Department of Corrections and Community Supervision
OIG conducts in-depth investigations and analyses of alleged criminal wrongdoing, corruption, conflicts of interest, fraud and abuse in New York State agencies/entities which fall under its jurisdiction. Currently, complaints related to the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS), have comprised more than half of all complaints received by the OIG. Ranging from allegations of fraud and theft to abuse of authority, possession of contraband and improper relationships between incarcerated persons and DOCCS staff, each of these complaints must be thoroughly investigated and, where appropriate, agency or other action taken. In light of the breadth and volume of these complaints, Inspector General Lucy Lang directed that a DOCCS task force be created within the OIG, and be headed by a designated Attorney-In-Charge (“AIC”) responsible for leading future proactive and complaint-driven investigative and reform efforts in this area.
The AIC-DOCCS is a working Investigative Counsel with a caseload and report writing responsibilities and serves as the primary attorney on all complex and policy-setting DOCCS matters, and serves as a supervisor for Investigative Counsels working on these matters across OIG. Externally, the DOCCS AIC serves as a primary point of contact with DOCCS, and reports directly to the Chief Deputy Inspector General on these matters, which comprise approximately 75% of his caseload. The DOCCS AIC is supervised internally by hisregional Deputy Inspector Generalon non-DOCCS related matters.
George Frany, Attorney-in-Charge for Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (Counsel)
George Frany III is the Attorney-in-Charge for New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) Matters at the Offices of the New York State Inspector General. He serves as lead counsel in coordinating all of the Office of Inspector General’s DOCCS related investigations, audits, and compliance initiatives across New York State.
George joined the Offices of Inspector General in 2014 and served as Investigative Counsel, Senior Investigative Counsel, and Acting Deputy Inspector General for the Upstate New York Region prior to his current role. He has conducted and overseen various administrative and criminal investigations addressing fraud, corruption, and abuse in New York State Executive branch agencies, boards, and public benefit corporations. Prior to joining the Offices of the Inspector General, he worked in private practice representing some of the nation’s largest lending institutions on commercial and residential real estate transactions.
He received his B.A. from Providence College and J.D. from Albany Law School.
Special Investigations
OIG conducts in-depth investigations and analyses of alleged criminal wrongdoing, corruption, conflicts of interest, fraud and abuse in New York State agencies/entities which fall under its jurisdiction. When the scope, subject matter, or other considerations warrant, the Attorney-In-Charge of Special Investigations (AIC-SI) is responsible for conducting and overseeing interdisciplinary statewide teams to manage large scale investigations, projects and initiatives.
The AIC-SI is a working Investigative Counsel with a caseload and report writing responsibilities, but who reports directly to the Chief Deputy Inspector General on all Special Investigations, which comprise approximately 75% of her caseload. The AIC-SI’s regular caseload is supervised internally by her regional Deputy Inspector General.
Jessica Haaz, Attorney-in-Charge of Special Investigations (Counsel)
Jessica Haaz was named Attorney-in-Charge of Special Investigations to the New York State Inspector General in March of 2022. Based in New York City, Jessica is responsible for leading statewide investigations of first impression or matters whose scope, subject matter, or sensitivity warrants particular attention.
Jessica joined OIG in August 2013 as an Investigative Counsel and was promoted in 2019 to Senior Investigative Counsel. Prior to joining OIG, Jessica’s legal experience encompassed both public and private sector work. Jessica was an Associate with Donohoe Talbert LLP (formerly known as Marsh Valentine & Donohoe LLP) where she represented high net worth individuals in matrimonial and family law matters. Jessica was also an Associate specializing in Securities Litigation and Criminal Defense at Bachner & Herskovits, PC. For four years, Jessica served as an Assistant District Attorney with the Kings County District Attorney’s Office, prosecuting matters including manslaughter, robbery, serious assault, fraud, and weapon and drug possession. Prior to attending law school, Jessica spent a year conducting polling and working as a Research Analyst with Penn Schoen & Berland.
Jessica is a graduate of Duke University with a Bachelor of Arts in Public Policy Studies and Certificate in Markets & Management. She received her Juris Doctorate from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law where she participated in the Innocence Project and received the Dean’s Merit Scholarship.