Hampden Juvenile Probation Partners With Springfield Police's
Youth Aid Bureau To Curb Gang Activity And Make Schools Safe

The Hampden County Juvenile Probation Department has joined with the Springfield Police Department's Youth Aid Bureau to form a Warrant Apprehension Team which targets juvenile offenders, many with gang ties, who have outstanding warrants.

Team members are going into the schools this fall to monitor offenders and to help stem violence. The group is also participating in unannounced warrant sweeps to apprehend offenders who have not abided by the terms of their probation and for failing to appear for scheduled court appearances.

Hampden Juvenile Chief Probation Officer Thomas Ginley said the team was formed last spring in response to the rise in violent crime among juveniles. There have been 11 shootings, including the shooting deaths of twin brothers.

"Springfield is a poor city and we have a lot of challenges. It is critically important that Probation and the Police work together," said Ginley. "We will work hard to make the schools safe. We have had a presence in the schools and we will continue to have one. We are doing our best to contribute to the quality of life in the city."

Captain Marc Anthony of the Youth Aid Bureau describes the partnership between Probation and the Springfield Police as an "excellent relationship."

"We work as a team. The School Resource Officers do home visits with Probation Officers. We do night time patrol and the kids know that we are taking a very serious approach," said Captain Anthony.

Captain Anthony added, "We are dealing with a deadly combination of drugs, firearms, and the release of prisoners who are serious violent offenders. Anybody who thinks the police can handle this alone is fooling themselves."

The Hampden County Juvenile Court Probation Department and the Springfield Police Department's Youth Aid Bureau have worked together for the past decade. The Youth Aid Bureau's student support officers work with Probation Officers to verify students' attendance at school and to address disciplinary matters.

The Massachusetts Probation Service is a department of the Massachusetts Trial Court. There are 12 Superior Court, 62 District Court, eight Boston Municipal Court, and 12 Probate and Family Court probation departments throughout the Commonwealth. Probation's Juvenile Court System includes 11 divisions which represent every county in the state. There are 21 Community Corrections Centers throughout the state.