The goal of probation supervision is to reduce recidivism by achieving a balance between risk management and risk reduction. Probation supervision is the foundation for that balance and required as follows:
Contact substitutions are available only for juvenile delinquent and Persons in Need of Supervision probationers under age 18 at the time of disposition. Contact substitutions, lasting no longer than six months in duration, are specifically for those juveniles on probation supervision who are participating in a community-based treatment or therapeutic program which is evidence-based. During program participation, in-person contacts and positive home contacts with outside agency program staff may be substituted for probation department required contacts; up to 50 percent of the required probationer contacts per month or quarter, as determined by their risk level, may be substituted. During the time of program participation and where substitutions are applied, a probation officer must conduct one of the collateral contacts as required with the agency/program, and document the probationer progress in the case record. Merit credits may not be applied during the period of contact substitution.
Classification | Minimum probationer contacts | Minimum collateral contacts | Minimum home contacts | Merit credits/activities |
Greatest risk | Six probationer contacts per month. Contacts shall include one in-person contact per week and two probationer contacts per month. | Six per month including contacts related to the criminogenic needs identified in the case plan. | One positive home contact is required each month from case assignment. A positive home contact constitutes one of the required in-person contacts. | Following the stabilization period (three months for juveniles and three-six months for adults), and if the probationer is compliant with the conditions of probation and case plan, and there is documentation of merit credit activities, the probationer may be credited with up to a maximum of one probationer contact per month on an on-going basis unless rescinded. Merit credit activities are defined as the following: (1) Victim restoration measures; (2) Employment retention; (3) Educational achievement; (4) Sustained program participation; (5) Program completion; or (6) Pro-social community activities. |
High risk | A minimum of one in-person contact per week. | Six per quarter including contacts related to the criminogenic needs identified in the case plan. | One positive home contact is required during the first month from case assignment. Thereafter, three home contacts are required during each quarter, one completed each month during the quarter, two of which must be positive home contacts. A positive home contact constitutes a required in-person contact. | Following the stabilization period (three months for juveniles and three-six months for adults), and if the probationer is compliant with the conditions of probation and case plan, and there is documentation of merit credit activities, the probationer may be credited with up to a maximum of one in-person contact per month on an on-going basis unless rescinded. Merit credit activities are defined as the following: (1) Victim restoration measures; (2) Employment retention; (3) Educational achievement; (4) Sustained program participation; (5) Program completion; or (6) Pro-social community activities. |
Medium risk | Two probationer contacts per month. The probationer contacts shall include a minimum of one in-person contact during each month. | Two per quarter including contacts related to the criminogenic needs identified in the case plan. | One positive home contact is required during the first 45 calendar days from case assignment and as needed thereafter. A positive home contact constitutes one of the required in-person contacts. | Documentation of the following may be credited toward up to one probationer contact per month. Merit credit activities are defined as the following: (1) Victim restoration measures; (2) Employment retention; (3) Educational achievement; (4) Sustained program participation; (5) Program completion; or (6) Pro-social community activities. |
Low risk | One contact per month. | As needed. | As needed. | No merit credit may be applied to the one contact per month that is statutorily required. |
Classification | Minimum contacts (probationer or collateral) | Minimum home contacts | Merit credits/activities |
Administrative cases (cases unavailable for active supervision, regardless of risk level) | One contact per month | N/A | N/A |
N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. Tit. 9 § 351.6