July 15-21, 2018 is proclaimed Pre-Trial, Probation and
Parole Supervision Week. This week is set aside to honor these community
corrections professionals who do the “behind the scene” work in criminal
justice.
Please allow me to briefly explain the difference between
parole and probation as some people believe we are the same entity. Basically,
Parole is the supervision component of the New York State Department of
Corrections and Community Supervision. Parole Officers supervise offenders who
have been released from state prison. Parole is a state agency and their
officers are state employees. Parole does not supervise juveniles. Probation,
on the other hand is a county agency and every county in New York State has its
own probation department. Probation works with juveniles and adults. Probation
Officers provide intake services for the Family Court; investigation reports
for Family and Criminal Courts; and supervision services for Family and Criminal
Courts. The Allegany County Probation Department also provides Pre-Trial and
Community Service through our Alternatives to Incarceration Programs.
Probation officers strive to be “agents of change” to those
individuals we supervise. Our officers facilitate groups which address specific
offending behaviors. We also facilitate other groups such as “Thinking for a
Change” and “Cognitive Behavioral Interventions for Substance Abusers” that
show people how their thoughts and emotions affected and contributed to their
crimes. The Department collaborates with other agencies to provide the “Ready,
Set. Work” employment classes which help individuals improve their chances of
gaining employment. Studies have shown that employment is a big factor in
reducing one’s risk of committing new crimes. Thus, we encourage all who are on
probation and who are physically/emotionally able to be working.
The Department is also very cognizant of our role in
providing safety to the community. Our Officers conduct home visits to those on
probation supervision. These visits are usually unannounced and can happen any
time during the day. We drug test offenders frequently to hold them accountable
for drug use. No one knows how fewer victims there are due to probation
officers’ efforts in providing guidance and advice to those we supervise. An officer may have to take on the roles of
encourager or counselor or disciplinarian (all within the same day sometimes)
to promote better behaviors and actions that will not lead person to re-offend.
Our Department takes great pride in collecting restitution for victims and
fines for the courts. Our account staff
does a wonderful job of processing these collections and ensuring the payments
are sent to the proper individuals or entities. Our front desk personnel are
often the first people one encounters when stopping at our office or calling in
and they are very efficient in directing the people to the proper personnel
they need to see.
I take great pride in being able to work with and provide
guidance to the fine group of professionals who comprise the Allegany County
Probation Department. If you know any of our employees please take a moment and
thank them for their efforts. We appreciate being able to serve you, the
public.
Robert P. Starks
Probation Director II, Allegany County
