BOPP Honors Work of Probation & Parole Officers
NASHVILLE - National Probation, Parole and Community Corrections Officers’ Week is being celebrated across the nation July 18th through the 24th. The Tennessee Board of Probation and Parole (BOPP) is joining with other agencies here and across the country to honor the probation and parole officers who supervise offenders.
BOPP employs 760 probation and parole officers (PPOs) who supervise 63,870 cases, including 12,043 for parole and 51,827 for probation. Community correction officers in locally run agencies supervise an additional 7.254 cases involving offenders placed on alternative sentences by judges.
Board Chairman Charles Traughber said, "Our staff works to hold offenders accountable for their actions, while also using evidence based practices to address the root causes of crime, such as substance abuse, lack of job training and lack of education. Each day, the work of these officers makes Tennessee communities safer and leads us toward our goal of no more victims."
BOPP is working with the Department of Correction on a joint plan to reduce recidivism, increase offender accountability and improve outcomes by addressing offender issues through appropriate evaluation, referrals, treatment and programming. This plan was created from evidence-based practices that have been shown to be effective in other jurisdictions.
BOPP Executive Director Bo Irvin said, “Our officers are forces for positive change. They enforce conditions of supervision placed on offenders by our Board and the courts, refer offenders to providers for appropriate treatment services and work to motivate offenders in making choices that will help them lead successful, productive, law-abiding lives.”
Supervision done by PPOs in Tennessee may include home visits, drug testing, making sure offenders attend counseling sessions and guiding offenders toward job training and placement programs. PPOs also prepare reports for the courts and work with other criminal justice and social services agencies to promote safer communities.
For more information, contact Melissa McDonald at 615.532.8149.
The Board of Probation and Parole (www.tn.gov/bopp/) is an independent seven-member board whose members are appointed by the Governor. The Board is charged with the responsibility of deciding which eligible felony offenders will be granted parole and released from incarceration to community-based supervision. Along with the supervision of those granted parole, the Board is also responsible for supervising felony offenders who are placed on probation by criminal courts.