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Press Release - October 17, 2003
Office of the Commissioner of Probation
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IMMEDIATE RELEASE: |
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For
More Information, Contact: |
| October 17, 2003 |
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Coria
Holland, Director of Communications |
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617-727-5335,
ext. 258 |
PRIME
MINISTER OF THE REPUBLIC OF CAPE VERDE PARTICIPATES IN
DISCUSSION ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE ISSUES AT BRISTOL SUPERIOR COURT
Prime
Minister of the Republic of Cape Verde Jose Maria Pereira Neves,
Cape Verde Ambassador to the U.S. Jose Brito, and a delegation
-- representing members of the Prime Minister's cabinet --
participated in a discussion on deportation, substance abuse
and other criminal justice issues led by Bristol Superior Court
Chief Probation Officer Eugene Monteiro in the New Bedford
court house recently.
Prime Minister Pereira
Neves spoke in detail about the impact of the United States deportation laws
on his country and the crippling effect of substance abuse, according to Chief
Probation Officer Monteiro. Nearly 500 people with Cape Verdean origins have
been deported to the country which is located off the coast of West Africa.
"I hope that this
is the beginning of a never ending dialogue between authorities here and the
leaders of the Republic of Cape Verde around these issues," said Chief Montiero
who gave an overview of the Massachusetts Probation Service.
Bristol Superior
Court Judges Gary Nickerson and Robert Kane were among the participants. Judges
Nickerson and Kane spoke about the Massachusetts criminal justice system and
discussed the criminal justice concerns facing Cape Verde. Commissioner John
J. O'Brien, First Deputy Commissioner John Cremens Jr., Second Deputy Commissioner
Liz Tavares, Community Corrections Executive Director Steve Price, and Probation
Regional Supervisor Ellen Slaney were also in attendance. Colleen Pina-Garron,
a Probation Officer in Charge (POIC) at Bristol Juvenile Resource Center, was
also on hand.
The Prime Minister's
participation in the talk and tour of the court were arranged by New Bedford
District Court Probation Officer Lourenco Lopes. The Prime Minister's visit was
part of a three-day visit to the New Bedford area and overall, an extended visit
to the New England area.
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