Three Business Day Review (3BDR)

Overview

The Three Business Day Review (3BDR) process allows the Justice Center to utilize supporting documentation obtained from a provider agency to determine the most appropriate classification and assignment of an incident reported to the Justice Center’s incident management database – the Vulnerable Persons Central Register (VCPR).  

The 3BDR process is currently utilized by the following agencies and associated providers: 

  • Office of Mental Health (OMH)
  • Office of People with Developmental Disabilities (OWPDD)
  • Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS)
  • Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS)
  • New York State Education Department (SED)

3BDR Criteria

The VPCR is a toll-free hotline and incident reporting system for allegations of abuse and neglect available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  

The VPCR accepts all reports. When a reporter lacks or is unaware of critical information to classify an incident, the report is sent through 3BDR. The incident will remain with the Justice Center while being processed through 3BDR for additional information, classification, and assignment.

Examples of when the 3BDR process is used:

  • The reporter does not provide sufficient details to support an appropriate classification.
  • The reporter did not include names (person receiving services, staff, or others).
  • There is missing information about the specific safeguards, needs, and/or service plans for a person receiving services.  

To ensure that proper safeguards and protections are put in place, the associated provider is immediately notified of the incident – regardless of whether it is sent through 3BDR or immediately classified and assigned. 

With limited exceptions, all incidents assigned to 3BDR will be processed and classified within three business days. 

Not all incident types or program types are eligible for a 3BDR designation. 

The 3BDR Process

Step One:  

The Justice Center conducts a preliminary search in the VPCR regarding the provider agency and any relevant information available on the person receiving services and the subject. The Justice Center will also look for any possible “links” to existing incidents in the VPCR, as incidents can be reported by multiple reporters.  

For example, incidents may be linked if they have:

  • the same allegation(s)  
  • the same subject(s) identified  
  • the same victim(s) identified  
  • the same or similar date and time of occurrence identified (unknown dates/times may be taken into consideration) 
Step Two:  

The Justice Center will contact the provider agency’s designated point of contact to advise that the reported incident is pending 3BDR review and a request for documentation is forthcoming. 

Step Three: 

A checklist of the necessary documentation and demonstrative evidence required to make the most appropriate classification of the incident reported is compiled and sent to the provider's point of contact. The point of contact will coordinate with the appropriate agency staff to gather the requested documentation/evidence and upload it to Thomson Reuters Case Center.

Read on for submission guidance.   

How to Submit

Effective September 2023, all service providers under the Justice Center’s jurisdiction (OPWDD, OMH, OASAS, DOH, SED, and OCFS) are able to electronically submit supporting documentation for ongoing 3BDR investigations to the Justice Center. 

To get started, click to access the Thomson Reuters Case Center.

Log In

New users will be prompted to make an account using an email address. Instructions for registering will be included in a follow-up email. 

Some videos and large zip files/editable PDFs cannot be uploaded directly by the provider point of contact. Please utilize the MySend link to send those specific files. 

Tips & Tricks for Uploading

To upload documents, click the submission link in the Information Request email you received from the Justice Center. This will bring you to Thomson Reuters Case Center, where you can upload and view documents.  

You are encouraged to upload all documentation to the secure link with each individual document as a single attachment, titled using the following format:   

Title of Document, Last Name of Service Recipient/Staff the document pertains to, Date of Document.  

Example: Behavior Support Plan Jones 12.1.2025 

If the documentation received is a single large attachment, it will need to be split and titled accordingly. Any video footage provided will be secured as evidence for a period of one year. 

Note that all uploaded documentation will initially appear as Type: Received Files. These files remain visible to the provider point of contact until they are moved out by the Justice Center.  

To view the uploaded documents, return to Case Center.   

Documentation Types

Points of Contact

Each provider facility has a designated point of contact for purposes of notifications, requests for documentation, any questions pertaining to the documentation and/or incident processing.   

If there are any changes to the point of contact, please email the Justice Center at [email protected] to avoid any delay in communication or notification(s).    

Please provide the full name, job title, contact phone number, and e-mail address of the new point of contact. If applicable, please provide the name of the point of contact they are replacing.

For SED incidents, SED staff must handle all point-of-contact changes and/or updates. 

Notifications

Initial Contact:  

The Justice Center will make initial phone contact with the appropriate provider point of contact. 

Email/Evite:  

The point of contact will receive an "Information Request" email from [email protected] containing the documentation checklist and a submission link to upload the requested documentation into Thomson Reuters Case Center. 

Follow-Up:  

If the Justice Center has questions or needs clarification on submitted documentation, the agency will contact the designated point of contact by phone or email. 

End of Processing:  

The Justice Center will send an email notification to the point of contact upon completion of processing. This email will include a classification notification. If the incident is classified as Abuse or Neglect, a case will be created and assigned for investigation. If the incident is classified as a Non-NYJC or a Significant Incident, the rationale for the final classification will be included in the notification. 

  • If a state agency or provider submits a request for reclassification, an email response will be provided notifying of approval of or denial of the request.
  • A comment is added to all incidents delegated to the state agency for investigation that includes a rationale for classification and what the state agency is expected to investigate. 

3BDR Guidance Documents