The latest news for you

June/July 2023

Executive Team, left to right: first row: Yvonne Roland, Deputy Commissioner-Administrative Services; Acting Probation Commissioner Dianne Fasano; Nina Pomponio, General Counsel. Second row, left to right: Pamerson Ifill, Deputy Commissioner-Pretrial Services, Brian Mirasolo, Deputy Commissioner-Field Services; and Michael Coelho, Deputy Commissioner-Programs.

Dear MPS Colleagues:

As we celebrate our great nation's independence, I and members of the Executive Team would like to wish you and yours a happy and safe 4th of July holiday!

Sincerely,

Dianne Fasano,

Acting Probation Commissioner and the Executive Team

The Massachusetts Probation Service (MPS)

National Pretrial, Probation, and Parole

Supervision Week: July 16-22, 2023

The American Probation and Parole Association (APPA) has announced that July 16-22 is National Pretrial, Probation Supervision Week 2023 and this year’s theme is “Stronger Together.” Massachusetts Probation Service employees are among the more than 100,000 community corrections professionals across the country, according to APPA Executive Director Veronica Cunningham.

https://youtu.be/JcA5LTE71c8

The APPA will host its 48th Annual Training Institute August 27-30 in New York City. MPS, are you planning to celebrate Pretrial, Probation, and Parole Supervision Week, July 16-22, or are you involved with initiatives or collaborations that exemplify the theme: “Stronger Together”? Please share the details, photos, and videos with the Probation Update.

MPS hosts its first all-day Pride Month celebration

LGBTQiA+ trainers, left to right: Brenda Tirado, Julie Grady, Rosemary Sliwinski, Patrice O'Brien, Corinn Crowinshield, Graham Bengen, Kristin Scribner, Jeanne Govoni, Shelley Sturdivant, and Amy Kasprzyk. Second photo: Hampden Superior Probation Officer Carla Tucker Kynard checks out Pride Day table.

The Massachusetts Probation Service held its first day-long Pride Day celebration, “Celebrating Pride: An MPS Special Event,” on Friday at the Massachusetts Training and Operations Center (MTOC). The event featured a guest speaker who discussed life as a transgender woman. Attendees arrived to find a rainbow-themed balloon arch. During the training/celebration, they were introduced to a historical look at the LGBTQIA+ community, and a movie screening and guided discussion of PBS ’s documentary, “Stonewall Uprising: The Year That Changed America.”

Popcorn in rainbow bags for the screening were distributed. There was a review of world views on the LGBTQIA+ community. The event culminated with participants creating Celebrate Pride postcards with messages of support for local LGBTQIA+ youth and youth centers statewide that cater to LGBTQIA+ youth centers.

Probation Updates:

PROBATION: Fiscal Year 2024 Budget in Conference Committee

The Massachusetts Probation Service’s 2024 budget is in Conference Committee as MPS approaches the end of the fiscal year. MPS was allocated $181.7 in April when Governor Maura Healey released her first budget.

A Conference Committee is a temporary, ad hoc panel composed of House and Senate conferences formed to reconcile differences in legislation that has passed both chambers. In April, Massachusetts Court leaders testified before the joint Committee on Ways & Means for the Fiscal Year 2024 budget where they spoke about the Judiciary’s budget needs, requesting a maintenance budget of $868.7 million as well as an additional $7.6 million for access to justice initiatives.

Here is the link to the Governor’s FY 2024 budget for probation:

HOUSING UPDATE

Approximately 282 people were admitted into MPS’ transitional housing from July 1, 2022 to June 1, 2023, according to Jill Forbes, Statewide Manager of MPS’ Re-entry Services. The average first month census for all four sites—including Brooke House, McGrath House, New Bedford Reentry Center (NBRC) and Western Massachusetts Reentry Center-West Springfield (WMRC)—is 98, Ms. Forbes stated. The WMRC, a coed program, admitted 66 males and 10 females.

***Don't forget to submit your travel expenses by July 7th

The Fiscal Year ended July 1 and all travel vouchers must be submitted to the Fiscal Department by July 7th, according to Paul Bombara, MPS Manager of Business Operations.

You may e-mail your employees’ travel vouchers to [email protected] or mail them to OCP Payroll, 1 Ashburton Place – Room 405, Boston, MA 02108

New in TRAINING & Senior Staff Conference

Legal Office Hours: GPS – New Case Law Summary

MPS’ Legal Unit will be offering a new training, Legal Office Hours: GPS- New Case Law Summary, a two-hour virtual session where participants will be introduced to the best practices in GPS condition setting, how to use GPS as evidence, and how to best communicate to the court. This training will be offered Wednesday, August 2, 10 am to 12 pm.

Spring Session: MPS Senior Staff Conference held at MTOC

The MPS Senior Staff Conference was held on June 9th at MTOC. Guest speaker Dr. Giuseppe Raviola presented “Trauma Informed Supervision: Mental Health, Trauma and Psychological First Aid” which explored the workforce impact of mental health, trauma, and secondary trauma; and the relationship of trauma to racial disparities and the changing context of our understanding of trauma in the COVID and post-COVID era. Senior managers later participated in team discussions focused on modeling an integrated, trauma informed approach using key concepts from the morning session to engage and support staff conversations around mental health.

Cultural Appreciation Week 2023 theme is selected;

Milford District Court is named Signature Court

Reni Coletti, Milford District Court APO and Champion

The theme for the 2023 Cultural Appreciation Week celebration has been selected: "Community Is Unity: Together We Are One.”

This theme was created and submitted by Reni Coletti, Milford District Court Associate Probation Officer and Cultural Proficiency Champion.

Ms. Coletti's winning theme also won her court the opportunity to serve as a Signature Court event during Cultural Appreciation Week, October 16-20. A Signature Court site is one of 10 locations selected to be visited by court leaders and local dignitaries during Cultural Appreciation Week.

The other signature court sites for 2023 are Lawrence District, Gardner District, Palmer District, Quincy District, Brooke Courthouse, Suffolk Superior, Eastern Hampshire District, MTOC, and Lawrence Community Justice Support Center.

Worcester Community Justice Support Center honors clients at

Recognition Ceremony

Rudolpho, a former client, shares his story at the celebration.

Eleven clients of the Worcester Community Justice Support Center were recognized during a June 21 Recognition Ceremony at the Main Street site.

The center participants, who were acknowledged, were enrolled in treatment, education, career counseling, and case management at the Support Center which is operated by the Office of Community Corrections under contract with the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office. The Worcester ceremony was one of three celebrations that have been hosted by the Office of Community Corrections which celebrates the milestones and achievements of center participants. Celebrations were held in Fitchburg and Woburn. A ceremony is planned for the Pittsfield Center on July 14.

June is Juneteenth and Caribbean Heritage Month

This year marks the second anniversary of Juneteenth as a federal holiday. June is also National Caribbean Heritage Month. Juneteenth, June 19, commemorates the day in 1865 when news of the end of slavery reached Galveston, Texas. National Caribbean Heritage Month is the celebration of the legacy and essential contributions of Caribbean Americans in the US.