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Secure Pass: Extended Program
The Office of Court Administration is extending the Secure Pass program, previously available to attorneys, to include tenants of our court facilities and certain other organizations whose employees regularly conduct business with the courts.
Memorandum to Co-Tenants Of Court Facilities and Organizations Whose Employees Regularly Conduct Business with the Courts:
Similar to the existing attorney secure pass cards, the photo I.D. card for tenants and other organizations will aid security personnel in distinguishing between attorneys, court personnel and these other groups. The cards will be issued following a thorough application process similar to the existing process for attorney secure pass cards. The notable exception, however, is that applications made under the extended program must be accompanied by an employment letter from the employer as discussed below.
As with the attorney Secure Pass, applications for the extended program cards will be made at the local courthouses in the offices of the Chief Clerks of all courts. Cards will be produced by OCA's Division of Administrative Services and returned to the local courthouse where the application originated for the applicants to pick up in person. There will be no application fee for these cards. However, there will be a $25.00 replacement fee to cover the administrative costs of reproducing a lost card. The cards will also be valid for a two-year period.
All tenants and agencies are requested to collect court issued photo I.D. cards from employees once they leave their employment and return them to the 8th Judicial District Administrative Office.
Facility Tenants
Tenant applications must be accompanied by an employment verification letter from their employer, on organization letterhead, over the original signature of an appropriate executive of the organization (e.g., executive director, head of personnel, managing attorney). A template of an acceptable letter is listed below and should be provided to each tenant organization to facilitate the application process. Copies of this form letter should also be available to applicants upon request.
Governmental Agencies
Employees of governmental agencies who regularly conduct business within the courts are also eligible to receive Secure Pass cards under this extended program. A governmental employee's application also must be accompanied by an employment verification letter previously discussed with respect to tenant applicants.
Not-for-Profit Agencies
Appropriate not-for-profit agencies whose employees regularly conduct business within the courts may be eligible for inclusion in the extended program. These organizations will be required to submit a letter to Chief Matthew O'Reilly, UCS Department of Public Safety, 25 Beaver Street, New York, New York 10004 requesting approval to participate in the program. The letter should state the nature of the organization's business, the title(s) and number of employees who regularly conduct business within the courts, and whether those employees were subject to a criminal history search by fingerprint analysis as a condition of their employment. Chief O'Reilly, after consultation with Judge Lippman, will determine whether an organization should be approved to participate and will notify the organization by letter of the decision.
If a not-for-profit organization is approved to participate in this program, each employee seeking a Secure Pass card must apply individually. Instructions on the card application process and a template employment verification letter similar to that required by tenant and governmental agency applicants will be forwarded to the organization with notification of their approval and must accompany each employee's application. A list of all not-for-profit organizations approved for participation in this program will be maintained by UCS Department of Public Safety.
If you have any questions, please contact Harry Brand at hbrand@courts.state.ny.us. All questions and correspondence should be sent to Mr. Brand at 110 Franklin Street, Buffalo, New York 14202, phone (716) 858-4801.