Governor Corbett Proclaims 'Pretrial, Probation and Parole Supervision Officers Week' in Pennsylvania

HARRISBURG, Pa., July 14, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Governor Tom Corbett has proclaimed July 13-19 as "Pretrial, Probation and Parole Supervision Officers Week" in Pennsylvania.

"As a former probation officer, I am well aware of the demanding job of probation officers and parole agents to hold offenders accountable and to help them change their lives," said Parole Board Chairman Michael C. Potteiger.  "It is only fitting to take the time to recognize these dedicated public servants who protect the public as offenders leave prison and return to their community."

Pennsylvania has more than 39,000 state parolees under supervision and approximately 240,000 offenders who are on county probation under the supervision of the courts.

"This proclamation honors all employees, at the local, state and federal level, who work with probationers and parolees to make our communities safer," said Potteiger.

For more information, visit www.pbpp.state.pa.us.

Media contact:  Sherry Tate, 717-231-4411

EDITOR'S NOTE: A copy of the Governor's proclamation is below:

PROCLAMATION

PRETRIAL, PROBATION AND PAROLE SUPERVISION WEEK

July 13-19, 2014

WHEREAS, Pretrial, probation and parole officers/agents are sworn peace officers who work in the community, seeing parolees at home, at work and on the streets and are on call 24/7 to respond to emergencies and urgent problems; and

WHEREAS, pretrial, probation and parole officers/agents provide both supervision and counseling to offenders and operate to uphold the law and safeguard the public from criminal activity during an offender's transition from incarceration to the community; and

WHEREAS, pretrial, probation and parole officers/agents work toward changing lives by working with offenders to help them find solutions to problems and to help them live a safe, healthy and productive life; and

WHEREAS, pretrial, probation and parole officers/agents are an essential part of the justice system and uphold the law with dignity, while recognizing the right of the public to be safe-guarded from criminal activity and protecting the victims of crime; and

WHEREAS, pretrial, probation and parole officers/agents work collaboratively with local law enforcement, treatment providers, social service agencies and a variety of other programs, groups and individuals involved with offenders; and

WHEREAS, "Pretrial, Probation and Parole Supervision Week" is a time to recognize and celebrate the dedicated and caring individuals in the community who work tirelessly to make neighborhoods safer and more vibrant places to live and raise families and work to give offenders a second chance and be productive members of society.

THEREFORE, I, Tom Corbett, Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, do hereby proclaim the week of July 13-19, 2014, as PRETRIAL, PROBATION AND PAROLE SUPERVISION WEEK in Pennsylvania and encourage all citizens to honor these probation, parole officers/agents and community corrections professionals to recognize their crucial roles in the criminal justice system and their achievements toward safer communities.

GIVEN under my hand and the Seal of the Governor, at the City of Harrisburg, on this seventeenth day of June in the Year of Our Lord two thousand and fourteen, and of the Commonwealth the two hundred and thirty-eighth.

TOM CORBETT

Governor

SOURCE Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole