Ayer District Court Chief Probation Officer Jim Kazeniac
Is Honored By His Peers With The Jim Minton Excellence Award

Featured in photo from left to right are Barnstable Superior Court Chief Probation Officer Joseph Hassett (wearing orange necktie) and Jim Minton Excellence Award recipient and Ayer District Court Chief Probation Officer H. James "Jim" Kazeniac (holding award).

Ayer District Court Chief Probation Officer H. James “Jim” Kazeniac, a 36-year probation employee, was recently honored with the 2008 Jim Minton Excellence Award at the Chief Probation Officer’s Association Annual Meeting at the Henderson House in Weston, Massachusetts.

The Jim Minton Award was established in the memory of the Brookline District Court Chief Probation Officer and long-time member of the Chief Probation Officers’ Association. The Award is presented each year by the Association to a “Chief Probation Officer whose leadership, dedication and contributions to the probation service have been an example to all and whose accomplishments are a credit to the Massachusetts Probation Service, ” according to Association President Rita McCarthy, Dedham District Court Chief Probation Officer.

Kazeniac has worked as a Chief Probation Officer at Ayer District Court for the past 38 years. He has also served as a probation officer and assistant chief probation officer. As a member of the Chief Probation Officers’ Association, Kazeniac has served as president and as an executive board member. He has also been an active member of the Community Supervision, Education, Media Relations, Professional Equity, and Legislation committees of the organization.

“Jim Kazeniac is a wonderful asset to the Chiefs’ Association and the Massachusetts Probation Service. His expertise in the field and his dedication are unparalleled,” said Joseph Hassett, Barnstable Superior Court Chief Probation Officer and Association Board member.

Kazeniac said of receiving the award, “Jim Minton was the consummate dedicated probation officer and a sincere and caring friend. I am truly grateful to receive an award named after Jim and I am honored to be put in the company of the two previous recipients of this award: Mike Walsh and Joe Hassett.”

Kazeniac began his tenure with the Massachusetts Probation Service in 1972. He holds a bachelor’s degree in History from St. Anslems College as a member of the class of 1969. Kazeniac also earned a master’s in Criminal Justice from Anna Maria College in Paxton. A resident of Westford, he is married to Pamela Kazeniac. They have two children.