All crime is down double digits in Westchester County, and County Executive George Latimer believes the improved numbers are due in large part to the good work of Westchester County’s Probation Department.

Westchester County’s probation officers oversee thousands of cases and supervise thousands of people who are placed on probation each year, and are primarily responsible for ensuring crimes are not committed once offenders are released back into the public.

Through home visits, drug testing, making sure offenders attend support services, and helping to secure housing and employment, the Probation Department’s goal is promoting public safety, and holding offenders accountable fortheir actions.

Latimer said: “Westchester County’s probation officers are the unsung heroes who help us to reduce crime in all of our communities. By working closely with the Westchester County Department of Public Safety, the District Attorney’s office, our local municipalities and a number of criminal justice agencies, our Probation Department offers an effective, safe alternative to incarceration. They are mentors, they provide guidance, and they help offend ers reenter
our communities as the best version of themselves.”

Commissioner of the Westchester County Department of Probation Rocco Pozzi said: “Probation is probably one of the biggest kept secrets in the criminal justice system, because people really don’t understand the important role probation plays for the courts, and providing community safety by providing
supervision to those who are released to our jurisdiction. If we can do this well, then we are providing and extra layer of safety to our communities.”

There are 144 Probation Officers currently serving Westchester County. (Submitted)