Clinton County Department of Probation/Alternatives to Incarceration (ATI)
Contact:
Mailing Address:
Clinton County Department of Probation
34 Court Street
Plattsburgh, NY 12901
Clinton County Department of Probation Units
The mission of the Clinton County Department of Probation/Alternatives to Incarceration (ATI) is to enhance community safety by providing supervision of adult and juvenile offenders. This is accomplished by serving as a conduit for positive change, overseeing the compliance of probationers mandated with an alternative to incarceration sentence and by compassionately addressing the needs of and providing support to victims of crime. We accomplish our mission through a full range of supervision services, which join with various community based and local service agencies designed to provide innovative programming to prevent crime, re-victimization and delinquency.
Juvenile Delinquent Diversion Services:
The Probation Department is the first point of entry for Family Court diversion services when a youth commits an act which if committed by an adult would constitute a crime and is arrested by law enforcement. The youth population we serve are called Juvenile Delinquents (JDs) whom range in age from 12 to 17 for those who have committed a misdemeanor or felony and those 16 and 17 year olds who have committed a misdemeanor level offense. Further, if a 16 or 17 year old commits an act that would constitute a felony level offense and the matter is removed from Clinton County Court Youth Part to Family Court for JD Intake services, they are eligible for the same JD Diversion program. Assessments, interventions, referrals to care, and diversion from Family Court are provided whenever possible, providing the best level of intervention in the least restrictive setting. If the youth’s needs dictate, the Probation Department will follow the child through every step of the Family Court process. We also prepare pre-dispositional reports to aid the Family Court Judge in disposition of these JD cases. One possible disposition of juvenile cases is placement of the youth under Probation Supervision, with the potential of a return to Court if the conditions are not met.
Voluntary Assessment and Case Planning Services (VACPS):
Adolescent Offenders (AOs) are youth, ages 16 or 17, who have committed an act which if committed by an adult would constitute a felony level offense. AOs start the legal process by arraignment in Criminal Court Youth Part (CCYP). Additionally, Juvenile Offenders (JOs) ages 13, 14, or 15, who have committed a Class A, B, or C violent felony are also brought before CCYP for arraignment. For these AOs and JOs, the Probation Department offers Voluntary Assessment and Case Planning Services (VACPS). Similar to JD diversion services, it encompasses a criminogenic needs assessment to determine what programs, services, or interventions can be suggested to help the youth move their life in a new direction. JD & VACP services are voluntary and the family is allowed to have an attorney present at meetings.
Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) Aftercare:
Through a grant funded by the NYS Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS), we also have an officer that provides post residential supervision of youth who were placed in the custody of the OCFS. During aftercare, the youth participates in assessments, interventions, and receives referrals to programming including mental health and substance use counseling. Failure of the youth to follow through with aftercare plans can result in a variety of conclusions from community service requirements to their being removed from the home and placed back in an OCFS facility.