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Press Release - September 22, 2003
Office of the Commissioner of Probation
| FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE: |
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For
More Information, Contact: |
| September 22, 2003 |
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Coria
Holland, Director of Communications |
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617-727-5335,
ext. 258 |
PROBATIONERS
PERFORM COMMUNITY SERVICE WORK
AT
SANCTUARY FOR ABUSED AND NEGLECTED ANIMALS
A
group of eight to ten offenders, participants in the Trial
Court Community Service Program, help maintain the grounds
of a Norton refuge for abandoned, abused and neglected animals.
Every other week,
the men clean up stalls and barns, install fencing, build pens for animals and
do landscaping at Winslow Farm Animal Awareness, Inc. The offenders - who are
clients at the Norfolk County Community Service Program - also cut and stack
wood, lay water pipe lines, and do mulching.
Winslow Farm is a
3.2 acre sanctuary where more than 200 farm animals live.
"The
work our offenders do at Winslow Farm is just one of the many projects that are
underway throughout the state. Each month, we complete 24,000 hours of community
service throughout the Commonwealth. The work our offenders do is oftentimes
work that would go unfinished or undone. The offenders give back to the community
through this work while learning a lesson in positive productivity," said Kevin
Duggan, Statewide Supervisor for the Trial Court Community Service Program.
"Everything
goes along very smoothly. It's been nothing but a win-win situation. It helps
us. It helps them. I have hired a few people as laborers on the farm after they
have completed their probation," said Debbie White, owner and operator of the
farm. "If it weren't for Community Service, I would be behind on fencing and
landscaping. They're a Godsend. Community Service is very well organized and
very well managed."
The
sanctuary is open to the public year-round. There is a petting farm and numerous
animal-oriented events that take place at the site such as pony rides, educational
tours, and nature hikes.
The
Trial Court Community Service Program is a division of the Office of Community
Corrections. The Office of the Commissioner of Probation (OCP) serves as the
central administrative office for the Office of Community Corrections which operates
21 Community Corrections Centers throughout the state.
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