One concern that consistently shows up in public polling is crime and a dwindling number of law enforcement officers. And it's not just uniformed cops. There's also a shortage of probation officers in New York.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were about 5,000 probation officers employed in 2022. That number is still high compared to other states, but below other large states like California and Texas. And if you dig deeper, New York lags behind when it comes to how many are employed per 1,000 jobs.

As the criminal justice system evolves, one program in New York is hoping to turn things around.

“There are so many people, over 2 million in the U.S. that are locked up,” said Carol DiMambro, community corrections in criminal justice program director at Russell Sage College.

But according to the state’s Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, 24 correctional facilities have closed across the state since 2011, with the prison population dropping by about 44%.

“We need something different,” DiMambro said.

She is attempting to make a difference in the Capital Region with a new online master's degree program.

“It’s really going to involve things in community corrections,” she said. “That a lot of times, you don’t get in a traditional criminal justice.”

It’ll take students two years to complete the program.

“Some of the things that we think important are restorative justice and looking at mental health and substance abuse disorders,” said DiMambro.

In an effort to address the shortage of probation officers, the college is partnering with Albany County to provide interested county employees a discount on tuition.

“I’ve got a probation officer who needs a master’s degree, and it’s just like a trained officer,” Albany County Executive Dan McCoy said. “But a variety of programs, and you’ve got a police officer that just needs a GED and a driver’s license.”

McCoy called the new program a game changer.

According to the state’s Division of Criminal Justice Services, there were about 2,700 positions offered by probation departments across the state with 266 vacancies.

“You know when you’ve got bail reform and Raise the Age, there has to be another mechanism in place,” McCoy said. “Unfortunately, our probations have become the backstop with no real support of legislation from the state.”

The goal is to eventually reach similar agreements with counties across the state.

“We’re doing really well with enrollment, and it starts next week,” DiMambro said. “Spring semester, we’re really hoping to get more people.”