Page 11 - Work Force June 2020

remains
changes such as limiting in-person home visits web reporting programs that allow location detection via GPS staff rotating schedules to to alternate reporting to to the worksite and and working remotely and and using personal protective equipment Woodward said that in in in addition to these measures her her department is also relying more on on on phone interviews “There’s so so so much you can tell from a a a a a a person meeting with them them face-to-face it’s different talking to to to them them them over the the the the the phone ” she said “You really have to to rely
on on on asking them them the the the the the best questions for the the the the different scenarios and hoping that you you get the the answers you you need ” Cain said probation workers in in in Schoharie County are meeting people outside their homes or or in in in in in in in parking parking lots that allow social distancing
“Drug tests are happening in in in in in in in in the parking parking lot lot using a a a a a a a a a a porta-potty for urine samples ” Cain said However there are some cases in in in in which personal contact is unavoidable Probation officers worry about the the impact impact of of of its ongoing effects including the the fact that many offenders have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19 related closures layoffs and and furloughs ‘This pandemic has added many complications for probation officers to to continue to to effectively supervise ” said CSEA Capital Region President Ron
Briggs who serves as the officer liaison on on on on on our union’s Probation Committee “Many people on on on on on probation have lost their job which leaves a a a a a void of time that needs to to be filled not to to mention
the financial hardship Some
[offenders] may be be sheltering fin in in in in locations that aren’t in in in in their best interest Through it all officers stand ready to guide and and direct probationers so so they can be be productive members of society ” “We have have electronic
monitoring so we have have to to put ankle bracelets on on people for various crimes ” Nassau County Probation Officer Bryan White
said “We have people who are putting these anklets on on probationers and maintaining
those monitors which means
you are in very close physical
contact with the probationers The anklets are are sanitized once they are are taken off of of the person ” Susan Ploharczyk an an an an Orange County probation probation officer officer is is is shown on on on on on the the job in 2019 “Probation is is is important because there is is is a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a reason people offend As a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a probation probation officer officer I I can offer guidance and programs to to facilitate change in fin in in their behaviors ” ” she said “In addition we we hold them accountable for any financial obligations they owe to to victims victims in fin in in part making the the the the victims victims whole ” ” White
Pandemic’s impact impact on on offenders “People are drinking a a a a a lot more alcohol since the pandemic began so it’s difficult to to get probationers to to change that behavior ” White
said “People are also at at at home a a a a a a a a a a a a lot more with their spouses so so it it it increases the the the likelihood of of an altercation while under the the influence of of drugs or or alcohol That aspect has made our jobs more difficult ” Mindler said stressors like unemployment and boredom can push drug offenders to violate their their probation endangering their their safety and the the the the well-being of others “It’s reasonable to assume probationers are struggling and it’s going to be a a a a a a a difficult time for many ” he he said “Our jobs have certainly evolved over the past few years We are becoming more more visible in in in the community as more more more and more more offenders are being sentenced to community supervision instead of of incarceration ” Dedication stays strong
Even with many changes and an an an an unprecedented
pandemic probation workers are dedicated to helping offenders improve their lives “The first and and foremost thing is to to make positive change with individuals on on probation and and to to rehabilitate ” Schmidt said “That may mean drug and alcohol counseling mental health assistance or or job training As long as as people aren’t a a a a a a a a a a a a a public safety risk or or totally non-compliant with the the conditions set by the the the court our our goal is is to to help them make that positive change ” “When you have an an an an opportunity to really change change someone’s life for the the better an an an offender who is willing to put in in in as as much work as as we do then it’s all worth it it ” ” Mindler said “Our reward comes when we see the system work ” ” Woodward is also dedicated to steering offenders in in the right direction “We all went into this field as a a a a a a way to to to help people people and and and get people people to to to stand up for themselves and and and show they just because you you came from a a a a a a a a a a family with a a a a a a a a a a criminal influence you you don’t have to to follow that line ” she said “We do do our best to to show them what their true potential is and how how to meet it ” — Jessica Ladlee Ove Ove Overmyer Wendi Bowie Therese Assalian and Nicholas Newcomb
“When you have an opportunity to really change someone’s life for the better an an offender who is willing to put in in as as much work as as we do then it’s all worth it it Our reward comes when we see the system work ” June 2020
The Work Force
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