WEST ROXBURY ASSISTANT CHIEF IS HONORED BY JUDGES
FOR HER WORK IN THE COMMUNITY

Left to right, are Boston Municipal Court (BMC) West Roxbury Division Associate Justice Mary Ann Driscoll, West Roxbury Assistant Chief Probation Officer Mary Tracey Walsh, and First Justice Kathleen Coffey.

Mary Tracey Walsh, Assistant Chief Probation Officer at Boston Municipal Court (BMC) – West Roxbury Division, was recently acknowledged for her work in the community with a plaque presented by First Justice Kathleen E. Coffey and Associate Justice Mary Ann Driscoll.

Walsh, a nine-year employee of the Massachusetts Probation Service, was recognized for her work with Re-Inventing Justice, a community-based project created by First Justice Coffey to make the BMC-West Roxbury more “accessible, accountable and responsive to the needs of the people it serves.” Walsh has also assisted in the coordination of the Straight Ahead Program and the annual Law Day festivities.

“Your steadfast devotion and tireless efforts on behalf of the West Roxbury Division of BMC, the Reinventing Justice Task Force and especially the Straight Ahead Program are greatly appreciated,” stated Judge Coffey.

Walsh said she felt “deeply honored” to be recognized for her contributions.

She has been an active participant in the Re-Inventing Justice Program since its inception in 1997. Walsh has served as a chairperson of the program’s “Best Practice Committee” which works to develop innovative approaches, ideas and practices to improve accessibility and accountability of the West Roxbury division of BMC. The goal of the Task Force is to “address and reduce the number of young people entering the criminal justice system.”

The Straight Ahead Program was designed for fifth and sixth graders. In this program – where good values are promoted – a Probation Officer and Police Officer interact with students. The children also learn ways to control anger, the consequences of making poor choices, and how to deal with peer pressure.