Press Release  Worcester Juvenile Chief Probation Officer Francyne Lefemine is honored by peers with Jim Minton Excellence Award

Sturbridge, MA — Worcester Juvenile Chief Probation Officer Francyne Lefemine was recently honored with the 2018 Jim Minton Excellence Award by the Massachusetts Chief Probation Officers’ Association (CPOA) at the Sturbridge Conference Center in Sturbridge, Massachusetts recently.

As the Chief Probation Officer at Worcester County Juvenile Court, Lefemine oversees probation operations at the Dudley, Fitchburg, Milford, and Worcester offices.

The Jim Minton Award was established in the memory of the Brookline District Court Chief Probation Officer and long-time member of the CPOA. The Award is presented each year by the Association to a Chief Probation Officer “whose leadership, dedication, professionalism, and contributions to the Massachusetts Probation Service are exemplary,” according to CPOA President and South Berkshire District Chief Probation Officer Alfred “Alf” Barbalunga.

“I'm very honored to be this year's recipient of the Massachusetts Chief Probation Officers’ Association's Jim Minton Award. Chief Jim Minton was such a wonderful person, a true gentleman, and the consummate professional. To be recognized by my brother and sister Chief Probation Officers, incredible professionals all, with this award is truly humbling. I am most grateful and appreciative! Thank you to my Colleagues, my Friends!,” Lefemine said.

"Francyne was the obvious choice this year. She just concluded her service, after many years as an integral member of the CPOA Executive Committee. We could not think of a better way to acknowledge her contributions, and her absolutely laser focused dedication, for the continued advocacy and betterment of her fellow colleagues," Barbalunga said.

Lefemine began her probation career as Worcester Juvenile Probation Officer in 1986. She became Assistant Chief Probation Officer eight years later. Lefemine was promoted to acting Chief Probation Officer at the court in 2004. A year later, she was appointed chief.

She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from Clark University in Worcester in 1979. In 1998, she received a Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Anna Marie College in Paxton. For many years, Lefemine served as an Executive Member of the CPOA.

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