The March 2024 Community Engagement Special Edition

Welcome to the Massachusetts Probation Service’s Community Engagement Issue, a special edition of the MPS Update Newsletter. This March 2024 issue spotlights the work and community engagement efforts of MPS and its employees. The issue also features activities across the state, and in Berkshire, Bristol, Essex, Hampden, Plymouth, and Suffolk counties.

Probation in the Community: Supervision by the Numbers

Suffolk County Probation Officers Ellen Winfrey and Greg Lauranzano conduct a home visit in Revere recently. 

Community Home Visits

49,104

Probation Officers made 49,104 community visits to the homes of court-involved adults and juveniles during calendar year 2023, according to data provided by the Research Department in the Office of the Commissioner of Probation (OCP).



Probation Exam Registrations and Commissioner Court Visits

Probation Office Entrance Exam Registrations

634

Approximately 634 candidates registered to take the 2024 Probation Officer Entrance Exam

Probation Commissioner Pamerson Ifill's visits to courts

38

Probation Commissioner Pamerson Ifill has visited 38 of 105 courts since he was appointed 

commissioner in November 2023.

The Top Three Priorities of

Commissioner Pamerson Ifill and the Executive Team:

Probation Commissioner Pamerson Ifill and the Executive Team have set three top priorities for the Massachusetts Probation Service. Commissioner Ifill's goals are as follows:

• A comprehensive review of all MPS policies and procedures such as the Critical Incident Policy; ORAS Standards and Forms for the Risk/Need Classification System; and all local office policies.

• Building a strategy for community engagement which will include the allocation of funding for planning meetings as well as court and community-based events. 

• Improving employee morale and satisfaction featuring leadership development and training as well as working to enhance employee engagement and support across all roles and responsibilities. 



Commissioner Pamerson Ifill adds two members to his Executive Team

In the photo, left to right are Michael Coelho, Deputy Commissioner-Programs; Carmen Gomez, Deputy Commissioner-Pretrial Services; Vincent Lorenti, Executive Director of the Office of Community Corrections; Probation Commissioner Pamerson Ifill; Dianne Fasano, First Deputy Commissioner; Brian Mirasolo, Deputy Commissioner-Field Services; Nina Pomponio, General Counsel; and Yvonne Roland, Deputy Commissioner-Administrative Services

Commissioner Pamerson Ifill recently added two new members to his Executive Team. Vincent Lorenti has been appointed Executive Director of the Office of the Community Corrections and Dr. Carmen Gomez is the new Deputy Commissioner of Pretrial Services.

“Vincent Lorenti and Dr. Gomez both are both highly knowledgeable and deeply committed to the mission of the Massachusetts Probation Service which includes protecting and building safer, healthier, and stronger communities,” said Commissioner Ifill.

Mr. Lorenti, a 25-year employee of the Massachusetts Probation Service, was appointed executive director Prior to his recent appointment, he served as Director of OCC, a position he held for eight years. He first joined MPS as a student intern in 1996. As Executive Director, Mr. Lorenti will continue to lead the Office of Community Corrections which includes the oversight of the Massachusetts Community Service Program and the 18 statewide Community Justice Support Centers

Dr. Gomez, a 27-year MPS employee, was appointed Deputy Commissioner of Pretrial Services on March 4th. As the Deputy Commissioner of Pretrial Services, Dr. Gomez is responsible for the development and implementation of policies, procedures, programs, and the training of employees in the Pretrial Services Unit. Click here to read more about Dr. Gomez.

The Massachusetts Trial Court's Fourth Annual Women's History Month Awards Ceremony and Conference

Award-winning fiction writer Jennifer Deleon, whose books were featured in the New York Times and on the Today Show, will serve as the keynote speaker at the 4th Annual Massachusetts Trial Court Women’s History Month celebration on Wednesday, March 27th, 8:30 am to 3:30 pm. The day-long event will feature an awards ceremony where six trailblazing women and a community organization will be honored. The celebration will also include a first-time conference offered by the Massachusetts Trial Court Women's History Month Planning Committee. The awards ceremony and conference will take place at the Edward M. Kennedy Institute, 210 Morrissey Boulevard, in Boston on the campus of UMASS-Boston. 

The awards ceremony will be followed by a women’s empowerment conference. This year’s theme is “Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.”

Honorees include Ms. Deleon, Massachusetts Trial Court Chief Justice Heidi Brieger, State Representative Chynah Tyler (7th Suffolk), Fitchburg District Court Probation Officer Diamily Titus, Chelsea Superintendent of Schools Almi Guarjardo Abeyta, Commissioner of the Department of Corrections Carol Mici, and Rosie’s Place. The celebration, free and open to the public, will also include lunch and a free book-give-away of Ms. Deleon’s book: “Don’t Ask Me Where I’m From,” which tells the story of a 15-year-old girl who struggles to fit into her high school as a student in the METCO (Metropolitan Council for Educational Opportunity) program.

Last year’s celebration featured keynote speaker Gloria Steinem, renowned journalist and women’s rights activist. The Trial Court Women’s History Committee who planned this event include: Amy Nechtem, Juvenile Court Chief Justice; Dr. Carmen Gomez, Deputy Commissioner of Pretrial Services in the Massachusetts Probation Service (MPS); Jennifer Brady, Hingham District Court Chief Probation Officer; Jessica Roman Alvarez, Project Coordinator, Office of the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in the Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion; and Martha Soto, Regional Coordinator of Interpreter Services, Office of Language Access; and Coria Holland, MPS Communications Director and Spokesperson.

MPS branded t-shirts and jackets are now available

Commissioner Pamerson Ifill and the Executive Team listened to the feedback MPS employees provided during the virtual Conversation with the Commissioner event in January and are now providing MPS branded t-shirts and jackets to staff. The t-shirts are made from a 50/50 blend of polyester and sustainably grown cotton. The jackets have hoods and are water-resistant. If you would like to order a t-shirt and jacket, please place your order before March 29, 2024. Only one t-shirt and one jacket will be provided to each MPS employee.

Connecting with affiliate Criminal Justice Agencies

Brockton District Court Probation and Plymouth DA compete in friendly Family Feud game

Top photo: Probation Officer Stefanie Fasoli is holding a white card. Kevin Depina of the DA's office. The contestants standing at the buzzer are Susan Dermody-Cohen and Gabi Miranda.

The Brockton District Court Probation Department competed against the Plymouth County District Attorney's Office in a Family Feud game modeled after the popular game show, hosted by comedian Steve Harvey. The TV game show features two families who compete in naming the most popular answers to survey questions. Brockton Probation staff were the winners of the first two rounds with the Plymouth DA's Office winning the final round.

Brockton Probation staff and Plymouth DA employees enjoyed the friendly and competitive game which took place after work at an establishment across the street from the court. Brockton District Chief Probation Officer Michael Branch said the after-work gathering is a great way to develop comradery between the two departments and strengthen their professional relationships. This is the second time Brockton Probation and the Plymouth DA’s Office have come together. They also enjoyed a game of kickball last summer and are in the process of planning future events.

“As many people know, I am a football coach in the community and part of my approach at Brockton District Court is to promote teamwork. We spend more time at work than we do at home with our families. A positive work environment is so important and connecting with our colleagues in criminal justice is key. We are all working together towards the same mission which is to help our clients and make our communities healthier and stronger,” said Chief Branch. Click on Family Feud to read more.



In the Community with MPS

There are two community engagement activities taking place in the Massachusetts Probation Service that will benefit those who would otherwise be incarcerated and another separate project that will provide juveniles and their families with a listing of community resources and help create connections with local community organizations.

The Haverhill Community Justice Support Center Grand Opening

The Haverhill Community Justice Support Center, one of 18 Support Centers across the state, will host a Grand Opening on March 29th at noon. The 6,500 square-foot space houses three large classrooms, a computer lab, break room, and “a large welcoming lobby area,” according to Yardley Theolien, Regional Manager at the Office of Community Corrections which manages the Support Centers across the state.

The new Haverhill center is located at 200 Main Street. The building where the center is located is the former site of a behavioral health clinic operated by Lahey Health. The center is accessible by bus and is located within walking distance of the court and in close proximity to a number of community resources such as Arbour Counseling, the Salvation Army, the Social Security Administration office, the Haverhill YMCA, and the Veterans Northeast Outreach Center.

Hampden Juvenile Probation Officer II is creating Community Resource Guide for children and families in Western Massachusetts

Hampden Juvenile Probation Officer II Raquel Cabrera is creating a Children and Family Resource Guide to provide a listing of important programs and resources in the Springfield and Greater Springfield communities. 

Ms. Cabrera decided to create the resource guide after she began working in the Springfield office a year ago. She previously worked at the Chicopee Juvenile Court office where she designed a similar document. Ms. Cabrera was also involved with the Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI) which is a “network of juvenile justice practitioners and other system stakeholders across the country working to build a better and more equitable youth justice system,” according to the JDAI website. When she moved to the Springfield office, Ms. Cabrera discovered a need for a directory or listing to help clients find and use the many community resources offered in the city. 

"I am creating this Community Guide to help children and families find valuable resources. This Resource Guide also helps us, the Massachusetts Probation Service, and the courts, to connect and collaborate with local community organizations in western Massachusetts.”

Do you have a story idea or news to share?



Contact Coria at Coria.Holland@jud.state.ma.us

or by text: 617-429-5629