| National Probation, Parole, and Community Supervision Week July 18-24, 2010 |
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| Director Max Williams' Proclamation |
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July 18 – 24, 2010 is Probation, Parole, and Community Supervision Week – a time for the nation and Oregon to recognize the men and women who work each and every day to supervise offenders in our communities, but who also provide support mechanisms to assist the people they supervise to get housing, jobs and needed treatment. For well over 100 years, you and those before you have been a Force for Positive Change by helping offenders turn their lives around to become productive members of society, while simultaneously making them accountable for their behavior.
Everyone deserves a chance; a chance to work or go to school, a chance to be part of family, a chance to belong to the community, a chance to become a better person, a chance to help and be helped by others, a chance to accept responsibilities and be responsible, a chance to succeed, a chance to pursue happiness, a chance to hope. Offenders are no less deserving of such a chance and it is dedicated parole and probation officers who are making a difference to ensure every person is given the opportunity for a "Second Chance."
This week is a time to pause and thank you for the work you do and to reflect on the many contributions you make. You are problem solvers, crime prevention specialists, motivators, educators, facilitators and often times the only support system an offender may have. Each day you make a difference by supporting offenders in their efforts towards rebuilding and reshaping their lives. You assist them with resources that help them make better choices and become more productive, and each one of you brings your own special talents when working with offenders. You are also the key in the successful transition of offenders from prison to the community. You are dedicated, hard-working individuals who are truly concerned about making a difference in our communities and ensuring the highest level of public safety.
Your profession continues to maintain the highest standards and idealism while maintaining compassionate public service by respecting the dignity, cultural diversity and human rights of all persons. Every day you assist in providing valuable services to the people of Oregon, and yet, very rarely do you receive thanks for the risks you take, the dedication you give, and the work that you do. The challenges you face are tremendous, yet you continue to make a difference in the people’s lives, a difference in the safety of your communities, and a difference in Oregon.
It is with great pleasure that I thank you for the work that you do, the risks you take, and for the professionalism you display and uphold. Your work is diverse and rewarding; challenging and growth-producing, and the manner in which you meet your every day challenges is remarkable.
On behalf of the Oregon Department of Corrections, it is my great honor to acknowledge Oregon’s parole and probation officers for your dedication, devotion, and hard work.
Max Williams, Director
Oregon Department of Corrections
Governor Kulongoski's Proclamation
Support for a Second Chance APPA information
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