| COUNSELORS, INVESTIGATORS, OR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS? |
| THE QUESTION HAS OFTEN BEEN ASKED BY LEGISLATORS AND THE PUBLIC, "JUST WHAT ARE YOU"? ARE YOU COUNSELORS, INVESTIGATORS , OR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS? THE ANSWER IS "YES", "YES", AND "YES". COUNSELORS: YES, WE COUNSEL OFFENDERS CONCERNING THE RULES AND CONDITIONS OF THEIR SENTENCES; ASSESS OFFENDERS "NEEDS" AND "RISK" WITH NUMEROUS INSTRUMENTS WHICH HELP TO IDENTIFY ANY AREAS THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS, REFER, AND MONITOR COMPLETION OF IDENTIFIED PROGRAMS. OFFICERS COMMUNICATE WITH TREATMENT PROVIDERS ON A REGULAR BASIS AND SHARE INFORMATION THAT ASSISTS 'ALL" IN DEALING WITH IMMEDIATE AND PROBLEMATIC AREAS .OFFICERS COUNSEL "ONE ON ONE" WITH OFFENDERS , AND OFTEN THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS CONCERNING NEW AND ON-GOING PROBLEMS. SOME OFFICERS HAVE BEEN TRAINED IN SPECIALIZED "COGNITIVE-BEHAVIORAL" METHODS . INVESTIGATORS: ARE WE INVESTIGATORS? YES..OFFICERS REGULARILY INVESTIGATE COMPLAINTS BY FAMILY, CITIZENS, OR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES OF THE ACTIVITIES OF OFFENDERS. ALSO, OFFICERS OFTEN FIND THEMSELVES IN SITUATIONS DURING HOME VISITS, WHERE CRIMINAL OR VIOLATIONS ARE OBSERVED AND MUST BE INVESTIGATED , DOCUMENTED AND FILED WITH DOC, OR THE APPROPRIATE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY. ADDITIONALLY, OFFICERS HAVE THE DUTY TO PROVIDE THE COURTS WITH INVESTIGATIONS OF OFFENDERS WHO HAVE ENTERED PLEAS OF GUILT, NOLO CONTENDRE, OR BLIND PLEAS TO CRIMINAL CHARGES IN THE FORM OF A "PRE-SENTENCE INVESTIGATION" AND "DELAYED SENTENCE " INVESTIGATION. FURTHER, OFFICERS MUST COMPLETE INVESTIGATIONS ON THE VALIDATION OF RESIDENCES AND EMPLOYMENT OF OFFENDERS RECOMMENDED FOR PAROLE CONSIDERATION AND THOSE WHO ARE TRANSFERRING FROM ANOTHER STATE REQUESTING COURTESY SUPERVISION IN OKLAHOMA. OFFICERS ADDITIONALLY PROVIDE INVESTIGATION SERVICES FOR THE PARDON AND PAROLE BOARD AND GOVERNOR IN THE REQUEST OF PRIOR OFFENDERS FOR "PARDON" OF THEIR SENTENCES. LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS: YES...THIS IS ALSO IMPORTANT. OFFICERS DEAL WITH 100% FELONS, OFTEN ON THEIR OWN TURF, AND IN A VARIETY OF SITUATIONS. PROBATION AND PAROLE OFFICERS IN OKLAHOMA ARE "CLEET" CERTIFIED PEACE OFFICERS "COMMISSIONED" BY THE DEPT. OF CORRECTIONS AS PROBATION AND PAROLE OFFICERS. OUR PRIMARY MISSION IS TO "DEAL" WITH THE OFFENDERS IN OUR CHARGE, BUT DUE TO THE NON-RESTRICTIVE ENVIRONMENT WE WORK IN, MUST OFTEN DEAL WITH OFFENDER FAMILIES AND ASSOCIATES ( USUALLY OTHER CRIMINALS). THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITY GRANTED BY STATUTE AND OUR AGENCY IS MEANT TO PROVIDE SAFETY FOR OFFICERS AND PROVIDE THE ABILITY TO INTERVENE IN CRIMINAL ACTIVITY OF OFFENDERS, THEIR FAMILIES AND ASSOCIATES. AGAIN, OUR PRIMARY GOAL IS TO ASSIST OFFENDERS IN BECOMING LAW ABIDING , TAX PAYING CITIZENS, BUT WHEN THE OFFENDER FAILS TO "WANT" TO CHANGE OR TO COMPLY WITH THE RULES, IT BECOMES OUR OBLIGATION AND DUTY TO TAKE THE APPROPRIATE ACTION ( WHICH IS SOMETIMES "ARREST"). THE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBLITIES OF PROBATION AND PAROLE OFFICERS HAS CHANGED LITTLE OVER THE YEARS. WE CONTINUE TO "PROTECT THE PUBLIC" IN THE BEST MANNER POSSIBLE. THIS INCLUDES PROVIDING OFFENDERS WITH EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE THE INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR THROUGH "TREATMENT", "COMPLIANCE", "REFERRALS", AND "MONITORING" OF THEIR BEHAVIOR. IF THEY ARE WILLING TO CHANGE AND COMPLY, THEY ARE SUCCESSFUL. IF THEY "REFUSE" TO CHANGE OR COMPLY, WE "WILL" TAKE ACTION TO "PROTECT THE PUBLIC" FROM FURTHER VICTIMIZATION..... |