[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 24 (Wednesday, February 5, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E131]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          HONORING MARY BUTLER

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MIKE THOMPSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 5, 2020

  Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Mary 
Butler and to celebrate her retirement after 27 years of public service 
to Napa County.
  Ms. Butler began her career when she graduated from Sonoma State 
University with a Bachelor's in Psychology and a Master's in 
Counseling. Since then, her tenure has been marked by both practicality 
and purpose. As a crisis worker, she began her career managing 
children's mental health at the Child Welfare Services Court Unit and 
supervised behavioral health for their Mental Health Divisions.
  In 2002, Ms. Butler led the Napa County Probation Department where 
she championed important issues like implementing Evidence Based 
Practice (EBP), a practice designed to identify and treat the reasons 
people commit crime, and was instrumental in the passing of AB 109, 
legislation that transferred jurisdiction of juvenile offenders from 
the state government to the county government. Her passion for 
restorative justice is a mark of compassion that has set the tone for 
the future of juvenile justice in Napa County and across the State of 
California.
  As the President of the Chief Probation Officers of California, she 
was responsible for opening the Napa County Juvenile Justice Center. 
Through Ms. Butler's efforts and leadership, Napa County has 
effectively diverted youth offenders from juvenile hall and left 
significantly more juvenile hall beds empty. And now, after 17 years of 
service as the Chief Probation Officer, Ms. Butler is the current, 
longest-tenured Chief in the State of California.
  Madam Speaker, thanks to Mary Butler's work, many children have been 
taught how to succeed regardless of their circumstances. She is a 
community hero, visionary and an example of public service for us all. 
It is therefore fitting and proper that we honor Mary Butler here 
today.

                          ____________________