Chief Justice Mulligan Names Dr. Ronald P. Corbett, Jr.
Commissioner of Probation for a Two-Year Term
Chief Justice for Administration & Management Robert A. Mulligan has appointed Ronald P. Corbett, Jr., Ed.D., to serve as the Commissioner of Probation on an acting basis for two years. Dr. Corbett, appointed on an interim basis in May, has instituted a range of management reforms to increase the accountability and transparency of the probation service.
“Ron Corbett brings a depth of knowledge on probation best practices along with strong management experience and extensive partnerships in the criminal justice community to strengthen probation at this challenging time,” said Chief Justice Mulligan. “Probation is a key public safety entity with a positive history in the judicial branch until recently. We are very fortunate to have a leader of this caliber who can work collaboratively with the executive branch and provide direction to the many hardworking probation officers across the state. Ron, who is widely respected, will issue regular reports on the many initiatives underway in probation.”
Chief Justice Mulligan highlighted the importance of establishing stability in the department in the short term given the recent turmoil. Under recently-enacted legislation the position of Commissioner of Probation now carries a five-year term. Chief Justice Mulligan expects to conduct a full search at a point that is appropriate for the organization.
Dr. Corbett said, “I welcome the opportunity to restore Probation to administrative excellence and credibility throughout the court system and in the eyes of the public. Going forward, we will focus on further strengthening several key areas. These include the need to establish a culture based on performance management with new metrics and full accountability; finish introduction of a new, validated risk/need classification instrument to form the foundation of our key supervisory practices; insure comprehensive and accurate data systems to enable accurate caseload reporting; continue to enhance relationships with our allied state agencies in the interests of an effective criminal justice system; and insure that all future hires are based on best personnel practices and reflect a commitment to a merit-based system.”
Dr. Corbett served as Deputy Commissioner of Probation from 1993 to 2000 when he was named Executive Director of the Supreme Judicial Court. He teaches criminal justice at the University of Massachusetts at Lowell.
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