| National Parole and Probation Week, July 19-25 2009 |
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July 19-25, 2009 will be observed nationally as Probation, Parole and Community Supervision Week. For over 100 years, officers have been supervising offenders to make our communities a safer place to live.
Probation is a court ordered sanction that allows a person to remain in the community under the supervision of a probation officer. The conditions of this community-based supervision can vary. It may include jail time, fines, restitution, community service or other sanctions. Probation can also require a predetermined number of visits to their probation officer.
Parole is the release of an offender to supervision in the community after he/she has completed a portion of their sentence in an institution. A person on parole is called a parolee. The conditions of this community-based supervision could include employment, life skills counseling, drug or alcohol treatment, and other conditions to assist the offender in becoming a productive and law abiding citizen. Most parolees have frequent contact with their parole officer. The mission of parole is to assist offenders in successfully reintegrating into the community while ensuring public protection through the conditions of supervision that the releasing authority has set for the parolee.
If a probationer and parolee does not follow the rules of their probation or conditions of his/her parole, they could go back before the judge and be sent to jail or prison. Probation, Parole and Community Supervisor’s vision is to see a fair, just and safe society where community partnerships are restoring hope by embracing a balance of prevention, intervention and advocacy. Every citizen has the right to be free from fear of harm to their person and property.
These professionals provide protection to our communities. They are often silent partners, yet they spend more time with offenders than many other agencies. They are a Force for Positive Change in our communities.
Information taken from:
American Probation and Parole Association Website
http://www.appa-net.org/eweb/
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| Director Max Williams' Proclamation |
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“A Force for Positive Change”
National Probation, Parole and Community Supervision Week
July 19th – 25th
On behalf of the Oregon Department of Corrections, it is a great honor to acknowledge Oregon’s parole and probation officers for your dedication, devotion, and hard work.
July 19 – 25, 2009 is Probation, Parole and Community Supervision Week – a time for the nation and Oregon to recognize the men and women who work each and every day on the front lines with probationers and parolees to hold them accountable for the crimes they have committed against our families, friends, neighbors, and communities. For over 100 years, you have been supervising offenders to make our communities a safer place to live. It is through your commitment to public safety that our communities are a safer place for everyone.
There are over 5 million adults under some form of community supervision nationally. The challenges you face are tremendous, yet you continue to work toward making a positive difference. You are the link between the justice system, community leaders and organizations, and the public for offenders who need help re-integrating back into society and into neighbors.
You continue to maintain the highest standards and idealism of professionalism, while maintaining compassionate public service by respecting the dignity, cultural diversity, and human rights of all persons. Every day you assist Oregon in providing valuable services to the people of our state, and yet, very rarely do you receive thanks for the risks you take, your dedication, and the hard work you do. You make a positive difference in people’s lives, a difference in the safety of your communities, and a difference in Oregon. Your work goes well beyond supervision and surveillance of offenders; it’s a Force for Positive Change!
This week is a time for Oregon and the nation to pause and thank you for the work you do and to reflect on the many contributions you make. Your profession seeks to understand the perspectives of others, contributes toward more peaceful neighborhoods, and you collaborate around solutions that work for the victim, the offender, and the safety of the community. You also play a vital role in the success of the Oregon Accountability Model. Your work towards re-entry and reach-in are commendable. You have proven yourselves to be dedicated, hard-working individuals who are truly concerned about making a difference in our communities, all in an effort to ensure the highest level of public safety.
It is with great pleasure that I thank you for the work that you do, the risks you take, and for the professionalism you display and uphold. Your work is diverse and rewarding; challenging and growth-producing, and the manner in which you meet your every day challenges is remarkable. Although the Department of Corrections always acknowledges the work that you do, it is with a special sense of pride that this week I extend to you best wishes on behalf of the Department of Corrections.
Max Williams, Director
Oregon Department of Corrections
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