For Immediate Release: 8/02/2018
Justin Mason | justin.mason@dcjs.ny.gov | (518) 457-8828
Press Office, Division of Criminal Justice Services | pressinfo@dcjs.ny.gov
New York State Recognizes Two Probation Professionals for Outstanding Service and Dedication
Monroe County Probation Supervisor and Erie County Probation Officer honored at the New York State Probation Officers Association Annual Conference
New York State today recognized Monroe County Supervising Probation Officer David Fluellen and Erie County Juvenile Probation Officer July Orlowski for their outstanding work to effect positive change in individuals under their supervision. Fluellen received the Director’s Award for Outstanding Service by a Probation Officer – Adult Services, while Orlowski received the Outstanding Service by a Probation Officer – Juvenile Services. The awards are presented annually by the Office of Probation and Correctional Alternatives at the state Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) in recognition of exceptional service, dedication and professionalism by a probation officer who has significantly contributed to the field of community corrections.
“Holding offenders accountable is an important role of probation, but so is helping them alter harmful patterns of behavior so they can lead productive, crime-free lives,” DCJS Executive Deputy Commissioner Michael C. Green said. “David and July underscore the phenomenal impact probation officers can have on the individuals they supervise. Through their work and dedication, they have demonstrated a true understanding of how community supervision can effect positive change and improve public safety.”
Fluellen has served more than 20 years with the Monroe County Probation Department and oversees its Swift, Certain and Fair program. The program enrolls probationers between the ages of 16 and 24 who are likely to be the perpetrators or victims of gun violence and engages them in additional services and supervision. Fluellen supervises 20 individuals who would ordinarily be in either county jail or state prison based on their charges, but are instead referred to the Swift, Certain and Fair program to get them to change problem behavior.
Orlowski manages runaway services for the Erie County Probation Department. Her position was created by Erie County in 2017 to divert youth who run away from home from entering the Family Court system. Through her work, Orlowski has been instrumental in helping runaway youth return home safely and from entering the juvenile justice system. In several instances, her work has helped law enforcement identify runaways who are victims of sex trafficking.
The pair received their awards during the New York State Probation Officers Association Annual Conference in Ithaca last month. The Outstanding Service award – ordinarily presented to one probation officer – was divided into adult services and juvenile services categories this year, in part due to strength of the nominations for Fluellen and Orlowski.
“Probation officers encounter a wide breadth of challenges over the course of their work that requires them to balance offender accountability with practices that will ultimately lead to better outcomes,” DCJS Deputy Commissioner and Probation Director Robert M. Maccarone said. “David and July demonstrate professionalism, leadership, and commitment through their exemplary work, which is ultimately helping to improve public safety in their respective communities. Both are at the vanguard of programs that are helping individuals break problem behavior to lead productive, crime-free lives.”
Probation officers work in each of New York State’s 62 counties, supervising nearly 100,000 adult and juvenile probationers. They also provide important pretrial services, such as collecting required information about arrested individuals, screening and assessing risk, making recommendations to the court for conditions of release, and supervising defendants -- including those who are released from secure custody during the pre-trial phase. In addition, probation officers confirm the addresses of nearly 5,000 sex offenders under supervision every quarter, and monitor approximately 26,000 convicted drunk drivers, including those who are required to install ignition interlock devices in their vehicles under Leandra’s Law.
The New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (www.criminaljustice.ny.gov) is a multi-function criminal justice support agency with a variety of responsibilities, including funding and oversight of probation and community correction programs; law enforcement training; collection and analysis of statewide crime data; maintenance of criminal history information and fingerprint files; administrative oversight of the states DNA databank, in partnership with the New York State Police; administration of federal and state criminal justice funds; support of criminal justice-related agencies across the state; and administration of the state’s Sex Offender Registry.