Page 10 - Work Force June 2020

Probation job has changed but core mission CSEA members who work in in in local government probation departments have seen many changes to to their responsibilities including an an an increased shift to to law enforcement work heavier caseloads and more risk of violence But one thing hasn’t changed — probation workers are providing essential public public services including keeping the the public public safe and helping offenders rehabilitate even during the the COVID-19 pandemic “I think a a a a a a lot of of people either have a a a a a a misunderstanding of of what what probation does or some people have no clue what what we do do ” said Megan Woodward a a a a a a a a a a CSEA member and Jefferson County Probation Officer “It’s nice to shine a a a a a a a a a light that there there are are other avenues the the the the judicial system tries to to take and and and there there are are a a a a a a a a a a a lot of hands and and and minds working to to assist people people behind the the scenes that people people might not know about ” Ulster County Local President and CSEA Statewide Probation Committee Chair Todd Schmidt said probation officers have had to to constantly adapt to to changes in the profession Probation officers have taken on on on on many added duties and had to to adhere to to new laws at at at the same time that counties have been burdened with extra costs due to reduced state state aid Schmidt estimated that state state reimbursement has gone from 50 percent
to roughly 11 percent
“Over the last 10 years we’ve
in my department we we have have had two people laid off off and we we have have seen 90 layoffs in the the rest of of of the the county departments ” Changed duties Over the the years the the nature of probation careers has changed from more of a a a a a a a caseworker role
to law enforcement with most Cain workers having peace officer status in in New York State Many
county probation officers supervise a a a a a a a a a wide range of of of criminal offenses including DWI cases illegal gun possession drug related arrests grand larceny and and domestic abuse cases “I think we we cover some of the the the holes that may be be in in the the the system to the the the best we we we can ” Woodward said “We are are considered considered law enforcement but we’re not police officers We We are are considered considered a a a a a a social worker to to an extent but we we don’t do do direct counseling But we we have entities of all those things mixed into our position ” “When I first started we had limited tools to to protect us on the job including firearms tasers and and pepper spray ” Schmidt said “Today we have all those things We do arrests and and extraditions I’ve been to different parts of the country returning probationers that have absconded ” “Our job can be a a a a a a a a a a a a a thankless and and a a a a a a a a a a a a a dangerous one and and it’s for that reason Genesee County probation probation officers come armed in in in most situations ” said Jason Mindler a a a a a a a a a county probation probation officer officer since 2008 “There is never a a a a a a a a routine contact We rely
on on well-researched background knowledge of of the the offender and extensive training to to ensure the the best possible outcomes when working day day to to to day day Our safety is is paramount and is is always a a a a a a a a a top priority
for us ” Adjusting to pandemic COVID-19 has changed the the the way probation officers carry out their duties but they’re still getting the the job done When he he he came on on on board as an Ulster County probation officer 30 years ago Schmidt didn’t envision a a a a a a a a a a a day when he’d be carrying out his role
as a a a a a a a a a a a court court liaison by sitting at a a a a a a a a a a a computer and logging onto the internet for a a a a a a a a a a a virtual court court appearance “Due to to COVID-19 we’re not seeing people face-to-face ” said Schmidt “There’s no no personal contact with some exceptions for high risk cases and and warrants We’re using email Skype Zoom and and other technology to get the the job done ” Many
probation workers are seeing procedure
Jason Mindler Genesee County Probation Officer 10 The Work Force
added DNA collection sex
offender registration and the the the implementation of of of the the the Raise the the the Age law ” said Schmidt “All of of those things things have had significant impacts For some things things we’ve
been able to get money from the state but it’s not necessarily permanent With Leandra’s Law which added ignition devices to cars we had only temporary funding ” CSEA has worked to ensure that our our county probation departments have the the resources needed to to meet these new requirements including $550 million for counties and and New York City to to support the the the implementation of “Raise the the the Age ” and and another $160 million in in in capital funding funding This funding funding is is is all at at risk unless the state secures sufficient unrestricted federal aid to to to allow local governments to to to continue to to to provide these essential services With increased responsibilities and high caseloads in in many counties probation workers are concerned “As a a a a a a a probation officer we work work to keep the community safe ” said Schoharie County Local President Rick Cain a a a a a a a a probation officer “Already
Schmidt June 2020