Press Release  Trial Court Leaders Announce Reappointment of Massachusetts Probation Service Commissioner Edward J. Dolan

BOSTON, MA — Trial Court Chief Justice Paula M. Carey and Court Administrator Jonathan S. Williams today announced that they have reappointed Edward J. Dolan as Commissioner of the Massachusetts Probation Service. Commissioner Dolan was first appointed in June of 2013.

"Commissioner Dolan made significant and positive contributions to the Trial Court in his first term. He has focused on the use of evidence-based practices to ensure the most effective assessment and supervision of offenders under the Probation Service's jurisdiction," said Trial Court Chief Justice Carey. "New risk assessment tools for adults and juveniles were introduced and validated. Commission Dolan has worked to reengineer the delivery of probation services to enable Probation Officers to focus on higher-risk, high-need offenders."

"Commissioner Dolan oversaw Probation’s development and use of merit-based hiring systems required by court reform statutes and the implementation of recommendations contained in the Final Report of the Supreme Judicial Court Task Force on Hiring in the Judicial Branch," said Court Administrator Williams. "A new strategic plan for the organization was developed involving over 300 staff and a wide variety of tactics in areas of workforce development, evidence-based practice, improved business systems and increased staff diversity and cultural proficiency have been implemented."

Commissioner Dolan previously served as Commissioner of the Department of Youth Services, following several other roles at DYS from 1997 to 2013. He also served as Chief Operating Officer at Massachusetts Half Way Houses, Forensic Manager for the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health, and Executive Director of the Massachusetts Parole Board. He began his criminal justice career in 1979 working as a court planner for the first Trial Court Chief Administrative Justice Arthur Mason. Commissioner Dolan has a master’s degree in public administration from Syracuse University and a bachelor’s degree in government from UMass-Amherst.

The Probation Commissioner heads the Massachusetts Probation Service and the Office of Community Corrections, with approximately 1,800 staff in more than 100 locations across the state. In conjunction with local, state, and federal law enforcement and human services agencies, probation helps to keep communities safe through monitoring, rehabilitative services, and the supervision of offenders and litigants.

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