Every July for more than two decades, the American Probation and Parole Association (APPA) has celebrated Pretrial, Probation, and Parole Supervision (PPPS) Week – a time for the District of Columbia and the nation to honor the community corrections professionals who help keep our community a safe place to live, work, and visit.
CSOSA is pleased to join APPA again in recognizing the crucial work performed by our community supervision officers and the pretrial services officers of our sister agency, the Pretrial Services Agency for the District of Columbia. Despite the challenges posed to the community at large over the last year and a half, our officers have remained compassionate, thoughtful, and dedicated to helping those under our supervision navigate the process successfully.
Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton remarked about the critical role community supervision professionals play in the lives of those involved in the criminal justice system. “They identify opportunities and services to help individuals successfully contribute to society, while, at the same time, holding them accountable for their actions. They remain always mindful of their role in ensuring public safety.” (Read Congresswoman Norton’s entry into the Congressional Record below.)
In her proclamation regarding PPPS Week 2021, District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser noted that although “the COVID-19 health emergency declaration challenged all public serving offices, it also provided an opportunity for community supervision professionals to demonstrate their exceptional dedication, innovation, and ability to safeguard the public and remain connected to the men and women they supervise.” (Read Mayor Bowser’s proclamation below.)
We hope you will join us in thanking community corrections and supervision professionals here in the District and throughout the country for their positive contribution to public safety. We also would like to take a moment to recognize all of our staff, who make it possible for our supervision officers to efficiently and effectively supervise adults under our jurisdiction. Together, all of us help the agency to achieve its mission, which is to enhance public safety, reduce recidivism, support the fair administration of justice, and promote accountability, inclusion and success through the implementation of evidence-based practices in close collaboration with our criminal justice partners and the community.