Chelsea District Court Probation Officer is Honored
for Work With Immigrant Population

Chelsea District Court Probation Officer Olga Lattarulo and William Keaney, Director of the Education Field Office at Boston College's Graduate School of Social Work.

Chelsea District Court Probation Officer Olga Lattarulo, a tireless advocate for newly-arrived immigrants, received the 2008 John Dinneen, S.J. Hispanic Alumni Community Service Award at a recent ceremony held at Boston College.

The award is presented each year by the Hispanic Alumni Association of Boston College. Lattarulo, a native of Peru, earned a master’s degree in Social Work from Boston College in 1995. The BC master’s degree is her second. Lattaurlo also received bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Universidad San Martin de Porres in Lima, Peru.

“We believe that you exemplify what this recognition attempts to highlight. Your long-time commitment to advocating for a population who oftentimes does not have a voice merits our recognition of your effort as a Boston College Alumni,” stated BC Hispanic Alumni Committee Co-Chairmen Vicky Barges and Eric Liriano who informed Lattarulo of her award.

Lattarulo, who is fluent in at least seven languages, is a 13-year employee of the Massachusetts Probation Service. The award is one of numerous recognitions she has received for her work over the years. She has been the recipient of awards from the Peruvian Congress and the Peruvian Ambassador to America and Boston Mayor Thomas Menino for her work in the Peruvian community of Greater Boston. In 2006, she received an Honorary Doctorate degree from the Association Universida Privada San Juan Bautista in Lima, Peru.

“I am very honored to receive this award. I would advise everyone to work in the community after they graduate,” said Lattarulo. “I am very, very happy to work as a volunteer in the community. Volunteering makes you feel useful.”

Describing her work as a Probation Officer, Lattarulo said, “We are not only law enforcement officers, we are social workers and surrogate parents.”

Lattarulo said she likes to encourage the people she works with in the immigrant communities of Chelsea, Everett, and Revere to become fluent in English, understand American culture, and to familiarize themselves with the law.

“When I say fluent, I mean they have to learn to read, write and speak the language. If you speak the language, it puts you in a better position,” Lattarulo commented. “Sometimes it is not enough to speak the language but to have an understanding of the culture.”

Lattarulo said she believes that many immigrants do not break the law intentionally.

“If they understood the law, they would not break it. Communication and education are the key.”

Lattarulo is fluent in Spanish, Portuguese, French, German, Italian, English, and American Sign Language. Her outgoing message on her work phone in the Chelsea Probation Department greets callers in most of these languages.

“Language is my passion. Speaking different languages come naturally,” she said.

Prior to becoming a Probation Officer, Lattarulo worked for the Salvation Army. An author of several books and host of a cable advocacy show geared at new Americans, Lattarulo was a broadcast journalist in Peru.