The New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) has implemented the “Supervision Against Violent Engagement” (SAVE) program, which aims to increase public safety by reducing gun violence among individuals under parole supervision. The SAVE program will use enhanced supervision, intelligence and data gathering, and cross-jurisdictional cooperation to prevent gun violence and violent crime among the most high-risk releasees returning to the Cities of Buffalo, Syracuse, Albany, and Rochester.
“Governor Hochul has been aggressive in her approach to combatting gun violence across our State. Gun violence is a scourge upon New York State’s communities and the Department is eager to do our part by taking actionable steps to further reduce violence perpetrated by individuals under community supervision,” said DOCCS Acting Commissioner Daniel F. Martuscello III. “Public safety is at the core of DOCCS’ mission, and we will continue to implement policies, programs, and initiatives to that end.”
Suitability for the SAVE program is determined based on a number of factors, including the crime(s) of conviction, a history of the use or sale of a firearm in the commission of a crime, and the individual’s Risk of Violence score based on a risk and needs assessment tool.
Those identified for inclusion on the SAVE caseload will be automatically placed on active GPS monitoring and enrolled under the Community Supervision Operations Center (CSOC) monitoring program, which provides 24-hour monitoring for GPS alerts that indicate a willful disregard for compliance on the part of the releasee.
Additionally, Department staff will be assigned to coordinate with existing gun violence reduction initiatives across the state to bolster the impact of the SAVE program. This includes a Senior Parole Officer to serve as a strategic planning coordinator in each of the Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) initiative jurisdictions, as well as a full-time Senior Investigator within DOCCS’ Office of Special Investigations (OSI) to be embedded into each of the State Police’s gun violence task force jurisdictions.
Individuals on the SAVE caseload will be reviewed after a period of 12 months to evaluate the releasee’s adjustment to supervision. Individuals may be considered for removal from the SAVE caseload based upon a review of several factors, including their time under supervision, compliance with the conditions of release, employment status, residential stability, familial support, program completion or participation, drug-free status, and other relevant factors.
“I want to thank Acting Commissioner Daniel F. Martuscello III and the New York Department of Corrections and Community Supervision for partnering with Rochester and other cities to create the Supervision Against Violent Engagement program,” said Rochester Mayor Malik D. Evans. “Increased supervision and monitoring of parolees who are most likely to engage in gun violence will go a long way toward helping us reduce shootings and save lives. New York State’s support on the critical issue of gun violence will help us create a safe, equitable and prosperous Rochester by inspiring hope and delivering opportunity for everyone.”
