M. Peter Paravati was appointed an Oneida County Deputy Sheriff in 1971. He held
this position until 1973, when he was appointed to a position with the New York
State Commission of Correction.
During his tenure with the Commission of Correction, Undersheriff Paravati
served as a program administrator and instructor at the Correctional Services
Training Academy. He also served 15 years as an investigator assigned to the
Commission’s Medical Review Board, which is responsible for investigation of
all deaths and health problems in New York’s correction and detention system.
In 1993, he was appointed Chief Investigator of the New York State Inspector
General’s Office and assigned to the Department of Labor. Here, he investigated
fraud, misconduct and abuse within the State labor system.
In January 1995, Sheriff Dan Middaugh appointed him to the position of
Undersheriff of Oneida County. As Undersheriff, he has statutory authority and
responsibility to conduct all business within the purview of the Office of
Sheriff.
Undersheriff Paravati is a graduate of Herkimer County Community College,
Syracuse University (Utica College) and the State University of New York. He is
a certified Police Officer, Police Trainer and Correction Trainer. His has
specialized training and certification in public sector management,
medical/legal investigation and internal investigations.
In 1988, Undersheriff Paravati received the New York State Governor’s
Productivity Award. He is a contributing author of several books and articles,
including: The Mentally Ill in Jail, Correctional Psychiatry,
and The International Journal of Law and Psychiatry. He currently
serves on the Statewide Committee for Mental Health Training for Police.