The Marion County Board of Commissioners have proclaimed July 12-18 as Parole and Probation Officer Week. Since 1841, the practice of probation and parole has played a vital role in our justice system. Nationally, there are over 8 million adults on some form of community supervision. As a state, we supervise over 32,000 persons, of which about 3,700 reside within Marion County and are supervised by the Parole & Probation Division of the Sheriff's Office. 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: Hold clients accountable, prevent criminal activity, and promote the reformative process. Simply put, community corrections professionals help create stronger and safer communities.
Over the last several years, the talented and dedicated 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 have fully implemented the Effective Practices in Community Supervision program (EPICS) model of supervision. Our Transitional Services Unit, a part of the greater Marion County Reentry Initiative (MCRI), has been nationally recognized. Our SB 416 program is being utilized statewide as a model prison diversion program, and our Jail Reentry Program has just completed its first year of programming. In early 2016, we are excited to receive additional legislative funding to expand our prison diversion programming through our Drug Endangered Children's Unit.
As a division, we strive for efficiency by focusing precious public resources towards our highest risk population and targeting specific risks that are linked to criminal behavior. Within any given day, any of our staff may help a client find a job, arrest an absconder, or make a referral to transitional housing or treatment to help overcome years of addiction. Our employees have a difficult and complicated job. They are trained to be part coach, mentor, counselor, problem solver, crime prevention specialist, motivator, educator, and police officer.
The citizens of Marion County can and should be proud of the service their parole and probation professionals provide. Year in and year out our staff provide sound cost-effective services and supervision practices which have been proven effective. The fruits of these efforts have culminated in a recidivism rate which has steadily been in decline since 2006. Although the term "recidivism" can sound overly simplistic, the collateral effects can be impressive: lower crime rates, obtaining viable employment, individuals overcoming years of addiction(s), families reuniting, and lowering the costs associated with prosecution and incarceration.
Over the last several years, the talented and dedicated 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 have fully implemented the Effective Practices in Community Supervision program (EPICS) model of supervision. Our Transitional Services Unit, a part of the greater Marion County Reentry Initiative (MCRI), has been nationally recognized. Our SB 416 program is being utilized statewide as a model prison diversion program, and our Jail Reentry Program has just completed its first year of programming. In early 2016, we are excited to receive additional legislative funding to expand our prison diversion programming through our Drug Endangered Children's Unit.
As a division, we strive for efficiency by focusing precious public resources towards our highest risk population and targeting specific risks that are linked to criminal behavior. Within any given day, any of our staff may help a client find a job, arrest an absconder, or make a referral to transitional housing or treatment to help overcome years of addiction. Our employees have a difficult and complicated job. They are trained to be part coach, mentor, counselor, problem solver, crime prevention specialist, motivator, educator, and police officer.
The citizens of Marion County can and should be proud of the service their parole and probation professionals provide. Year in and year out our staff provide sound cost-effective services and supervision practices which have been proven effective. The fruits of these efforts have culminated in a recidivism rate which has steadily been in decline since 2006. Although the term "recidivism" can sound overly simplistic, the collateral effects can be impressive: lower crime rates, obtaining viable employment, individuals overcoming years of addiction(s), families reuniting, and lowering the costs associated with prosecution and incarceration.