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- Probation Commissioner & Executive Leadership Team volunteer at Rosie's Place
- Autumn Letter from the Commissioner
- Probation and Massasoit Community College sign MOU for Future of Work Institute
- Commissioner Pamerson Ifill is a panelist at Boston College Law School Reentry symposium
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- MPS managers are coming to a court or CJSC near you
- Statewide Community Justice Support Center Open Houses
- Pretrial hosts MassHealth & Health Connector Enrollment Fairs
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Season of Gratitude
Probation Commissioner Pamerson Ifill and his Executive Leadership Team volunteer at Rosie's Place in Boston
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Probation Commissioner Pamerson Ifill and his Executive Leadership Team volunteered at Rosie's Place, a women's shelter in Boston, last week. Commissioner Ifill and his team helped prepare and serve food to more than 400 shelter guests. In the photo, from left to right are: Vincent Lorenti, Executive Director of the Office of Community Corrections (OCC); Michael Coelho, Deputy Commissioner of Programs; Yvonne Roland, Deputy Commissioner of Administrative Services; Brian Mirasolo, Deputy Commissioner-Field Services; Dr. Carmen Gomez, Deputy Commissioner-Pretrial Services; Dianne Fasano, First Deputy Commissioner; and Pamerson Ifill, Probation Commissioner. Tonie Ryan, Deputy Commissioner of the Legal Unit, is not in the photo. | |
Autumn Letter from the Commissioner: | |
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As we witness the multicolored hues of the descending Autumn leaves, it reminds me and members of the Executive Leadership Team of the great work and positive impact MPS has in the courts and community.
Autumn symbolizes change and the positive growth and accomplishments MPS has experienced, including a more than 40 percent reduction in probation violations, the establishment of programs and initiatives that benefit our clients such as free community college, MassHealth enrollment, and clients are now being given the opportunity to work with their Probation Officer to create their own probation conditions. The number of standard conditions have also been reduced.
MPS has hosted more than 100 community engagement events and statewide Community Justice Support Center Open Houses, and so much more. We celebrated the rich and diverse cultures of staff and the communities we serve during the 8th Annual Cultural Appreciation Week, October 21st-25th, which featured hundreds of fun, engaging, and informative events in courts and Support Centers throughout the state.
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A special congratulations to the Champions (Cultural Proficiency Champions) who put their hearts and souls into planning these amazing celebrations. Kudos to Dr. Carmen Gomez on her leadership in managing this statewide multi-site event. November kicks off charitable giving season with MPS leading the way in hosting food and supply drives as well as a sneaker and boot drive this year.
It is also the month we observed Veterans Day, Native American & Alaskan Native or Indigenous Heritage Month, National Adoption Month, and Thanksgiving/National Day of Mourning. November is also Hunger & Homeless Awareness Month.
For some people, this month also marks the season of gratitude. There are so many things to observe, celebrate, and acknowledge. However, we wanted to start and end this message by celebrating YOU, MPS colleagues, with a hearty thank you for all that you do to make this agency great as we pursue our mission of “protecting and building safer, healthier, and stronger communities.”
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MPS signs MOU with Massasoit Community College for the
Future for Work Institute which will provide education and job placement for the justice-involved as well as training for Probation employees
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Massasoit Community College Interim President Bill Mitchell and Probation Commissioner Pamerson Ifill chat after signing Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). Second photo, left to right: Interim President Mitchell, Commissioner Ifill, Dr. Carine Sauvignon, Massasoit Community College Associate Vice-President; and Undersecretary
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Commissioner Ifill and interim President Mitchell pose with MOU surrounded by Massachusetts Probation Service staff. In video, Commissioner Ifill speaks about the importance of education and how it will change the trajectory of justice-involved individuals. | |
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Probation Commissioner Pamerson Ifill and Massasoit Community College interim President Bill Mitchell signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the school's Future of Work Institute which will provide access to education, training, and job placement for probationers, justice-involved individuals, and returning citizens. The Instiute will also provide training for MPS employees. The MOU signing and an Open House were held at the school's Main Street site in Brockton on Thursday, November 14th. Click here to read about the Future of Work Institute.
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in photo, left to right: Andrew Peck, Undersecretary, Executive Office of Public Safety; Anthony Benedetti, panel moderator and Chief Counsel, Committee for Public Counsel Services; Brandy Fluker Oakley, Suffolk District-12 State Representative; Meghan Winston, Chief Parole Supervisor, Transitional Services, Massachusetts Parole Board; Pamerson Ifill, Massachusetts Commissioner of Probation; and Steven Tompkins, Suffolk County Sheriff. | |
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Commissioner Pamerson Ifill shares information about MPS at Boston Law School symposium
Commissioner Pamerson Ifill was one of six panelists at the Boston College Law School Reentry Symposium held on November 15th at the school's Rappaport Center for Law. Commissioner Ifill and the other panelists spoke about government resources and initiatives. Click here to read more.
MPS managers are coming to your court or Community Justice
Support Center
Beginning in January 2025, Massachusetts Probation Service managers will be coming to a courthouse or Community Justice Support Center (CJSC) near you. The managers will be spending time working alongside Probation staff to witness first-hand "the extraordinary work" being performed by MPS staff."
"Over the past 11 months, in my travels as Commissioner to more than 90 probation offices and Community Justice Support Center locations, and while out conducting home visits with probation officers, it became very clear that employees in our probation departments and CJSCs are performing extraordinary work in ways that change the lives and trajectories of many of the people we work with everyday," Commissioner Ifill said. "It is important as MPS executives and managers that we stay connected to the core business practices of our probation work, so that we can truly understand the successes, challenges, opportunities, and day-to-day concerns of our frontline employees."
In MPS Housing News
An $100,000 federal grant to provide additional housing for Fall River Drug Court participants has been awarded. This grant is supported by proceeds from the Opioid Settlement funds which is disbursed to cities and towns. The grant will be used for the Fall River TRAIL (Treatment Aimed at Independent Living) and MASH sober housing which will provide sober beds for 35 Fall River residents for 90 days as they transition through Recovery Court.
The grant was scheduled for ratification by the Fall River City Council, according to Deputy Commissioner Programs-Michael Coelho who acknowledges Fall River Chief Probation Officer Mark Costa, Specialty Court Coordinator Christine Lattouf, Grant Coordinator II Marisa Turillo, Assistant Chief Financial Officer-Grants Administration Jessica Fix, and Specialty Courts Director Sheila Casey for their assistance in applying for and securing the grant.
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Community Justice Support Centers host Open Houses
The Office of Community Corrections has hosted a series of Open Houses at the 18 Community Justice Support Centers across the state. There is only one more Open House left of the 18 held this fall and it is at the Plymouth County CJSC on November 20th at the Plymouth County CJSC.
The centers have been credited with reducing recidivism rates by up to 36 percent among the probationers who attend. The Open Houses were held to introduce prospective clients, the general public, community organizations, and the legal community to the many services, including access to healthcare,
the centers provide.
Pretrial Services launches MassHealth & Health Connector Enrollment Fairs across the state
The Pretrial Services Division of the Massachusetts Probation Service is hosting six statewide MassHealth and Health Connector Enrollment Fairs for probationers and court-involved individuals lacking health insurance.
The first event kicked off in Greenfield at the Greenfield Court Complex on November 1st. Five more enrollment fairs will be held through January 2025 at courts and Community Justice Support Centers in Newburyport, Boston, Worcester, Dartmouth, and Barnstable. Click here to view schedule.
MPS Working Group Update
The MPS Mentorship Working Group is one of several groups that have been organized to enhance the employee experience. MPS employees who are members of the agency’s Mentorship Working Group, comprised of 60 mentors and mentees, met this fall at the Massachusetts Probation Service Training and Operations Center (MTOC) during a “Meet & Greet.” The featured speaker was Janeen Smith Carnes, Director of Training and Capacity Building at the Mass Mentoring Partnership, who spoke about “Creating Meaningful Relationships at Work.” Trial Court Administrator Thomas Ambrosino, Probation Commissioner Pamerson Ifill, and Deputy Commissioner-Field Services Brian Mirasolo all addressed the mentors and mentees.
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Antonio Lima, Statewide Manager of Emerging Adults, and Tonie Ryan, Deputy Commissioner-Legal Unit | |
Mark Ellis, MPS investigator, and Kimberly D'Archangelo, Region 3 Supervisor | |
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Antonio Lima was appointed to the newly created position of Manager of Emerging Adults. Tonie Ryan, a former MPS Administrative Attorney, was named Deputy Commissioner of the Legal Unit. Mark Ellis is a new investigator in MPS' Investigative Unit. Kimberly D'Archangelo is the new Region 3 Supervisor. Click here to read about these MPS employees.
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Massasoit Community College honors
Probation Commissioner Pamerson Ifill
with planted tree and marker during special ceremony
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In photo, left to right: Dr. Carmen Gomez, Deputy Commissioner-Pretrial Services; Dianne Fasano, First Deputy Commissioner; Pamerson Ifill, Probation Commissioner; Brian Mirasolo, Deputy Commissioner-Field Services; Yvonne Roland, Deputy Commissioner-Administrative Services; and Michael Coelho, Deputy Commissioner-Programs. | |
Probation Commissioner Pamerson Ifill was honored with a planted tree and standing placque at Massasoit Community College. Commissioner Ifill graduated from Massasoit in 1989 prior to earning a bachelor's degree at Stonehill College and a master's degree in management of human services at Brandeis University. Commissioner Ifill was the chairperson and also served as a member of Massasoit's board of directors. The tree and marker are along a path that leads to the school's gymnasium and Field House. The inscription on the marker reads: "In Honor of Pamerson O. Ifill, A True Champion of Massasoit: Student, Graduate, Trustee." | |
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BMC-Central Chief Probation Officer John Turner
is honored with Gavin Foundation Award
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Boston Municipal Court (BMC) - Central Chief Probation Officer John Turner | |
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The Gavin Foundation honored John Turner, Chief Probation Officer at the Central Division of the Boston Municipal Court (BMC), with the James F. Gavin Award for his dedicated service to the community and individuals in recovery. Turner was presented with the award at the Gavin Foundation’s Gratitude Dinner held on October 24th at the IBEW Hall in Dorchester.
“I want to thank the Gavin Foundation for recognizing me with the James F. Gavin Award. I am truly honored. Because of the Gavin Foundation, many people succeed in their recovery journey," said Chief Turner. "This community-based organization is a tremendous asset to my department, the Central Division of the Boston Municipal Court Probation Department."
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He added, "Teamwork matters and it is great having the Gavin Foundation as our partner and a resource for the people we supervise in the community.”
The dinner was also an anniversary celebration for the Foundation’s houses: the Gavin House, Hamilton House, Charlestown Recovery House, Gavin Quincy House, and Eileen’s House. Established in 1963, the Gavin Foundation is a community-based organization, with locations in South Boston and Quincy, which provide “substance abuse education, prevention, and treatment programs,” according to its website.
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CHECK IT OUT:
**** Keep an eye out for MPS' new biweekly business newsletter,
"MPS' Tuesday Tips & Transmittals" also referred to as "MPS' Triple T" newsletter will feature important business
announcements, transmittals and tips.
MPS will also publish its Annual Report in the coming weeks.
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Champions Meeting and Recognition Ceremony
Mark your calendars Champions!
A meeting and Recognition Ceremony for the Cultural Proficiency Champions, also referred to as Champions, will take place on Friday, January 31, 2025. Please keep an eye out for more details and registration information.
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Do you have a story idea or news to share?
Contact Coria at Coria.Holland@jud.state.ma.us
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