The New York City Department of Correction (NYCDOC) is the branch of the municipal government of New York City[1] responsible for the custody, control, and care of New York City's imprisoned population, housing the majority of them on Rikers Island.[2] It employs 8,949 uniformed officers and 2,027 civilian staff,[3] has 543 vehicles, and processes over 100,000 new inmates every year,[4] retaining a population of inmates of between 3,000 and 6,000.[5] Its nickname is New York's Boldest.[4] Its regulations are compiled in title 39 of the New York City Rules.
Previously located in Manhattan, the Department of Correction headquarters is now located in the Bulova building in East Elmhurst, Queens,[6][7] close to Rikers Island. The agency is headed by the Correction Commissioner, who is chosen and appointed by the Mayor of New York City.
History
The New York City Department of Correction was first founded as a separate entity in New York City in 1895 after a split from the Department of Public Charities and Correction.[2]Roosevelt Island, then called Blackwell's Island, was the main penal institution under the jurisdiction of the DOC until the 1930s when it was closed. The penal institutions moved to Rikers Island, which the city purchased for $180,000, where 10 prisons and 6,000 inmates are now held.[2]
Historians[who?] have not described the prison system of New York in the 19th century in a favorable light - with employment positions being awarded based on the spoils system and employees being characterized as largely corrupt. The Blackwell's Island penitentiary is described as having lax security, where prisoners were able to escape if they knew how to swim.[8]
In 1995, the New York City jail system was one of the most violent in the United States, averaging more than 100 stabbings and slashings per month. Between January 1995 and January 2002, the department achieved a 93% reduction in inmate on inmate violence as a result of a management system recognized by Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government, called Total Efficiency Accountability Management System (TEAMS).[9] By 2007, the number of stabbings was reduced to 19, making that year the Department of Correction's safest on record, although the issue of underreporting of incidents has not been addressed.[4]
There are certain civilian leadership positions in the agency which have power equivalent to the high ranking uniformed personnel. If they outrank a present uniformed officer, they are saluted due to agency customs and courtesies.
From highest to lowest, the civilian leadership ranks are:
Title
Insignia
Commissioner
First Deputy Commissioner
Deputy Commissioner
Associate Commissioner
Assistant Commissioner
The Commissioner is the highest-ranking official in the agency and is in command of all uniformed and civilian personnel.
Equipment and vehicles
Firearms
Correction officers are trained in the use of a firearm, but are only armed on certain post assignments due to the potential threat of prisoners overpowering an officer. On duty firearm is provided (Smith & Wesson 5946 DAO) however should the member elect there is a list of authorized firearms such as Glock pistol. For officers hired before March 1994, the model 10 & 64 revolvers are still used.
Correction officers are New York State Peace Officers with authority to make warrantless arrests, issue summonses, carry and use a firearm & can optionally carry a firearm off duty after 6 month service & written permission from Commanding officer. Officers' options include their duty firearm or Glock 26 for off duty use.[12]
Vehicles
NYCD Firetruck FA-14, in 2019
The department uses numerous marked vehicles including Chevrolet Impalas, Ford vans, transport buses, fire trucks, and riot vehicles. They share the distinctive NYC Law Enforcement colour scheme of blue-and-white, with the NYCD patch, red-white-blue/yellow (rear) flashing lights and sirens.[13][14]
Horizon Juvenile Center serves as the juvenile facility. The final juvenile inmates on Rikers Island were moved to Horizon in 2018.[15] The move was prompted by a law passed by New York state in 2017 requiring that juvenile inmates under 18 be housed separately from adults.[16]
Notable employees
Sharon Jones, served as a corrections officer at Rikers Island.[17]
Bernard Kerik, served in the NYCDOC from 1994 to 2001. Kerik became Correction Commissioner after retiring from the NYPD as a detective.
Anna M. Kross, Commissioner from 1953 to 1966. Developed the NYC Corrections R&D arm to research recidivism methods. She campaigned for legislation to treat addicts and alcoholics as people with medical rather than criminal conditions. Second woman to hold the position.
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