WILLIAMSON COUNTY PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE

 

NEWS RELEASE

 

TINA DUBLIN RECOGNIZED BY TEXAS BOARD OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE

 

August 20, 2004 (Georgetown, TX ) -- Tina Dublin, an adult probation officer in Williamson County for the past five years, was recognized for her contributions to the field of probation by Christina Crain, Texas Board of Criminal Justice chairman, and Gary Johnson, executive director for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.  Dublin, along with three other officers from around the state, received this special recognition at the regular meeting of the Board of Criminal Justice in Huntsville on July 23, 2004. The acknowledgment was in conjunction with the recognition of National Probation, Parole, and Community Supervision Officers Week.  The board, Mrs. Crain, and Mr. Johnson acknowledged the contributions of probation and parole officers to the criminal justice system.

Ms. Dublin was appointed to chair the Supervision Officer Committee.  As chair of this committee, she also sits as a member of the Probation Advisory Committee, an advisory committee to the Judicial Advisory Committee that consists of adult probation department directors from around the state.

On July 20, the Williamson County Commissioners Court passed a resolution recognizing the efforts of the adult and juvenile probation officers serving Williamson County.  Updates from the two departments were provided by Juvenile Services Director Charly Skaggs and Adult Probation Department Director Rick Zinsmeyer.  

“We would not have been able to provide the wide array of services and assist both victims and offenders alike, without the strong support of the judiciary and the Commissioners Court,” stated Rick Zinsmeyer.

In 1977, there was one probation officer in Williamson County.  The Adult Probation Department currently has more than 100 staff members, supervises over 5,500 offenders placed under supervision, operates the Central Texas Treatment Center (an intensive substance abuse treatment facility located in Granger with a capacity of 100 residents), a pre-trial release supervision program and the community service restitution program where probationers completed over 275,000 hours of work at charitable, governmental and non profit agencies.

            Williamson County Juvenile Services serves youth ages ten to 16.  Their services begin at the prevention level with juvenile probation officers assigned to each Justice of the Peace Courts in the county.  Juvenile Services handles 2,500 referrals annually.  Services available to youth and their families include Secure Detention, Court and Probation Services, Community Based Services, the Academy Residential Services, the Juvenile Justice Alternative Education Program and Parole Services.

“Due to the hard work of our staff and support from our Judges, Commissioners and Citizens, the Williamson County Juvenile Services has become a model for the state and the nation,” stated Mr. Skaggs.  “We are making a difference.”

At the Juvenile Services annual awards luncheon last week, several employees were recognized for their outstanding efforts over the past year.  The recipients were:

Kerry Abbot – Team Player

Deron Reinders – In a Pinch

Robyn Murray – Integrity

Marla Burns – Most Inspirational

Kurt Hundle – Most Passionate

Chris Williams – Rookie of the Year

A group of employees voted on by peers in their divisions and recognized as “The A-TEAM” for being available, timely, energetic, appreciative and motivated were Linda Straley, Frances Jansen, Kathy Swenson, Mende Holcomb, Julie Calhoun-Bijou and Kurt Hundle.

 

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