§ 837-a. Additional functions, powers and duties of the division. In addition to the functions, powers and duties otherwise provided by this article, the division shall:

Ask a criminal law question, get an answer ASAP!
Click here to chat with a criminal defense lawyer and protect your rights.

1. Collect and analyze statistical and other information and data with respect to the number of persons charged with the commission of a felony, including, but not limited to, the felony provisions of articles twenty-seven, thirty-seven and forty, and titles twenty-seven and thirty-seven of Article 71 of the environmental conservation law, Article 4 of the insurance law, sections 176.15, 176.20, 176.25 and 176.30 of the penal law relative to insurance fraud, as such term is defined in section 176.05 of such law, by indictment or the filing of a superior court information, the felony with which the person was charged therein, the county within which the indictment or superior court information was filed, the disposition thereof including, but not limited to, as the case may be, dismissal, acquittal, the offense to which the defendant pleaded guilty, the offense the defendant was convicted of after trial, and the sentence.

2. Present to the governor, temporary president of the senate, minority leader of the senate, speaker of the assembly and the minority leader of the assembly a quarterly report containing the statistics and other information required by subdivision one hereof. The initial report required by this paragraph shall be for the period beginning September first, nineteen hundred seventy-three and ending December thirty-first, nineteen hundred seventy-three and shall be presented no later than January fifteen, nineteen hundred seventy-four. Thereafter, each quarterly report shall be presented no later than thirty days after the close of each quarter.

3. Present to the governor, temporary president of the senate, minority leader of the senate, speaker of the assembly, and the minority leader of the assembly a semi-annual report analyzing the processing and disposition of cases covered by the provisions of a chapter of the laws of nineteen hundred seventy-eight relating to the imposition of mandatory sentences of imprisonment and plea bargaining restrictions upon violent felony offenders, second violent felony offenders and persistent violent felony offenders. The report shall assess the effect of such law on the ability of the criminal justice system to deal with violent crime, and its impact on the resources of the criminal justice system, and shall make recommendations for any changes in such law which may be necessary to accomplish its objectives. The initial report required by this subdivision shall be for the period beginning September first, nineteen hundred seventy-eight and ending February twenty-eight, nineteen hundred seventy-nine and shall be presented no later than April first, nineteen hundred seventy-nine. Thereafter, each semi-annual report shall be presented no later than thirty days after the close of the six-month period.

4. Collect, analyze and maintain all reports, statements and transcripts forwarded to the division concerning the reasons for imposition of a sentence other than an indeterminate sentence of imprisonment upon an armed felony offender as defined in subdivision forty-one of § 1.20 of the criminal procedure law; the reasons for the removal of an action involving a juvenile offender, as defined in subdivision forty-two of § 1.20 of the criminal procedure law, to the family court; and the reasons for a finding that a youth who has been convicted of an armed felony offense is to be treated as a youthful offender. Such reports, statements and transcripts shall be made available for public inspection except that in the case of a juvenile offender or a youthful offender, those portions which identify the offender shall be deleted. The commissioner may promulgate such rules and regulations with respect to the form of such reports, statements and transcripts.

5. Make certain that such statistical information relating to the commission of offenses in violation of article twenty-seven, thirty-seven or forty, or title twenty-seven or thirty-seven of Article 71 of the environmental conservation law, Article 4 of the insurance law, sections 176.15, 176.20, 176.25 and 176.30 of the penal law relative to insurance fraud, as such term is defined in section 176.05 of such law, is included and becomes a part of any and all published statistical studies on the occurrence of crime in this state or crime dispositions by the courts of this state or incarcerations in the correctional facilities of this state.

6. Present to the governor, temporary president of the senate, minority leader of the senate, speaker of the assembly and the minority leader of the assembly an annual report analyzing the disposal of property forfeited pursuant to the provisions of Article 13-A of the civil practice law and rules and Article four hundred eighty of the penal law. The initial report required by this subdivision shall be for the period beginning November first, nineteen hundred ninety and ending May thirty-first, nineteen hundred ninety-one and shall be presented no later than July first, nineteen hundred ninety-one. Thereafter, each annual report shall be presented no later than February first. The commissioner may promulgate rules and regulations with respect to the form of such report.

7. Contract with an organization having substantial knowledge and experience in the prosecution of serious criminal matters for the development and provision of continuing legal education, training, advice and assistance for prosecutors in the prosecution of capital cases and hate crimes.

8. Present to the governor, temporary president of the senate, minority leader of the senate, speaker of the assembly and the minority leader of the assembly an annual report about the function and effectiveness of the Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) program. Such report shall include, but not be limited to, crime data obtained, analyzed and used by each Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) partnership in participating counties and affected municipalities including the number of arrests made by law enforcement as a direct result of the Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) program including any available demographic information about the persons arrested and prosecuted and the disposition of such matters, and any other information related to the program's effectiveness in reducing crime. Such report shall also include information about crime reduction strategies developed by Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) partnerships, the number of state police and department of corrections and community supervision personnel participating in Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) activities, and a description of training supplied to local Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) participants. The initial report required by this paragraph shall be presented by December thirty-first, two thousand six. Thereafter, an annual report shall be presented no later than December thirty-first of each year.

9. In consultation with the state commission of correction and the municipal police training council, establish and maintain basic and other correctional training programs for such personnel employed by correctional facilities as the commissioner shall deem necessary. Such basic correctional training program shall be satisfactorily completed by such personnel prior to their undertaking their duties or within one year following the date of their appointment or at such times as the commissioner may prescribe. Provided, however, the commissioner may, after consultation with the state commission of correction, exempt from such requirement personnel employed by any correctional facility which, in the opinion of the commissioner, maintains a basic correctional training program of a standard equal to or higher than that established and maintained by the division; or revoke in whole or in part such exemption, if in his or her opinion the standards of the basic correctional training program maintained by such facility are lower than those established pursuant to this article.