 positions restored by the Legislature in SFY2005-06, which we know were not filled. The other 7 positions, if filled, might relate to the Governor’s plan to increase levels of supervision for sex offenders under parole supervision. The budget indicates that additional funding is provided, however the personal services appropriation for Parole Operations is insubstantial ($2.35 million, 2.1%), and also needs to accommodate contractual salary increases. This issue should be clarified at statewide labor/management.
· According to the Assembly Ways and Means Committee, the 40 FTEs slated for elimination through attrition include 20FTEs which supported ACCESS, a program which provides assessments and referrals to treatment, and 20 FTEs which performed clerical duties. $1.3 million in savings is attributed to these reductions.
· Additional services for sex offenders including increased levels of supervision and the use of polygraphs as a pre-emptive monitoring tool to predict predatory behavior. The budget states that $3.2 million is added to Parole and local probation offices. There is a local assistance appropriation of $1.3 million in the Division of Probation and Correctional Alternatives budget for intensive supervision of sex offenders, so we assume the remainder ($1.9 million) is for Parole; however it is not specified in the budget. It is possible that the $1.9 million is part of the increased contractual services appropriation in the Parole Operations program. According to the Assembly Ways and Means Committee, DOP will reallocate $38 million and 38 FTEs to support an intensified sex offender supervision program. These resources are “no longer necessary to supervise a declining parolee population.”
· An all funds appropriation of $158.3 million, an increase of $6.4 million from 2004-05. Most of this increase is related to a nonpersonal services increase of $5.7 million in the Parole Operations program, most of which is for contractual services ($4.4 million increase). This purpose and use of this increased appropriation should be clarified at statewide labor/management.
- $3 million in Aid to Localities will help fund a $6 million joint OASAS/Parole Community Re-entry Initiative. This initiative will utilize consortia of non-profit providers to link State prison releases with treatment and support services in the community such as housing and employment.
- Proposed Article VII legislation would eliminate the authorization for local conditional release
Program Details-State Operations
Enacted
Proposed
Enacted
Change in
Percent
Program
2005-06 Budget
2006-07 Budget
2006-07 Budget
Appropriation
Change
All Funds
$151,926,000
$158,348,000
$160,498,000
$8,572,000
5.6%
General Fund
$150,601,000
$157,023,000
$159,173,000
$8,572,000
5.7%
Special Revenue - Federal
$500,000
$500,000
$500,000
$0
0.0%
Special Revenue-Other
$825,000
$825,000
$825,000
$0
0.0%
$0
Administration
$8,042,000
$8,727,000
$8,727,000
0.0%
Personal Service
$6,476,000
$7,102,000
$7,102,000
$626,000
9.7%
Nonpersonal Service
$1,566,000
$1,625,000
$1,625,000
$59,000
3.8%
$0
Parole Operations
$143,884,000
$149,621,000
$151,771,000
0.0%
Personal Service
$111,931,000
$114,281,000
$114,281,000
$2,350,000
2.1%
Nonpersonal Service
$28,328,000
$34,015,000
$34,015,000
$5,687,000
20.1%
Maintenance Undistributed
$2,300,000
$0
$2,150,000
($150,000)
-6.5%
Special Revenue - Federal (SRF)
$500,000
$500,000
$500,000
$0
0.0%
Special Revenue-Other (SRO)
$825,000
$825,000
$825,000
$0
0.0%
Federal Projects (SRF)
$500,000
$500,000
$500,000
$0
0.0%
Parole Officers Memorial (SRO)
$425,000
$425,000
$425,000
$0
0.0%
DOP Asset Forfeiture (SRO)
$400,000
$400,000
$400,000
$0
0.0%