Press Release  Springfield District Probation Officer is recipient of first Victim Services Award

Springfield District Court Probation Officer Jenifer Muscaro is the first recipient of the newly-established Victim Rights Month Award. Muscaro, a 10-year probation officer, was presented with the award on Tuesday, April 10, at a Victim Rights Month event held at the Massachusetts Probation Service Training Academy in Clinton.

The Victim Rights Month Award will be presented annually to a probation employee for outstanding service to victims and survivors of crime.

Muscaro is a longstanding member of the Hampden County District Attorney's STOP Team, according to Statewide Victim Services Director Corinn Nelson. STOP is an acronym for Safety for Victims, Tracking Offenders, Offender Accountability, Prevention of Violence. This team is a group of professionals from the criminal justice system, law enforcement and community advocacy fields that focus their attention and efforts on high-risk domestic violence offenders.

“Jenifer has worked for many years with these highly-skilled professionals to not only closely monitor those probationers identified as a significant risk to re-offend but to increase victim safety,” Nelson said. “She has a sincere compassion, understanding and empathy for victims and survivors of domestic violence. Her understanding of the barriers they face allows her to provide the necessary trauma informed response to help them successfully navigate the criminal justice system.”

Nelson added, “Jenifer has been described as going above and beyond her role as probation officer for victims and survivors. For this reason and many more, Jenifer is the 2018 Victim Rights Month Award recipient.”

Muscaro said of her award, “Working with victims and being involved with all of the advocacy groups that support victims of violent crime is reward enough. However, I am truly honored to be recognized by my fellow colleagues and community partners for something I’m truly committed to every day. Giving victims a voice and holding offenders accountable justifies the hard work and dedication of myself and those of the Massachusetts Probation Service that is provided daily. In collaboration with the MPS Victim Services Unit and the Hampden County District Attorney’s High Risk Offender Team, we are able to empower and provide a sense of safety and get much needed services for victims in need.”

““Jennifer Muscaro’s important work with the STOP Team to address the needs of domestic violence victims epitomizes the very best of the public safety mission of the MPS. PO Muscaro’s work is a model for POs statewide,” said Commissioner Edward J. Dolan.

Springfield Chief Probation Officer Terence O’Neil commented, “She has from the very start of her career exhibited a strong desire and commitment to providing excellent service to victims.

Most vitally she has focused on victims of domestic violence as these are among the most vulnerable of people that we deal with in our probation case work.”
 
O’Neil commented further, “Jenifer has followed through with her commitment via her work in association with the Hampden County District Attorney's STOP DV High Risk Offender team, several other initiatives within our department and her daily coordination on victim related cases with her fellow probation officers and victim service coordinators.”

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