TENTATIVE

Occ. Code 1713200

New York State Department of Civil Service

Classification Standard

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF CLASS SERIES

          Criminal Justice Policy Analysts analyze, evaluate, monitor, present, and convey criminal justice and program performance data and trends; analyze criminal justice policy, programs, legislation, and research studies; develop reports and other research materials and documents on criminal or juvenile justice programs; and conduct relevant research for, prepare correspondence to, and provide technical assistance to other governmental agencies.  These positions are located at the Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS).

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

          Criminal Justice Policy Analysts 2, under supervision, perform various research and analytical assignments including: reviewing and analyzing criminal justice policy, programs, legislation, and research studies; preparing short-term and long-term plans for criminal justice initiatives; conducting relevant research; and developing and preparing various memoranda, reports and correspondence.  They may provide technical assistance to other government agencies.

          Criminal Justice Policy Analysts 3 perform similar duties to the lower level in the series, but more independently, are assigned higher-level tasks requiring greater experience and expertise, and often supervise subordinates in lower-level professional titles.  They review and analyze more complex criminal justice policies, programs, legislation, and research studies; conduct research and prepare various reports and correspondence; identify strategies for dealing with criminal justice problem areas; provide technical assistance to other governmental agencies; function as a project leader; and supervise lower-level staff. 

RELATED CLASSES

          Program Research Specialists (Criminal Justice) at the various levels perform research, evaluation, and analysis relating to crime and the impact of justice system interventions. They assess crime trends, recidivism, offender risk, quality of program implementation, impact of programming on crime factors, and performance indicators developed by State criminal justice agencies.  They often work alongside Criminal Justice Policy Analysts, and typically perform more technically challenging quantitative analyses, especially when the use of more-specialized statistical software packages is required.

ILLUSTRATIVE DUTIES

          CRIMINAL JUSTICE POLICY ANALYST 2

Under the direction of higher-level staff, primarily Criminal Justice Policy Analysts 3 and Program Research Specialists 3 (Criminal Justice), incumbents typically work on a team that prepares research and analysis in various formats, including reports, formal assessments, policy papers, projection models, and forecasting tools.

·       Draft narrative reports, policy briefs, and policy proposals for use by public safety agency decision makers.

·       Procure and analyze data from a variety of sources.

·       Prepare tables, reports, charts, and graphics.

·       Author, edit, and compile narrative reports and program and policy documents analyzing crime, offending patterns, case processing trends, criminal justice interventions and other information on policy and program proposals within the criminal justice policy domain.

·       Provide topical research on criminal justice.

·       Maintain knowledge of the current criminal justice field.

·       Establish performance metrics for criminal justice policies and programs. 

·       Evaluate, monitor, and present data on program performance.

·       May analyze the impact of legislative proposals within assigned program area.

·       May use computerized modeling techniques including but not limited to cost/benefit analysis.

·       May coordinate efforts with staff from other agencies or governmental entities.

          CRIMINAL JUSTICE POLICY ANALYST 3

Under the general direction of higher-level staff, primarily Principal Criminal Justice Program Research Specialists and Program Research Specialists 4 (Criminal Justice), may work independently, or as part of a team on projects requiring greater knowledge and expertise, usually involving more complex policy issues or larger more complicated data sets and where the work products require a higher level of review and analysis.  Criminal Justice Policy Analysts 3 may manage or direct projects.

·       Prepare written reports and presentations on criminal justice programs and policies, including draft sections of reports on executive policy recommendations, and data tables, graphs, and narrative sections for executive review and for public presentation or publication.

·       Analyze and present criminal justice data and trends, using various data sources, using quantitative and qualitative data.

·       Review and analyze criminal justice policy, programs, legislation, and research studies.

·       Evaluate, monitor, and present data on program performance.

·       Conduct research and analysis, and develop reports, correspondence and memoranda on criminal or juvenile justice programs for various parties.

·       Develop projections of data to determine the impact of various policy options.

·       Perform policy research and literature reviews related to specific program areas.

·       Review and summarize impact evaluations of criminal justice programing options.

·       Prepare summary and executive briefing materials for consideration.

·       Participate in the outcome design and evaluation process.

·       May participate in workgroups with other governmental entities and private sector entities related to the assigned area.

·       May develop and/or assess policy proposals and policy alternatives.

·       May serve as a liaison for the assigned areas to outside agencies, inclusive of the Executive Chamber, the Division of the Budget, and non-state governmental entities.

·       May participate in the proposal and grant process performing various research and analysis oriented functions.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

          CRIMINAL JUSTICE POLICY ANALYST 2

Open Competitive: a bachelors degree in in Criminal Justice, Political Science, Psychology, Public Administration, Sociology, or a closely related degree, and two years of qualifying experience*; or a masters degree in one of these fields and one year of qualifying experience*.

          CRIMINAL JUSTICE POLICY ANALYST 3

Promotion: one year as a Criminal Justice Policy Analyst 2.

Open Competitive: a bachelors degree in Criminal Justice, Political Science, Psychology, Public Administration, Sociology, or a closely related degree, and three years of qualifying experience*; or a masters degree in one of these fields and two years of qualifying experience*.

*Qualifying Experience: experience analyzing data, trends, policies, and programs that involve criminal justice and/or juvenile justice populations in a formal professional setting.

Definition of Criminal/Juvenile Justice Populations: Criminal/Juvenile populations include individuals who have been subject to an arrest or delinquency action at any time in their lives.  Criminal/Juvenile justice populations can be found in law enforcement, courts, corrections, parole, probation, as well as mental health programs, substance abuse treatment programs, employment programs, treatment programs, human service agencies, policy areas, and program areas.

Revised:  4/17

NOTE:  Classification Standards illustrate the nature, extent, and scope of duties and responsibilities of the classes they describe.  Standards cannot and do not include all of the work that might be appropriately performed by a class.  The minimum qualifications above are those which were required for appointment at the time the Classification Standard was written.  Please contact the Division of Staffing Services for current information on minimum qualification requirements for appointment or examination.