ATTLEBORO DISTRICT PROBATION TO CELEBRATE RECERTIFICATION AT COURTHOUSE CEREMONY TODAY

The Attleboro District Court Probation Department recently earned its recertification, scoring a 92.9 percent, and will celebrate with a brief ceremony on Friday, at 2 p.m. at the courthouse located at 88 North Main Street.

The recertification process is designed to ensure that Probation Officers meet the standards of the Massachusetts Probation Service when supervising offenders in the community. The standards focus on accountability by probationers, public safety and rehabilitation among offenders. A probation department qualifies for recertification when it scores 85 percent or better. Attleboro District Court's recertification is effective through October 2007.

Presiding Justice Gregory L. Phillips will conduct the ceremony. During the ceremony, Second Deputy Commissioner Elizabeth Tavares will explain the recertification process. Massachusetts Commissioner of Probation John J. O'Brien will present a certificate to the probation department. Regional Supervisor Ellen Slaney will also attend the ceremony.

"We have a very dedicated and hardworking staff who do a tremendous job. Our department also has strong support for the work we do from Presiding Justice Gregory L. Phillips," said Chief Probation Officer Terrell J. Kiley.

The court has ranked among the top ten district courts throughout the state in the collection of fees and restitution, according to Kiley. In 2004, the probation department collected $1.7 million in fees, $241,000 was in restitution and $416,000 was in probation supervision fees.

"We have a great system of review and good enforcement. Our success in collecting money owed the court proves in a concrete way that we hold people accountable," he said. "The recertification of our court, however, also shows that we are enforcing conditions placed on probationers such as substance abuse counseling which aids in the rehabilitative process and addresses what may have led to the offender getting in trouble in the first place."

The Attleboro District Court monitors 1,500 probationers in the community. Kiley manages a staff of seven probation officers, three support staff employees and two associate probation officers.