CSEA Honors Workers During Probation, Parole and Community Supervision Week

ALBANY, NY (07/16/2012)(readMedia)-- CSEA President Danny Donohue today recognized union members across the state who work in probation services by declaring July 15 - 21, 2012 as "Probation, Parole and Community Supervision Week."

"On behalf of the 300,000 CSEA members across New York State, I am pleased to recognize our members who are probation professionals," Donohue said. "Probation, Parole and Community Supervision Week is meant to honor a segment of the work force that deserves great respect."

Probation professionals are a vital part of every New York state county work force and have an important dual role in the public safety field. Not only do they work with the justice system to protect the public from crime, violence and abuse, but they also aid in prevention, helping rehabilitate law offenders to rejoin society in a positive way.

As with all public safety work, these professionals often put their own well being at risk in effort to keep people and their community's safe. CSEA realizes the high level of commitment and the special dedication these workers have to the public they serve.

The downturn in the economy has caused the crime rate to increase in recent years, causing an increase in the number of cases probation professionals must handle to keep the public secure. "When the economy is at its worst the public needs government services the most," Donohue said.

"Like a lot of public services, the work probation professionals perform goes unnoticed by the general public because we don't see it every day," Donohue said. "But make no mistake about it, their dedication to their jobs and to the public makes our communities safer for all of us."

CSEA is New York State's leading union, representing employees of the state and its counties, towns, villages, school districts, library systems, authorities and public benefit corporations. Together with a growing population of private sector members and retirees, CSEA is the largest affiliate of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), which is one of the largest affiliates of the AFL-CIO.