The New York City Department of Correction (DOC) is an integral part of the City’s evolving criminal justice system, participating in reform initiatives and strategies aimed to move the City towards a smaller jail system without compromising public safety. The DOC is responsible for maintaining a safe and secure environment for staff, visitors, volunteers and people in our custody. Importantly, safe jails enable DOC to provide people in custody with the tools and opportunities they need to successfully re-enter their communities. The DOC operates facilities and court commands across the five boroughs with more than 9,500 diverse professionals and knowledge experts.
The General Counsel’s Office serves as the in-house legal department for the DOC. Attorneys in this office handle diverse legal areas including New York City correction law; freedom of information law (FOIL); employment law; departmental rules, regulations and directives and perform other related duties. Under direction and with wide latitude for independent judgment and action, Agency Attorneys assist in the defense of litigation against the Department and its employees in matters arising under Section 1983 of the federal Civil Rights Law, State common law tort cases, and all other matters of civil litigation which may affect the Department of Correction. The incumbents’ duties include but are not limited to,

• Investigating and preparing responses to administrative complaints brought by employees

involving violations of various equal employment statutes;

• Offering counsel and advice on a wide range of regulatory, commercial, and litigation affairs;
• Researching matters of criminal law in foreign jurisdictions to determine applicability of

recent City law restricting the power of the Department to enforce detainers issued by the
United State Agency for Immigration and Customs Enforcement;

• Educating and providing documents to counsel from the Law Department in order to defend

lawsuits commenced against the Department;

• Advising Executive Staff of the legality of potential policy changes;
• Responding to subpoenas and FOIL requests served on the Department;
• Assisting the Department in rulemaking, regulatory compliance, and risk management;
• Assisting the Department in all aspects of the Board of Correction (BOC) rulemaking process,

including fact-finding, legal research and analysis, consultation with the Law Department, and
translation of Department policies and practices into draft BOC rules, or amendments thereto,
if necessary;

• Collaborate with BOC, H H, and other City agencies, City Hall, City Council, and external

criminal justice stakeholders;

• Providing advice and counsel to ensure the Department meets on statutory and regulatory

requirements, including advising the Department on, and interpreting, federal, state and local
laws and regulations that affect or inform the Department’s work;

• Performing related duties as assigned.