Occ. Code 8775100

correction sentencing review specialist, GRADE 22	8775100
correction sentencing review coordinator, m-1	8775000

New York State Department of Civil Service

Classification Standard

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF CLASS SERIES

          Positions in this title series administer the Sentencing Review Unit.  Incumbents work with correctional facility staff to ensure that all inmates in the custody of the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) have been provided with accurate release dates.  Incumbents are responsible for conducting regional training seminars for correctional facility staff regarding sentencing laws and assist in the preparation of computer programs which calculate inmates’ release dates.

          These positions are classified at DOCCS. 

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

correction sentencing review specialist:  full performance level; works with correctional facility staff to ensure that all inmates in this Department’s custody have been provided with accurate release dates.

correction sentencing review coordinator:  managerial level; one position class; provides primary assistance to the Associate Counsel and the administration of the Sentencing Review Unit.

RELATED CLASSES

          Extradition Specialists recommend and implement changes and/or enhancements to current policies and procedures; and work closely with staff from Security Services, Research, and Classification and Movement, as well as other State agencies such as the Division for Youth and the Division of Parole, to ensure implementation of these changes.

          Correction Classification Analysts analyze inmate placement policies and procedures at assigned facilities.  Incumbents develop and maintain inmate programming procedures, and develop policies in reclassification, transfer, and planning systems. 

Assistant Directors and Director of Inmate Classification and Movement direct, control, and coordinate the Department’s inmate classification activities, and have overall responsibility for placement of inmates.  Incumbents develop program policy and implement and monitor approved policies. 

ILLUSTRATIVE DUTIES

Correction sentencing review specialist

Responds to voluminous inquiries regarding sentencing laws and release date calculations as governed by the Penal Law, the Correction Law, the Sentencing Reform Act of 1995, Jenna’s Law, the Drug Law Reform Act of 2004 and the Sex Offender Management and Treatment Act of 2007.

• Reviews Central Office records and prepares a complete chronology of the inmate’s criminal history, listing all crimes of conviction, lengths of sentences, jail time credits, dates of admittance and release, as well as any court orders which modify the sentences of imprisonment.

• Determines the sentencing statutes and judicial rulings which apply to the facts of the inmate’s case in question.

• Verifies and/or corrects the inmate’s release dates.

• Reviews existing or proposed legislation to identify problems that have been or may be created by such proposals as they relate to sentencing and time calculations.

Reviews current rap sheets to assess eligibility for presumptive release pursuant to Correction Law 806.

• Reviews New York State criminal history summaries for convictions that would render inmates ineligible for presumptive release.

• Reviews other jurisdictions’ criminal history summaries for convictions that would render inmates ineligible for presumptive release.

• Requests the DOCCS Office of Guidance to provide additional information for criminal history summaries requiring clarification.

• Advises the DOCCS Office of Guidance whether inmates’ criminal histories render them ineligible for presumptive release.

Develops training materials to use in the calculation of release dates and provides training to staff on proper release date calculations as affected by recent sentencing legislation.

• Develops, updates, and distributes revised training materials regarding existing and newly enacted sentencing laws for use as a resource in time computation.

• Provides training seminars on a regional basis throughout the State.

• Schedules and presents emergency training courses where legislation or court precedent has impacted dramatically on the time computation process.

• Instructs facility Inmate Records Coordinator Office staff in the implementation of new computer time computation programs.

Advises Inmate Records Coordinators in the correct calculation of inmates’ release dates.

• Determines the most complex sentencing computations and enters the release dates into the computer.

• Responds to inquiries from facility staff regarding time computations.

• Manually programs those inmates’ release dates that cannot be entered by facility staff, using existing computer programs.

Reviews all nunc pro tunc sentences, which are terms of incarceration commenced by the court before the inmate is received by DOCCS.

• Researches and processes nunc pro tunc sentences as they are received by DOCCS. 

• Ascertains whether the court has reduced the inmate’s sentence by time spent at liberty.

• Calculates release dates, enters dates on computer, and advises correctional facility staff on their entry.

Reviews Maximum Expiration for Parole Supervision (MEPS) cases, and calculates MEPS release dates pursuant to the Court of Appeals’ decision in Matter of Sparago v. NYS Parole Board.

• Receives notification from the Division of Parole of the occurrence of a MEPS case.

• Calculates release dates, enters information into the computer mainframe, and forwards sentence computation to facility for filing.

Acts as back-up for the Associate Counsel and/or the Correction Sentencing Review Coordinator during his or her absence.

Correction sentencing review COORDINATOR

May perform all of the same duties and functions as a Correction Sentencing Review Specialist.

Ensures DOCCS’ prompt compliance with vacaturs and other court orders which affect inmates’ terms of incarceration, or require their immediate discharge from DOCCS.

• Receives the certified vacatur or court order issued by the trial court, Appellate Division, Court of Appeals, or Federal District Court, and determines the appropriate action necessary to satisfy the court’s direction.

• Notifies the inmate’s facility of the action required, which may be a change in the inmate’s release dates, immediate release from custody, or discharge to the custody of the county sheriff pending retrial.

Assists the Associate Counsel in defending legal proceedings brought against DOCCS by inmates challenging the calculation of their release dates.

• Conducts a thorough review of the inmate’s records and prepares a detailed chronological outline of the facts relevant to the inmate’s history of incarceration.

• Testifies in court on behalf of DOCCS regarding the procedures involved in determining accurate release dates.

Responds to related inquiries regarding inmates’ incarceration by DOCCS.

• Reviews correspondence drafted by the Correction Sentencing Review Specialists for the signature of the Deputy Commissioner and Counsel or the Associate Counsel.

• Based upon a complete review of the inmate’s record of incarceration prior to vacatur, determines eligibility for immediate release pursuant to Criminal Procedure Law Section 430.20(4).

· Assists the US Immigration and Naturalization Service, the NYS Division of Parole, prosecutors, defense counsel, and inmates in determining eligibility for early release and deportation in accordance with the Sentencing Reform Act of 1995.

• Advises the New York City Department of Correction and county correctional facilities regarding possible jail time discrepancies, as defined by Penal Law Section 70.30(3).

Works with DOCCS’ MIS Unit in the capacity of a subject matter expert to improve existing computer programs which calculate release dates, and to develop new programs as sentencing laws are changed by the Legislature.

• Identifies problems with existing programs, makes recommendations for possible changes and solutions, and works with the MIS representative to resolve the problem.

• Reviews the changes with the MIS liaison to identify problems created by the legislation, and to assist in the development of appropriate new mainframe programs.

• Tests new programs prior to their release to the facilities.

• Trains all facility Inmate Records Coordinator Office staff Statewide in the implementation of new program.

Working with the Associate Counsel and the Office of Classification and Movement, develops and updates a comprehensive guide which assists facility IRCs in the proper calculation of release dates.

• Coordinates the development of a resource manual for facility use that incorporates both time computation methodology and the appropriate legal references.

• Coordinates manual updates which reflect the impact of new or modified legislation and case law.

Directs the development of material to be used on a Statewide basis for the training of facility IRC Office staff, Guidance Office staff, Division of Parole staff, and local jurisdictions, regarding proper time computations.

• Supervises the Sentencing Review Specialists in the updating of existing material and develops new training material relating to recent legislation affecting sentencing and time computations.

• Supervises the scheduling of training seminars for each facility.

• Evaluates the effectiveness of the training programs.

Oversees the Correction Sentencing Review Specialists in working with DOCCS’s MIS Unit in the continuing development and update of release date computer programs as sentencing laws are revised.

• Reviews problems identified by the Correction Sentencing Review Specialists and the MIS liaison and suggests possible changes and solutions.

• Reviews and submits to the Associate Counsel for approval all new programs prior to implementation at the facility level.

• Reviews possibly improper sentences of imprisonment and/or release.

• Reviews data and researches all questionable sentences of imprisonment.

• Advises the appropriate sentencing courts of any illegalities discovered as a result of the review.

• Responds to inquiries from facilities and local jurisdictions regarding erroneous release of inmates.

Supervises subordinate staff.

• Provides supervision, guidance, and oversight to subordinate staff, and intervenes and resolves problems as necessary.

• Determines and oversees staff assignments. 

• Approves leave and tracks time and attendance.

• Reviews, monitors, and evaluates staff performance. 

• Completes performance evaluations.

• Identifies training needs and arranges for provision of training.

• Manages and directs program activities by setting priorities and deadlines.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Correction sentencing review SPECIALIST

Promotion: one year of permanent competitive service as an Inmate Records Coordinator 2; or two years of permanent competitive service as an Inmate Records Coordinator 1.

Correction sentencing review COORDINATOR

Promotion: one year of permanent competitive service as a Correction Sentencing Review Specialist; or two years of permanent competitive service as an Inmate Records Coordinator 2; or four years of permanent competitive service as an Inmate Records Coordinator 1.

Rev: 7/18

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.