Press Release  Three new Chief Probation Officers are added to the ranks

Boston — Probation Commissioner Edward J. Dolan recently appointed one new Juvenile and two District Court Chief Probation Officers (CPO) to the ranks of the Massachusetts Probation Service (MPS).

The new chiefs are Colleen O’Leary, Essex Juvenile CPO; Raymond Laughlin, Concord District Court CPO; and Linda Almeida, Wareham District Court CPO.

“The appointment of Ms. O’Leary, Mr. Loughlin, and Ms. Almeida places them in a critical management and leadership role within the Service. Their selection is recognition of their talent, dedication, and passion for the dual mission of the Service which is to maintain the safety of our communities while guiding those individuals in our care and custody toward a better path in life,” said Commissioner Dolan.

O’Leary was named Essex Juvenile CPO on February 22. Before her new appointment, she served as Assistant Chief Probation Officer (ACPO) at the court. She first joined the service as a Probation Officer in February 2006 at Essex Juvenile. O’Leary earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social and Rehabilitation Services with a minor in Psychology from Assumption College.

Loughlin was appointed Concord District CPO on March 5. Prior to this new position, Loughlin served as ACPO at Worcester Superior Court beginning in 2014. He started as a Probation Officer at the court in 2006. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Northeastern University.

Almeida has been named Wareham District Court CPO, effective March 26. She worked as an ACPO at the court from 2006 until her recent appointment as the court’s Chief. Almeida served as a Wareham District PO beginning in 1993. Prior to this appointment, she worked as a PO at Bristol Juvenile Court, a position she started in 1984. Almeida is a Northeastern University graduate where she earned a degree in Criminal Justice.

There are 62 District, 12 Superior, 12 Probate & Family, 11 Juvenile courts and eight Boston Municipal or city court divisions. The District and BMC courts handle criminal cases. The Superior courts oversee more serious criminal or felony cases. The Juvenile Court provides support to children and families in three areas: care and protection cases, children requiring assistance (CRA), and delinquency cases. Probate & Family Court supports families when there are disputes regarding the best interest of the children involved, including divorce, paternity, guardianship, and adoption matters.

MPS also includes the Office of Community Corrections (OCC) which operates 16 Community Corrections Centers across the Commonwealth. The centers provide an alternative to incarceration as well as rehabilitative services and on-site monitoring. OCC also operates the Trial Court’s Community Service Program. Participants offer restitution in the form of “giving back” to their communities through a variety of pro-social activities such as cleaning up parks, schools, and roadsides.

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