Boredom, anxiety and isolation are setting in for many people during the COVID-19 pandemic, including those criminal offenders on probation or parole. The temptation to fall back into unlawful activity puts an added stress on the men and women supervising those individuals.

Carbon County Commissioners on Thursday honored the 19-member Carbon County Probation/Parole Department with a proclamation for Pretrial, Probation, and Parole Supervision Week, which will be observed nationwide from July 19-25.

“We’re very lucky to have all of them,” Commissioner Rocky Ahner said of the department’s staff and administration. “We see the work they are doing getting us grants moving the county in a better direction.”

Carbon’s department currently supervises over 2,000 offenders. That monitoring may take the form of home contacts, drug testing, making sure the offender attends counseling sessions, holding offenders accountable to conditions of the court, and helping offenders to find suitable housing and employment.

“The vision of the department is to build stronger and safer communities,” Carbon Probation Chief Richmond Parsons said. “The department has begun the process of implementing evidence-based practices. Research indicates that the implementation of EBP will increase the department’s ability to have a positive impact on public safety by reducing recidivism while providing an opportunity for offenders to make meaningful changes in their lives.”

Parsons said he also expects the implementation to have an impact on the jail population

“The department has implemented validated risk and needs tools and is in the process of implementing motivational interviewing,” he said.

Commissioners on Thursday approved a grant application for funding from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency for the Carbon County Intermediate Punishment Program. The grant, $82,725, would fund one adult probation officer, purchase of drug testing supplies, and treatment for offenders who are not eligible for medical assistance.

“Budget shortfalls mean that community corrections professionals must be creative in finding solutions to make sure those they supervise have the support needed to find jobs, housing, and treatment,” Parsons said. “By collaborating with community leaders and volunteering their own time off work, many officers are making a difference while faced with expanding caseloads and additional responsibilities.”

COVID-19 created new challenges and changed how the department operates. Over the last two years, Parsons said, the department had taken steps to move away from paper files and to improve technology. The full positive impact of these advancements was not recognized until the pandemic.

“While many businesses came to a stop, the Adult Probation Department continued its core operations,” he said. “Staff was able to work remotely from home using laptops and cellphones, which gave them immediate access to the information they needed.

“As the pandemic continued, it became clear that the many face-to-face approaches often utilized by officers needed to be replaced with other alternatives. Officers became more reliant on using phones, video apps, texting, and email.”

Both treatment courts in Carbon County also shifted to a virtual model.

Many of the offenders, Parsons said, reported positive outcomes when staff reached out while many of the traditional support systems were unable to continue.

“The department is worried about the negative impact of the pandemic on our population,” he added. “As with many, COVID-19 has created a lot of stress, anxiety, boredom, isolation and job loss for the population supervised. These factors can be extremely problematic with individuals who are already struggling with addiction, mental health or other issues. This will most likely result in increased overdoses, suicides and criminal activity for some.”

Parsons said the department will continue to strive toward building stronger and safer communities.

“We understand the important element these officers play in our corrections process,” Commissioner Chris Lukasevich said. “This week’s proclamation is a small way to demonstrate we know Mr. Parsons and the officers bring to the community.”

As with many, COVID-19 has created a lot of stress, anxiety, boredom, isolation and job loss for the population supervised. These factors can be extremely problematic with individuals who are already struggling with addiction, mental health or other issues.

Richmond Parsons

Carbon County chief adult probation officer