PAROLE & PROBATION DIVISION HONORED AT LUNCHEON
Posted: July 18th, 2011 11:08 AM
(Parole and Probation Staff)
(Commander Jeffrey Wood)
By unanimous Board action, the Marion County Board of Commissioners has declared July 17-23, 2011 as Parole & Probation Officer Week. During this week, people across the United States and Canada will join together to recognize the work that probation, parole, and community supervision professionals do for our public safety.
Although different states and different jurisdictions have applied a variety of organizational structures to manage this population, the basic premise of our responsibility, regardless of location, remains the same: Prevent criminal activity and promote the reformative process.
Although this statement may seem elementary, the resulting effects within our community are deep and profound: Lower crime rates, people overcoming addiction(s), families remaining a nuclear unit, lowering the burden on social service resources, breaking the intergenerational cycle of criminality and lowering the related to the costs of prosecution and incarceration. Simply put, community corrections professionals help to create stronger and safer communities.
Over the last several years, the staff of the Marion County Sheriff's Office Parole & Probation Division has engaged in a number of "evidence-based" efforts to provide support services, lower our recidivism rates, and enhance public safety.
As examples, we participate in a top rated drug court program and our reentry services through our Marion County Reentry Initiative (MCRI) are nationally recognized. In addition, our staff actively participates in drug and mental health court, community notification and registration, SWAT, SAR, cognitive programming and program evaluation.
Consistent with our core principles, we strive for efficiency by focusing precious public resources on our highest risk population. Additionally, we target specific risks linked to criminal behavior. We focus on working as partners with a number of social service and law enforcement agencies. Within any given day, any of our staff may help a single mother find a job, arrest an absconder placing the community at-risk, or make a referral to transitional housing or treatment to help overcome years of addiction.
The job of a Parole & Probation deputy is difficult and complicated. They are trained to be part-enforcement deputy, problem solver, crime prevention specialist, motivator, educator, and often are the only support system an offender may have. Often, the best they can hope for is for someone on supervision to quietly reintegrate into the community never to repeat the mistakes of their past.
P&P Commander Jeffrey Wood commented, "I think the citizens of Marion County can be proud of the service their parole and probation professionals offer. With the help of our office support staff, they provide sound cost-effective services and supervision practices which have been proven effective".
The Marion County P&P deputies and support staff will celebrate this week with an appreciation luncheon on July 21st. Keynote speakers will include Oregon Department of Corrections Director Max Williams and Marion County Sheriff Jason Myers.
