Deputy Commissioner of Accountability

City of New York•New York, NY

About The Position

The New York City Department of Correction (DOC) operates facilities and court commands across the five boroughs and employs more than 7,500 professionals. DOC is responsible for maintaining a safe and secure environment for employees, visitors, volunteers, and people in its custody, while supporting opportunities for people in custody to re-enter their communities. Under the direction of the Senior Deputy Commissioner for Investigations, Intelligence & Accountability, the Deputy Commissioner of Accountability directs and oversees the day-to-day operations of the Trials & Litigation Division, the Adjudications Unit, and the Informal Charges & Discipline Unit. The role involves substantial independent judgment and initiative. The Deputy Commissioner oversees formal disciplinary matters against uniformed staff, including disciplinary trials and settlement negotiations at the New York City Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH), and makes recommendations on misconduct penalties to the DOC Commissioner and Remediation Manager for final approval. The role also oversees informal discipline for lower-level staff misconduct, ensuring fair treatment and consistent outcomes, as well as PIC infraction and placement hearings to ensure they are handled equitably and efficiently. The position requires substantial experience in trial practice, litigation, investigations, and relevant court proceedings. The Deputy Commissioner advises and collaborates with agency divisions, monitors case preparation for trial or settlement, sets litigation strategy, reviews negotiated pleas and settlements, and conducts negotiations with opposing counsel and other parties. The role also develops and updates employee-discipline policies and procedures, establishes mechanisms for fair and effective application of agency policies, and tracks and reports disciplinary activity. The Deputy Commissioner provides confidential counsel to Department executives on discipline and adherence to Department standards, liaises with law enforcement agencies on employee-misconduct matters, supports discipline-related policy development and implementation, serves on policy implementation committees as needed, handles other highly confidential and sensitive assignments, and supports DOC compliance with external oversight requirements concerning disciplinary processes.

Requirements

Admission to the New York State Bar.
Four years of recent, full-time, responsible, relevant, and satisfactory legal experience subsequent to admission to any bar.
At least eighteen months of the required experience must involve supervising other attorneys in an administrative, managerial, or executive capacity, or performing highly complex and significant legal work.
Must remain a member of the New York State Bar in good standing for the duration of employment.
Substantial experience with trial practice, litigation, conducting investigations, and relevant court proceedings.

Responsibilities

Direct and oversee the day-to-day operations of the Trials & Litigation Division, the Adjudications Unit, and the Informal Charges & Discipline Unit.
Oversee formal disciplinary matters against uniformed staff, including trials and settlement negotiations at OATH.
Make decisions on misconduct penalties and recommend outcomes to the DOC Commissioner and Remediation Manager for final approval.
Oversee informal discipline for low-level staff misconduct and promote fair, consistent outcomes.
Oversee PIC infraction and placement hearings to ensure proper, equitable, and efficient handling.
Monitor preparation of cases for trial or settlement and map litigation strategy for administrative and disciplinary actions.
Review negotiated pleas and settlements and conduct negotiations with opposing counsel and other parties.
Formulate and modify agency policies and procedures regarding employee discipline.
Develop and implement mechanisms to ensure agency policies are applied fairly and effectively.
Track and report agency disciplinary activity.
Advise and collaborate with agency units, including Investigation & Intelligence, Human Resources, Labor Relations, Legal, Bureau of Administration, and Health Management, and liaise with their leadership.
Provide confidential counsel to Department executives concerning discipline and adherence to Department standards.
Serve as the Department's liaison with law enforcement agencies on employee-misconduct matters.
Support discipline-related policy development and implementation, serve on policy implementation committees as needed, and perform other confidential and sensitive assignments as directed.
Support DOC compliance with external oversight requirements concerning the disciplinary process, such as court monitorships.
Act with integrity and impartiality.