MEDIA ADVISORY/PHOTO

(Photo, standing left to right: David Skocik, acting statewide supervisor of the Massachusetts Trial Court Community Service Program; Probation Commissioner John J. O’Brien; Judge Sydney Hanlon of the Boston Municipal Court-Dorchester Division; Judge Gregory L. Phillips of the Attleboro District Court; Liz Tavares, Second Deputy Probation Commissioner; and Stephen V. Price, Executive Director of the Office of Community Corrections)

          Two judges were presented with the first Kevin Duggan Community Service Award during a State House ceremony recently. The Duggan Award was named in honor of Kevin Duggan, former Statewide Supervisor of the Massachusetts Trial Court Community Service Program, who passed away in June 2006 at age 56.

          The honorees were Attleboro District Court Presiding Justice Gregory L. Phillips and Boston Municipal Court- Dorchester Division Presiding Justice Sydney Hanlon. The inaugural award was presented during the Fifth Annual Probation Employee Recognition Awards Ceremony where 21 employees of the Massachusetts Probation Service were also recognized for their hard work and dedication to the agency.

          “Both Judge Hanlon and Judge Phillips have a long history of support for the concept of community service and a deep appreciation of the real value that the program provides to the court and to the public,”; said Probation Commissioner John J. O’Brien.

          First Justice Hanlon said of receiving the award, “I am touched and honored to share the first Kevin Duggan Community Service Award. Having a community service opportunity for people on probation who are unable to pay fines and fees is extraordinarily important. It enables the court to hold people accountable in an appropriate way without imposing an unfair burden on poor people and their families. I am grateful to Probation for providing us with this opportunity and for their kindness to me.”;

          Attleboro District Court Presiding Justice Phillips said of the award, “To receive an award for contributing to the community is a great honor. I was raised with the concept of giving back. I have benefited so much from others who have given to me. I have such a great appreciation and admiration for Kevin Duggan. I worked very closely with him. Kevin Duggan gave so much of his life to others and contributed greatly to the community. It (award) is the greatest award I could receive.”;

          Duggan has been credited for building the program into one that has had a positive impact on communities throughout the Commonwealth. In the past year, offenders in the program logged in 371,192 hours of community service. Projects have ranged from roadside clean-up to assembling playgrounds to loading and stocking food at food pantries.