The Division of Criminal Justice Services was established within the Executive Department in 1972 (Chapter 399). The division was the result of the consolidation of three separate governmental units: the New York State Identification and Intelligence System (NYSIIS), the Office of Local Government's Division for Local Police, and the Office of Planning Service's Division of Criminal Justice. NYSIIS had been established in 1965 (Chapter 353) as a service agency within the Executive Department to gather, computerize, retrieve, and disseminate criminal justice information. The Division for Local Police had been created in 1967 (Chapter 168) to make recommendations for the improvement of local police services and to provide staff services to the Municipal Police Training Council. The Division of Criminal Justice had been located administratively within the Crime Control Planning Board. This board, established by Executive Order 31 of 1968, continues to advise the governor on crime-control programs and allocates funds for several major programs relating to crime-control planning and juvenile delinquency.
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The purpose of the Division of Criminal Justice Services is to conduct research and to provide advisory and technical assistance services to increase the effectiveness of the State's criminal justice system. The division advises and assists the governor in developing policies, plans, programs, and information system projects for improving the administration of the criminal justice system. The division maintains the criminal justice communications network (CRIMNET) as well as a computerized criminal history and statistical data file to identify individuals through comparisons of fingerprints and to provide prior criminal records to federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. The division also supports local agencies by providing computer programs and technical assistance; training; management studies; and breathalizer and radar maintenance; and by developing programs in highway safety, crime prevention, and arson awareness. It conducts criminal justice research and acts as a clearinghouse for research and information relating to the administration of criminal justice. The division administers funds for and monitors local initiatives that support innovative probation, parole, community service, and other programs. In addition, the division prepares and evaluates a number of federally assisted juvenile delinquency prevention and justice assistance programs, and it receives and disburses federal funds.
