The
Probation Department of the Hampden Division, Probate and Family
Court recently marked its recertification at the Hall of Justice
in Springfield. The recertification process, which is conducted
every three years, measures the effectiveness of probation officers
and their ability to monitor and maintain comprehensive records
on the county-wide caseload serviced by the department.
Recertification
is conducted by three regional supervisors who spend a day in
the court, auditing randomly selected files from each probation
officer’s caseload. Each probation officer is graded on case documentation
in various types of cases, such as custody investigations, dispute
intervention, Seek-Work assignments (a program of the Massachusetts
Probation Service and Department of Revenue which provides job
placement and training for uneducated or unemployed fathers ordered
to pay child support) , drug testing and other specific assignments
from court-related to domestic relations issues. The probation
officers of the Probate & Family Court have developed strong partnerships
with local social service and law enforcement agencies. One successful
example is the Children’s Law Project. Through the project, children
are represented by a group of attorneys to ensure that their voices
are heard in visitation and custody cases.
The
court gets recertified if it scores an 85 percent or better. The
Hampden Division Probation Department received a score of 97 percent.
The recertification is effective through June 2005.
“I
am very proud of our dedicated Probation staff. The public should
be very pleased about the inspired work these individuals do each
day as they assist families in crisis. I appreciate the recognition
the entire staff has received for their excellence. It is also
a tribute to the leadership of retired chief David Ricard and
acting chief Bette Babinski,” said Hampden Probate & Family Court
First Justice David G. Sacks.
“We
have a small, highly-trained, well-motivated and hard working
staff. A special mention must be given to the support staff for
their tremendous effort and dedication. This staff ranks at the
very top state-wide,” said Acting Chief Probation Officer Bette
Babinski.
Hampden
County Probate and Family Court’s Probation Department includes
Acting Chief Probation Officer Babinski, Assistant Chief Probation
Officer Katherine Spallino, seven probation officers, two associate
probation officers as well as support staff.
The
Massachusetts Probation Service is a department of the Massachusetts
Trial Court. There are 12 Probate and Family Court, 12 Superior
Court and 70 District Court probation offices statewide. The Office
of the Commissioner of Probation serves as the central administrative
office for the state Probation Service.
