July 17, 2018 -- Westchester County Executive George Latimer has signed an Executive Order to create a Westchester County Correction Advisory Board. The Board will consist of nine members who have a background in criminal justice, who will assist by making suggestions to the Department of Correction to improve the programs and services available to inmates, as well as ways to reduce recidivism and enhance public safety.
Latimer said: “The Westchester County Department of Correction will benefit greatly from the development of a Correction Advisory Board, which will propose objectives for reducing or maintaining low prison commitment rates, improving jail utilization and impacting repeat offenders. This Board will be able to oversee the growth of programs, policies and practices to help achieve those goals.”
Latimer will appoint six of the Correction Advisory Board’s nine members, subject to the approval of the Westchester County Board of Legislators (BOL). The Chairman of the BOL will select the remaining three members, also subject to the approval of the BOL. The Commissioner of the Westchester County Department of Correction will also serve as an ex officio member of the Board, and will provide quarterly reports of the Department’s activity to the Board members for review.
Latimer’s Executive Order takes effect immediately.