Texas Probation Association News

NEWS
General News
Corrections department raises $6,000 for crime victims
News From the Field
Management Training-"Performance Management: Building Leaders from Within"
TPA Board Meeting
Plumlee Named Probation Executive of the Year Award
Wielkopolska Probation Officer’s Association

Board Minutes
February Board of Directors Minutes
August 2007 Business Meeting Minutes
Minutes from the June Board of Directors Meeting

Job Opportunities
Tarrant County Seeking Supervision Officers
Coordinator of Program Services Postion, El Paso, TX
Harris County Executive Director Position Available

Corrections department raises $6,000 for crime victims

The Community Supervision and Corrections Department of Taylor, Callahan and Coleman Counties, formerly Adult Probation, cleared $6,000 at its Third Annual Charity Golf Tournament at Dyess Air Force Base in April. Mike Wolfe, CSCD director, presented a check for that amount to Debra McCracken, president of the board of directors of Regional Crime Victim Crisis Center at the June board meeting. Wolfe is also a member of the RCVCC board of directors.

Wolfe said the CSCD organized the event as a way to give back to the community. “For those of us who work with offenders,” Wolfe said, “Raising money to help victims seems like the right thing to do.”

The golf tournament was held at Mesquite Grove Golf Course at Dyess. Local businesses andindividuals sponsored the event with teams of golfers competing for prizes.

RCVCC assists victims of violent crime in Taylor, Callahan, Coleman, Jones, Shackelford and Haskell Counties, as well as surrounding counties when requested. RCVCC provides services to nearly 1200 adult and child victims of violent crimes, including sexual violence, in this region each year. RCVCC also provides prevention education in classrooms and community groups.

Tarrant County seeking Supervision Officers

Attention TPA Members:

The Community Supervision and Corrections Department of Tarrant County (Fort Worth) is actively seeking applicants for supervision officer positions. Our county is a fast-growing and dynamic place to live, and our department is progressive and innovative. Experience within the field of community corrections is not necessary; we're looking for enthusiastic and positive people who want to make a difference. We accept applications in person, via the internet, and by fax. You can see the job requirements and salary info at this web site:

http://www.tarrantcounty.com/ehr/cwp/view.asp?a=742&Q=467890

You can also call our HR department at 817-884-3307

Management Training- "Performance Management: Building Leaders from Within"

New training opportunity is available on October 16-17th from 8:30-5:00 p.m., Click here for more information.

Coordinator of Program Services Position Available

The West Texas Community Supervision and Corrections Department is seeking a Coordinator of Program Services for their office in El Paso, TX, click here for more information.

February 2008 Board Meeting Minutes

Click to view the board meeting minutes here.

August 2007 Business Meeting Minutes

Click to view the meeting minutes here.

Harris County Executive Director Position

One of the nation’s largest Juvenile Probation Departments is seeking an experienced, professional with a proven management background in the field of Juvenile Justice, to fill its top administrative position.

Responsibilities: It is the responsibility of the Executive Director to develop and administer policies that will ensure the smooth operation of the Juvenile Probation Department, as well as compliance with State laws. The Executive Director is responsible for managing a staff of approximately 1400 employees; supervision of about 5600 probationers monthly; overseeing the operation of six (6) juvenile detention facilities; and managing a budget of $95,000,000.00. The Executive Director is under the supervision of the Harris County Juvenile Board.

Minimal Qualifications: Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Public Administration, Social/Behavioral Science or related field, from an accredited university required, plus twenty (20) years of full time paid experience in the Juvenile Justice field or juvenile related agencies. Additionally, ten (10) years (of the twenty) must demonstrate progressive management experience including supervising/directing programs, services and staff management.
A Master, PhD, or JD degree from an accredited university in any of the above mentioned disciplines is preferred.
All candidates must be certified by the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission as a Probation Officer and reside in Harris County.

Salary: $145,202.00 Includes a generous benefit package.

To Apply: Submit a letter of application with complete resume including specific data regarding education, positions held, leadership roles, salary history, to:
Administrative Offices of the District Courts, 1201 Franklin, 7th Floor, Houston, Texas 77002. Resumes may be sent vie e-mail to: juvenileprobationdirector@justex.net

Closing: Resume/Application must be received on or before July 15, 2008.
Equal Opportunity Employer

News from the Field

San Marcos Honors Staff

Marco Rangel, Community Supervision Officer (CSO) with the Hays County Community Supervision & Corrections Department (CSCD) received an award for 10-years of dedicated service; Vickie Simpson received the Community Service Restitution (CSR) Agency-of-the-Year Honor representing the Kyle Housing Authority; Traci M. Lane, CSO received an award for 10-years of dedicated service; Lynda McCarty-Turley, Hays County CSCD Division Director received an award for 30-years of dedicated service; George E. Hernandez, Director/Chief Probation Officer presented the honors; Lorry Hebert-Brown, Senior Officer received an award for 20-years of dedicated service; and Kimberly Hitch, CSO received an award for 5-years of dedicated service.

Lynda McCarty-Turley is only the fourth employee in 38 years of agency history to have distinguished herself by serving this department for 30 years. As division director, Turley supervises 32 employees with a caseload of over 4,000 offenders.
The Caldwell, Comal, & Hays County CSCD established an agency honor roll for CSR agencies who meet one of two criteria: have received an agency-of-the-year honor in the past and/or participated in this department’s CSR program for 10 or more years. In addition to the Kyle Housing Authority, 35 other organizations in Hays County were inducted into this honor roll. Other inductees include the Hays-Caldwell Council on Alcohol & Drug Abuse, Goodwill Industries, San Marcos High School Baseball Boosters, San Marcos Public Library, San Marcos Animal Shelter, Hays County Food Bank, PAWS, Wimberley Chamber of Commerce, and numerous others.

New Officers Hired in Walker County

The 12th and 278th Judicial District CSCD has added three new officers to its staff.

Rebecca Dela Rosa graduated from Sam Houston State University with a BA in Criminal Justice and minor in Spanish and Psychology in December 2006. Previously, she worked as a bank teller, sales representative for Palais Royal, and a cashier at H.E. B. She was born and raised in La Grange, Texas. She will be assuming a misdemeanor caseload after working several months on an indirect caseload.

Danielle Bean graduated with a criminal justice degree in May 2002 from Sonoma State University in Rohnert Park, CA. Shortly thereafter, she moved to Texas in August 2002. She worked at the Montgomery County CSCD from July 07 to January 2008 in the indirect unit. She also has experience working with at risk and abandoned youth in a residential shelter and in property management. She will take over the caseload previously supervised by Ms. Dela Rosa.

Erica Bramlett has a Bachelor of Science Double Major Degree in Criminal Justice and Political Science from Sam Houston State University. During college, she was employed part-time employee at Walker County District Attorney’s Office and the University Police Department as a student assistant.

DEAR Recovery Center

On January 15, 2008, D.E.A.R. Recovery Center opened its doors under the management of Gregg County CSCD. Guests were welcomed by Gregg County CSCD Chief Quin Tillery, Assistant Chief Melinda McJimsey and Facility Director Peter Weiss. The March 18th open house provided guests an
opportunity to tour the facility and hear four residents discuss the impact D.E.A.R. has had on their lives as well as the lives of their families. The fifty-six (56) bed facility, located at 523 S. Sun Camp Road, White Oak, TX, 75693, is the only all-male inpatient treatment program in East Texas.

Community Healthcore provides Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselors along with a counselor intern, a Licensed Vocation Nurse and a number of service assistants. A Gregg County community supervision officer is also assigned to the facility. A cognitive, evidenced base program and team treatment meetings are utilized. Residents may stay for up to two years if necessary although the program is intended to be completed within nine months. Please contact Melinda McJimsey or Melissa Scudder at (903) 759-5615 for admission packets.

Bowie/Red River Women’s Recovery

After more than four months of renovations, the Bowie/Red River Women’s Recovery Center celebrated an open house with support from more than 200 dignitaries and guests on March 19th. Bowie County CSCD Chief Jack Pappas, Assistant Chief Terri Giles and Facility Director Bob Long along with Facility and CSCD staff greeted guests and provided tours. Lunch was provided under the direction of Chief Judge John F. Miller Jr. This is the first substance abuse treatment facility in East Texas dedicated fully to women. Located in Texarkana at 141 Plaza West, off U.S. Highway 67, the facility is designed to accommodate one hundred (100) women. Rebecca Epperson, Residential Supervision Officer, can be contacted at 903-832-2100 extension 232 for placement information.
All programs are cognitive, evidenced based and counselors along with staff are trained in Motivational Interviewing techniques. Services are provided by: Licensed Professional Counselors, Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselors (LCDC) and LCDC Interns. Texas A&M University at Texarkana and Texarkana College provide practicum counseling and criminal justice interns. Registered nurses working toward Bachelor of Science Nursing also provide intern hours. The facility has a fulltime registered nurse and mental health services are provided with Community Healthcore. The program is designed to be completed within nine months. Team treatment meetings will be scheduled with referring counties prior to discharge and aftercare plans will include drug court participation when applicable.

Plumlee Named Probation Executive of the Year Award

Philadelphia (July 8, 2007) – The Sam Houston State University Probation Executive of the Year Award, the oldest and highest honor bestowed by the National Association of Probation Executives, was presented to Tom Plumlee, Director of the Tarrant County Community Supervision and Corrections Department in Fort Worth, Texas, one of the largest probation departments in the state.

The presentation took place on Sunday, July 8, 2007, during the annual awards breakfast of the Association held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In presenting the award to Mr. Plumlee, NAPE President Rocco A. Pozzi, Commissioner of Corrections and Probation for Westchester County, New York, made the following remarks:

During his distinguished career, Tom Plumlee has headed two adult probation departments in Texas – the Judicial District Community Supervision and Corrections Department for Potter, Randall, and Armstrong Counties from 1986 to 2001, and the Tarrant County Community Supervision and Corrections Department from 2001 to the present. In both departments, Tom provided leadership, good stewardship, innovation, and a clear and constant vision. Both departments are in far superior condition than when he assumed responsibility for them.
In addition to his duties within his agency, Tom has devoted his time and talents to a number of initiatives to improve the delivery of services in the community corrections profession, not only in Texas but nationally. He has served as: Co-Chair, Texas Department of Criminal Justice Technology Committee; Co-Chair, American Probation and Parole Association Technology Committee; Chair of the Texas Probation Association Adult Legislative Committee for two legislative sessions; Facilitator of the Absconder Apprehension Forum convened by the Correctional Management Institute of Texas; and as a member of the National Institute of Justice Community Corrections Technology Working Group.

More significantly, he serves as Chair of the Probation Advisory Committee to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. In this capacity, Tom has had a significant impact on the delivery of probation services in Texas. Under his leadership, adult probation in Texas has embarked on a strategic planning process that may well serve as a blueprint for the future of the profession.

Tom, a graduate of Sam Houston State University, is a probation leader who has made significant contributions to the probation profession. He has been a mentor to many, and several of his employees have gone on to become probation directors.

It is my pleasure to present this very deserving award to Tom Plumlee.
Previous distinguished recipients of this prestigious award include Barry Nidorf (California), Don R. Stiles (Texas), Donald Cochran (Massachusetts), Cecil Steppe (California), Don Hogner (California), T. Vincent Fallin (Georgia), M. Tamara Holden (Oregon), Richard A. Kipp (Pennsylvania), Ronald P. Corbett, Jr. (Massachusetts), Richard E. Wyett (Nevada), Rocco A. Pozzi (New York), Ron R. Goethals (Texas), Cheryln K. Townsend (Arizona), E. Robert Czaplicki (New York), Robert L. Bingham (Indiana), Gerald R. Hinzman (Iowa), James R. Grundel (Illinois), and Joanne Fuller (Oregon).

BETO
P. O. Box 3993
Bryan, Texas 77805
(979) 822-1273

Minutes from the June Board of Directors Meeting

Click Here to View Minutes

Wielkopolska Probation Officer’s Association

The Wielkopolska Probation Officer’s Association (WPOA) is a professional organization for both juvenile and adult probation officers assigned to the Wielkopolska region in Poland. The Wielkopolska region is located in the West Central part of Poland and its principle cities are Pila and Poznan. The WPOA was founded on September 6, 1999 and is dedicated to improving the delivery of probation services in Poland, enhancing the professional development of its members, and establishing international relations with probation organizations in other countries.

As part of its mission, the WPOA entered into a mutual cooperation agreement with the Texas Probation Association (TPA) on September 30, 2005. This agreement encouraged contacts between the members of the WPOA and TPA, the exchange of information regarding probation practices and working methods in each jurisdiction, the identification of common issues and concerns facing probation in both places, and the promotion of community supervision as a viable and effective alternative to incarceration in both Texas and Poland.

In furtherance of this agreement the WPOA and TPA have undertaken several initiatives. Moreover both the WPOA and TPA plan to continue to strengthen and improve joint endeavors between the two organizations. In order to facilitate these efforts, WPOA and TPA will periodically post information on each organization’s website. Here is the link to the website for the WPOA: http://www.kurator.org.pl/ While most of the information contained on this website is in Polish, certain documents and articles are in English. We encourage of members of TPA to regularly check this website for information regarding our joint undertakings with the WPOA.