For Immediate Release:
Jessica Morkert-Shibley
971-563-3735
PORTLAND, Ore. — This week is Pretrial, Probation and Parole Supervision Week. It’s a time to recognize the more than 500 employees in Multnomah County — and some 100,000 professionals across the country — who work to keep the community safe and change the trajectory for individuals whose lives intersect with the criminal justice system.
Those hundreds of employees make up the County’s Department of Community Justice — from parole and probation officers and juvenile court counselors, to corrections technicians and administrative staff.
They supervise more than 7,000 adults on parole, probation or post-prison supervision on any given day. They process roughly 29,000 cases through the County’s Recognizance Unit for defendants facing criminal charges in jail. They serve more than 700 youth and their families through informal or formal supervision and diversion programs. They work to connect people to programs and services such as counseling, treatment or transitional housing.
This work, all too often, flies under the radar. Take the County's Mental Health Unit. The 11-person team supervises roughly 400 people throughout the County who struggle with mental illness or disabilities. The team plays a critical role in community safety while also helping those on supervision meet their basic needs and build skills to avoid reentering the criminal justice system.
They are among the vital few who check in on these community members, some who may struggle with mental health or disabilities. They work to prevent isolation while ensuring that the conditions of court-ordered supervision are met.
Join the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners at the Multnomah Building on 501 S.E. Hawthorne Blvd. Portland on Thursday, July 25, at 9:30am to proclaim July 21 - 27, 2019, as Pretrial, Probation and Parole Supervision Week in Multnomah County. The county will celebrate the professionals who more than deserve the recognition. #PPPSWeek