Probation, Parole and Community Supervision Week starts today, and the Louisiana Department of Corrections wants the public to know why those employees deserve recognition.

The Covington District Probation and Parole office supervises both St. Tammany and Washington parishes. It is comprised of a district manager, six supervisors, 40 agents and an administrative staff to supervise over 5,000 felony offenders whose charges range from felony DWIs and drug charges to sex offenses and violent offenses. 

The agents attend a 12-week academy and continue training throughout the year in order to supervise their targeted population. They conduct residence checks, attend court hearings and prepare investigations. The agents work closely with local police departments, sheriff’s offices and federal agents to ensure proper supervision of offenders and public safety.

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The work has become multi-faceted, and goes well beyond supervision and surveillance of offenders, according to District Manager Kevin Hidalgo.

“It has expanded to include working with victims to ensure that restorative justice principles are addressed,” he said. “More often than not, officers find themselves in the role of counselors or job placement coordinators, trying to secure those services that many offenders need in order to successfully transition back into their communities and stay out of prison. All of this is done in an effort to ensure the highest level of public safety.”

The atmosphere in which the officers work has becoming increasingly violent, Hidalgo said. 

“The rise in the number of offenders under supervision, the impact of drugs, the availability and use of weapons, and the increase in violent behavior all contribute to the danger the officers face each day,” he said. “It is through their commitment to public safety that our communities are a safer place for our families.”