DOCCS Office of Special Investigations (OSI)

The New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) Office of Special Investigations (OSI) serves as the Department’s investigative body, pursuant to Directive 0700 and Correction Law §§ 112 and 621. The primary mission of OSI is to advance the mission and statutory mandates of the Department; vigorously pursue justice through fair, thorough, and impartial investigations; and foster accountability, integrity, and safety within the Department.

OSI’s fundamental goal is to prevent, detect, and investigate abuse, fraud, waste, misconduct, corruption, and criminal activity, among other matters, and to help promote integrity within New York State’s correctional and community supervision system. OSI is a 24-hour a day, 365-day a year operation that is never “off-duty,” staffed with over 220 dedicated employees. OSI members respond to fatalities of incarcerated individuals; allegations of excessive force; sexual abuse and misconduct; narcotics and contraband smuggling; biological threats; counterterrorism, violent extremism, and anti-radicalization efforts; attempted escapes; fugitive apprehensions and transports, and much more. OSI not only responds to various scenarios, but also uses its significant investigative, technological, and tactical expertise to proactively conduct special operations such as inspections and monitoring to accomplish its mission. Further, OSI collaborates with outside law enforcement agencies and prosecutors to leverage resources and, when there is evidence of criminality, seek justice. As OSI looks to the future, itwill continue to build its capabilities and serve DOCCS and the State as a premier investigative organization.

The DOCCS Office of Special Investigations recognizes that accountability and integrity are essential to maintaining and promoting public trust in New York State’s correctional and community supervision system. Therefore, OSI advances the Department’s mission by fostering accountability, justice, and integrity within the Department. These goals are best served by the OSI when its members follow the basic principles of integrity, objectivity without bias or prejudice, independence, confidentiality, professionalism, competence, courage, diligence, trust, honesty, fairness, forthrightness, transparency, accountability, courtesy and respect for others and themselves. OSI members are held to the highest expectations in maintaining and advancing these values. Furthermore, accuracy, objectivity, fairness, timeliness, and usefulness of investigative findings are cornerstones of OSI. 

Additionally, DOCCS’ OSI is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion by ensuring equal justice and opportunity without discrimination against any person based on their protected class: race, color, national origin, creed/religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), disability (physical or mental), age (18 and older), citizenship status, predisposing genetic characteristics, marital status, familial status (being pregnant, caring for a child under 18, or seeking to adopt a child under 18), sexual orientation (including perceived sexual orientation), gender (including sexual harassment), gender identity, gender expression, military status, prior arrest/criminal record, prior convictions (unless certain requirements have been met), domestic violence victim status, and/or retaliation for filing a complaint.  

Finally, OSI recognizes the importance of being free from personal or external impairments to independence or conflicts of interest. The pursuit of justice must further be free from bias, prejudice, or any other impairment to objectivity. While part of the Department, OSI maintains an independent attitude to ensure impartiality and fairness in fulfilling OSI’s goals and functions. The OSI and its members strive to adhere to the highest standards of conduct, training, and ethics to uphold these values and fulfill its mission.  

• Internal affairs investigations
• Narcotics investigations
• Sex crimes investigations
• Counter-terrorism and threat investigations
• Criminal intelligence and analysis
• Intake of complaints 
• Apprehension and transportation of parole absconders, escapees and fugitives

When making a complaint, please provide OSI with the following information:

• Details about the alleged incident
• Who was involved
• Time and place of the incident
• Identity of any victim
• Names of any witnesses

Next steps. After receiving the complaint, the Office of Special Investigations (OSI) will evaluate it to determine whether it falls within OSI’s mission. If an investigation is warranted, OSI will open a case and assign it to an investigator. If the investigation establishes evidence of criminal conduct, OSI will refer the case for criminal prosecution. If there is sufficient evidence that a DOCCS’ employee engaged in misconduct in violation of a DOCCS’ policy, then OSI will refer the case to the Department’s Bureau of Labor Relations for consideration of employee disciplinary charges.

Confidentiality

The Office of Special Investigations has a strict policy to maintain confidentiality within the bounds of the law of any complainant who requests confidentiality. A confidential complainant’s identity will not be disclosed unless the complainant consents to the disclosure or OSI is required by law or court order to disclose the complainant’s identity. In addition, “whistle-blower” protection pursuant to New York State law may apply to a State employee who reports misconduct.

To file a complaint:

Call

1-844-OSI-4NYS

Email

[email protected]

Online

Submit an online complaint

Mail

Complete a standard complaint form and mail to:
Office of Special Investigations - Intake Unit
New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision
Harriman State Office Campus
1220 Washington Avenue
Albany, New York 12226-2050

BOLO

Be On The Lookout

Find out which individuals are wanted by the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision's (DOCCS) Office of Special Investigations who have been designated as its Most Wanted Fugitives. They should be considered ARMED and DANGEROUS. 

NEVER attempt to apprehend a fugitive yourself. If you have information on the location of any of these fugitives, you can contact DOCCS Office of Special Investigations 24 hours a day/7 days a week to report it. All leads and tips are treated as confidential information. 

MOST WANTED