[HISTORY: Adopted by the Suffolk County Legislature as indicated
in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Police — See Ch. 1047.
[Adopted 5-13-2008 by Res. No. 361-2008 (Ch. 705B, Art. I,
of the 1985 Code)]
A.Â
Suffolk County probation officers are tasked with duties and responsibilities
similar to sworn police officers, Deputy Sheriffs, and correction
officers.
B.Â
Probation officers are required to complete peace officer training
in order to carry a weapon.
C.Â
Probation officers are dealing every day with convicted criminals,
many of whom pose a danger to society.
D.Â
It is imperative that a policy be established whereby probation officers
are properly trained within a reasonable time frame.
E.Â
Training programs are available in-house, and a schedule should be
in place to complete this training of probation officers within 120
days of their hiring.
It shall be the policy of Suffolk County to conduct a probation
officer's basic peace officer training within 30 days of his
or her hiring.
It shall be the policy of Suffolk County that, within 120 days
of the hiring of a probation officer, said officer shall be trained
in the following areas:
The Director of Probation shall promulgate any rules and regulations
necessary to implement the provisions of this article.
The Director of Probation shall issue a quarterly written report
to the Chairman of the Public Safety Committee of the Suffolk County
Legislature, the County Executive, and all members of the Suffolk
County Legislature as to the status of the training for newly hired
probation officers.
[Adopted 6-10-2008 by Res. No. 447-2008 (Ch. 705B, Art. II,
of the 1985 Code)]
A.Â
According to a recent report by the Suffolk County Probation Department,
over 950 persons currently in the probation system in Suffolk County
had questionable status in terms of legal documentation.
B.Â
A more in-depth survey subsequently determined that between 200 and
225 of those supervised by Probation are criminal aliens, which means
that they are illegal aliens with a criminal conviction.
C.Â
It was determined that at least 36 of those criminal aliens were
sex offenders.
D.Â
It is imperative that the Probation Department determine the legal
status of all persons entering the probation system.
The Suffolk County Probation Department is hereby authorized,
empowered, and directed to take all steps necessary and practicable
to determine the legal status of all persons entering the probation
system.
The Director of the Suffolk County Department of Probation shall
develop policies and procedures to be followed in order to effectuate
the terms of this article.
The Suffolk County Department of Probation shall seek the cooperation
of the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office, through the Immigration
and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents located at the Suffolk County
Correctional Facility, to obtain the legal status of an individual
prior to that individual entering the probation system.
Upon the determination by Probation that a person entering the
probation system is an illegal or undocumented alien, Probation shall
so advise ICE representatives.