[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 73 (Tuesday, June 9, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1069-E1070]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    A SALUTE TO ERWIN J. HEINZELMANN

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. THOMAS M. BARRETT

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 9, 1998

  Mr. BARRETT of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to recognize one 
of the hardest working and effective social reformers in Wisconsin. As 
friends and colleagues gather to honor Erwin J. Heinzelmann on the 
occasion of his retirement from Wisconsin Correctional Service (WCS), 
after thirty-five years, I would like to take a moment to reflect on 
his years of service to my home town.

[[Page E1070]]

  After a stint as a brewery worker, Erv began his public service 
career as a police aide. Feeling the call to create nonviolent options 
for offenders, he took a job as a probation officer in Children's 
Court. During his tenure at Children's Court, Erv correctly observed, 
before it was commonly acknowledged, that criminal behavior could be 
generational; that many of his youthful clients came from homes where 
parents were also involved in the correctional system. Erv joined WCS 
as a caseworker where he focused on breaking that cycle of violence 
through the development of innovative rehabilitation programming for 
offenders.
  After just two years on the job, Erv became Executive Director of 
WCS. He worked tirelessly to secure both private and public resources 
to fund projects designed to help offenders become responsible 
citizens. Under his leadership, the staff of WCS grew from five to two 
hundred and fifty employees. Motivated by his belief that people can 
change, given professional assistance, Erv and his staff developed an 
array of creative, justice oriented programming for offenders of all 
ages, including the first narcotics treatment program in Milwaukee, the 
oldest correctional halfway house, and even the first private prison in 
the State of Wisconsin.
  Throughout the years, Erv and WCS have received scores of honors and 
awards, including recognition from the Federal Office of Juvenile 
Justice, the Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention Advisory 
Committee, and the National Institute of Justice. Now Erv is prepared 
to pass the torch to a new administrator. We can only hope that he will 
also pass on his well known enthusiasm, as well as his profound 
commitment to respect for the law, the reparation of harm, and dignity 
for all.
  I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join me in 
extending my appreciation to Erwin J. Heinzelmann for over three 
decades of service to the people of Wisconsin. Congratulations, Erv, 
and best wishes for future successes.

                          ____________________