Objective

To determine whether the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) provides adequate oversight of Community Based Residential Program providers to assess their effectiveness in facilitating successful re-entry and reducing recidivism rates, and whether contracted services are being provided to meet individuals’ needs. Our audit covered the period from January 2019 through July 2025.

About the Program

DOCCS’s mission is to improve public safety by providing a continuity of appropriate treatment services in safe and secure facilities where all incarcerated individuals’ needs are addressed and they are prepared for release. DOCCS is also responsible for supervising incarcerated individuals released from prison by action of the Parole Board, conditional release, or release to a period of post-release supervision, as well as individuals sentenced directly to community supervision by judicial sanction. Safe and stable housing is critical for parolees to successfully re-enter society. While homeless shelters provide an important safety net, they may not always provide the supportive environment needed for someone trying to establish stability.

DOCCS’s Transitional Services Program makes resource materials available in correctional facilities for substance use disorder treatment, education, vocational or employment information, medical and mental health providers, and housing assistance. Prior to release, incarcerated individuals provide the address of their intended residence. If an individual is determined to be undomiciled, the DOCCS Offender Rehabilitation Coordinator (Rehabilitation Coordinator) speaks with the incarcerated individual to discuss options that may include homeless shelters or residential programs, such as Community Based Residential Programs (CBRPs), if one is available in their county of release.

CBRPs are meant to assist releasees in gaining stability while providing community-based services to keep individuals engaged and productive in their communities and out of prison. These programs provide food, shelter, and employment counseling to residents directly, as well as substance use disorder treatment, educational/vocational training, mental health treatment, and other supportive services through referrals to credentialed providers in the community. Participation in these programs is generally limited to 120 days, but extensions are available on a case-by-case basis.

DOCCS directives and its Community Supervision Handbook provide guidelines for DOCCS staff preparing incarcerated individuals for life after release. Additionally, DOCCS’s CBRP contract Work Plan provides CBRP contract requirements, including 77 requirements for CBRP providers regarding health and safety (e.g., meals, maintenance of facilities).

As of November 2025, DOCCS had contracts with eight individual providers operating 12 locations with a capacity of 149 beds in nine counties. The annual budget for the programs is approximately $3.9 million, with a total contract value of over $18 million. For the remaining 53 counties in New York State, CBRP services are not available.

Key Findings

• DOCCS does not have a formal process for identifying incarcerated individuals who are good candidates for CBRPs. It also has not ensured individuals receive adequate information about these programs as options upon release and has not promoted the program sufficiently.
• DOCCS has not continued to analyze locations for the CBRPs to determine if additional counties (including locations with a high number of undomiciled releasees) would benefit from having a CBRP in their county.
• We found multiple health and safety issues at CBRP sites, including:
  • Disabled smoke detectors.
  • Improperly stored cleaning chemicals.
  • Two providers didn’t provide the three meals per day required by the contract.
• DOCCS does not have a clear process for documenting individuals’ outcomes; therefore, the overall program cannot be properly evaluated to determine if it is meeting its intended goals.
• The system DOCCS uses to track program information does not have a clear way of differentiating CBRP enrollment from other programs using the same facilities, complicating tracking for oversight and planning purposes.
• There was a pause in reporting of official CBRP results in April 2022, with no future date for this CBRP tracking to resume.

Key Recommendations

• Develop, implement, and formally document a process for identifying and enrolling incarcerated individuals in CBRPs prior to release, and train staff on the identification and enrollment process.
• Continuously analyze releasee data and formally document criteria and results to determine if additional counties (including locations with a high number of undomiciled releasees) would benefit from having a CBRP in their county.
• Develop checklists and inspection protocols that address all aspects of CBRP contracts, as well as identifying additional health and safety issues, and train staff to conduct proper inspections.
• Implement a standardized process for evaluating parolee discharges (positive, neutral, and negative) to more consistently determine conclusions based on meeting parolee‑established program goals and not strictly obtaining housing. Provide training to staff and CBRPs for evaluation standards.
• Develop and implement procedures for tracking parolee enrollment, progress, and discharge results for the CBRPs, which include enrollment tracking and documenting program results. Train staff involved in program tracking.
• Resume reporting of CBRP results based on standardized tracking so that program success can be appropriately evaluated.