News Release
Monday, July 18, 2022
Contact: Jessica Morkert-Shibley, 971-563-3735
Find b-roll and photos below.
Multnomah County’s Department of Community Justice celebrates Pretrial, Probation and Parole Supervision Week, July 17-23, 2022
PORTLAND — Multnomah County’s Department of Community Justice this week will join thousands of professionals, across the country and in Canada, in celebrating Pretrial, Probation, and Parole Supervision Week (PPPS Week).
The annual celebration salutes and honors the invaluable efforts of more than 100,000 people who work to protect public safety while helping people, families and communities thrive and achieve a vision of “Community Safety through Positive Change.”
At the Department of Community Justice, that includes more than 500 professionals – including probation and parole officers, juvenile court counselors, juvenile custody services specialists, corrections counselors, administrative staff, employment coordinators, victims advocates, community health specialists, program specialists, nutrition staff and many others who dedicate their lives to crucial work.
This year’s theme, “Restoring Trust, Creating Hope,” recognizes that their services are needed more than ever as the County and communities across the country continue to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, while still facing the challenges of substance abuse, behavioral health, racism and community violence.
“We are still in the midst of unprecedented times and are still recalibrating due to the devastating impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Erika Preuitt, director of the Department of Community Justice. “Despite these challenges, our dedicated professionals show up for those they serve, for our community and for each other.”
Professionals with the Department of Community Justice work alongside dedicated community-based partners and other organizations that provide prevention, intervention and restorative efforts for adults, youth and their families. They also work alongside law enforcement partners on critical missions, seizing illegal guns and drugs.
Over the years, the work has evolved to meet the community’s changing needs. This includes incorporating community health specialists into parole and probation services. These specialists provide extra support to help those struggling with substance abuse orders and other challenges with treatment; or work with people on safety plans, medical appointments, or basic needs like food and diapers.
“This is multifaceted work that may take many forms,” said Denise Peña, deputy director of the Department of Community Justice. “We are continually working to keep the community safe, and we’re committed to community-centered, trauma-informed investments and transformative work, alongside all of our system partners, to help our community thrive.”
On Thursday, July 21, the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners will proclaim July 17 through July 23, 2022, as Pretrial, Probation and Parole Supervision Week. The board meeting begins at 9:30 a.m. and can be livestreamed on the Board’s YouTube channel. The proclamation is the first item on the agenda. Find more details here.
- Find video of Operation Safer Multnomah, a partnership between US Marshalls, Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office, Multnomah County’s Department of Community Justice and more.
- Find b-roll of parole and probation and community health specialists in the field here.
- Find photos of Multnomah County’s Department of Community Justice’s Mental Health Unit here.
- Read more on the major renovation underway to create a more trauma-informed detention facility.