Authorizing the Committee on Public Safety to hold hearings on the need for a substantial increase in probation and parole officers within the Adult Probation and Parole Department.

WHEREAS, The Adult Probation and Parole Department is the largest department within the Criminal Trial Division and is overseen by the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania; and

WHEREAS, Probation and parole officers are responsible for providing investigation reports, mental health evaluations and any other information necessary to the judicial decision-making process; and

WHEREAS, Probation and parole officers are vital to maintaining public safety by monitoring offenders in their communities to make sure that they comply with the rules and regulations of probation and parole, by providing opportunities such as skill development and appropriate treatment to improve their lives, and by assisting victims; and

WHEREAS, The Adult Probation and Parole Department actively supervises approximately 40,000 offenders and 50,000 cases on an ongoing basis; and

WHEREAS, Currently, there are between 240 and 245 probation and parole officers in the Adult Probation and Parole Department. Of these officers, approximately 20 handle pre-sentencing duties while two manage victim services; and

WHEREAS, Every week, the department experiences a loss in officers to the City's police department and to probation and parole departments in surrounding counties and within the Federal government; now therefore

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA THAT the Committee on Public Safety is hereby authorized to hold public hearings on the need for a substantial increase in probation and parole officers within the Adult Probation and Parole Department.

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