[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 11561-11562]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




      RECOGNIZING OUR NATION'S COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS PROFESSIONALS

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 14, 2015

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask the House of 
Representatives to join me in recognizing the invaluable contribution 
to public safety made by community corrections professionals in the 
United States and throughout the world. Every year, the American 
Probation and Parole Association (APPA) and its allied members set 
aside a week to honor these valued public servants, and this year, they 
have chosen July 12-18 to mark Pretrial, Probation and Parole 
Supervision Week 2015. I am proud to stand in support of corrections 
professionals not only in the District of Columbia but around the 
world.
  In the nation's capital, thousands of women and men serve as 
pretrial, probation and parole officers or administrators. As public 
servants, these constituents, along with many other Americans, commit 
themselves on a daily basis to helping improve the lives of those 
involved in the criminal justice system. Mr. Speaker, the work of these 
professionals ultimately results in stronger and safer communities for 
all.
  Community corrections professionals are responsible for supervising 
adult and juvenile offenders in communities throughout our nation. In 
many cases, these trained professionals go above and beyond the call of 
duty by providing their clients supportive services or referrals to 
critical community-based resources, employment opportunities and 
housing programs. Additionally, community corrections professionals 
provide services, support, and protection for victims, while 
continuously promoting the importance of crime prevention and 
restorative justice.
  In honor of Pretrial, Probation and Parole Supervision Week 2015, I 
recognize, in particular, the community corrections and supervision 
services carried out here in the District of Columbia by the Court 
Services and Offender Supervision Agency for the District of Columbia 
(CSOSA) and the Pretrial Services Agency for the District of Columbia 
(PSA). CSOSA and PSA stand out as model community supervision agencies 
due to both their professionalism and their novel, partnership-based 
approach to reentry and public safety in the District of Columbia.
  On any given day, CSOSA is responsible for supervising approximately 
12,000 individuals on probation, parole or supervised release, whereas 
PSA supervises roughly 20,000 defendants. Charged with having to 
balance issues of public safety with social services and reentry 
support, the employees of CSOSA and PSA help to enhance the security of 
everyone that lives, works or visits the District of Columbia,

[[Page 11562]]

  I extend my gratitude to these public servants for their commitment, 
compassion and contributions to healthier and safer communities 
throughout the District of Columbia.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to join me in 
acknowledging the impact community corrections professionals have on 
the quality of life of so many Americans, and recognizing July 12-18 as 
Pretrial, Probation and Parole Supervision Week 2015.

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