Press Release  Three New Chief Probation Officers Are Appointed by Probation Commissioner

Boston, MA — New Chief Probation Officers have been appointed by Commissioner of Probation Edward J. Dolan to serve in three separate district courts across the state: the Nantucket and Edgartown; Hingham; and Clinton District courts.

Jennifer Pease, Chief Probation Officer at the Nantucket and Edgartown District Courts, began her new job yesterday. Hingham District Court Chief Probation Officer Jennifer Brady has been on the job for a month at the court and Chief Patrick Ball of Clinton District recently marked his two month anniversary in the position. The three chiefs are among a group of 11 newly appointed Chief Probation Officers across the state.

“The selection of these three new Chief Probation Officers is recognition of their talent, dedication, and passion for the dual mission of the Massachusetts Probation 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.

Nantucket and Edgartown District Courts Chief Probation Officer Pease began her career with the Massachusetts Trial Court in 1995 as a clerical employee at Falmouth District Court. Three years later in 1998, she was hired as an Associate Probation Officer in the Barnstable District Court before being promoted to the position of Probation Officer at Barnstable District Court in 2000. Pease transferred to Barnstable Superior Court where she continued to work as a Probation Officer until she was promoted to her current position as Chief Probation Officer at Nantucket and Edgartown District courts. Pease earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Boston College in 1989 and a Master’s Degree in Educational Counseling from Bridgewater State College in 1999.

Hingham District Court Chief Brady, who assumed her new role on April 11th, served as an Assistant Chief Probation Officer at Stoughton District Court, a job she was promoted to in May 2013. Brady first joined the service as a Probation Officer at Stoughton District Court in 2001. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology with a concentration in Criminology and Law from Suffolk University which she earned in 1996. Brady also received her Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Bridgewater State University in 2003.

Clinton District Chief Probation Officer Patrick Ball started his new job on March 1st. Prior to his appointment, Ball was Assistant Chief Probation Officer at the court, a position he was promoted to in 2006. He began his career at the court in 2000. Ball is a 1986 graduate of the University of Maryland where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government and Politics. Under Ball’s leadership, the Clinton District Probation Department is involved with the local Domestic Violence High-Risk Team.

There are 62 District Courts and eight divisions of the Boston Municipal Court, including: Brighton, Central, Charlestown, Chelsea, East Boston, Roxbury, South Boston, and West Roxbury. The District and BMC Probation Departments supervise criminal cases.

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