| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: |
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For More Information, Contact: |
| March 10 , 2005 |
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Coria Holland, Director of Communications |
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617-727-5300, ext. 258 |
PROBATION EMPLOYEE IS RECOGNIZED BY MASS. STATE POLICE
FOR ASSISTING TROOPERS WITH THE RETURN OF FUGITIVES TO THE COMMONWEALTH
Donna Reed, Interstate Compact Coordinator for the Office of the Commissioner of Probation, was recently honored by the Massachusetts State Police Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section for exemplary efforts in tracking down offenders who have left the state.
“She helps us get our mission accomplished. Donna is fantastic. She is like a bloodhound in tracking down offenders. With other places, it takes months. Whenever we call her and ask her to help us out, she calls us back the same day,” said Trooper David Skelly of the Massachusetts State Police’s Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section.
A 20-year Probation employee, Reed helps to locate fugitives, absconders and teenage runaways and arranges for their safe return to the Commonwealth. Reed collaborates with law enforcement agencies both locally and nationally to have offenders returned to the state, oftentimes working against the clock.
On a monthly basis, Reed assists in returning 35 to 50 adult obsconders to the Commonwealth. The adult probationers crimes range from domestic violence to sex offenses. Reed also coordinates the return of roughly 10 to 15 runaways, ages 12 to 16 years old each month.
“We have to move pretty quickly to get the offenders back to the state to bring them before a judge, or in the case of a runaway, we have to get them out of very dangerous situations,” Reed said. “In some instances, we have police departments and state troopers on stand-by to assist in the return of these individuals. Sometimes there are unexpected delays which cause problems. Overall, I like the challenge and being able to help people.”
The Massachusetts Probation Service is a department of the Massachusetts Trial Court. There are 12 Superior Court, 62 District Court, eight Boston Municipal Court, and 12 Probate and Family Court probation departments throughout the Commonwealth. Probation's Juvenile Court System includes 11 divisions which represent every county in the state. There are 21 Community Corrections Centers throughout the state.
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