Editor's note: Good work Judge Evans...but please keep an open mind on the damage being inflicted on the dead, dying, disabled and aged by the Probate Court - the 18th floor needs a shake up. Lucius Verenus, Schoolmaster, ProbateSharks.com
Watchdog update: Head of Cook Co. adult probation removed
Jesús "Jesse" Reyes answers questions about problems in the adult probation department last November. (Nancy Stone/Chicago Tribune / March 17, 2014)
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Cook County Chief Judge Timothy Evans shook up the court's beleaguered adult probation department Monday by removing the agency's longtime head.
The move comes after a Tribune investigation in December found that the department has lost track of hundreds of convicts and overlooked new crimes committed by offenders, some of whom went on to rape or kill.
The decision, announced in a news release, also comes as the Illinois Supreme Court prepares what is expected to be a critical report of how the department has run pre-trial services.
Evans appointed Jesus Reyes in August 2005 to become acting chief probation officer, but never formally made the title permanent, a fact that sources said left many questioning the department’s leadership.
For years, sources said, department employees have reached out to Evans with those leadership concerns as well as other deficiencies, but felt they were largely ignored by the chief judge.
On Monday, Evans thanked employees “for the dedication and professionalism that led many of you to bring your concerns and suggestions to me on how to improve our adult probation departments,” according to an internal memo obtained by the Tribune.
In the news release, Evans announced that Reyes was being replaced as both the head of adult probation and of social services where he has served as director since August 1999. While the adult probation department primarily oversees felony offenders, the social services department primarily handles those who have been convicted of misdemeanors.
Lavone Haywood, an assistant chief probation officer who has been with the department for more than three decades, was named as the new head of the agency. Sharon Hoffman, the assistant director of social services, will become the new director, according to the release.
“Mr. Reyes is expected to continue serving the court as an (adviser) of research and policy,” the news release stated.
Reyes declined to comment. Reyes has previously defended the overall work of adult probation, and has pointed to a loss of manpower over the years as well as antiquated technology systems as causes of the department's shortcomings.
The number of people working in the probation department has shrunk by about 26 percent since 2005 because of layoffs and retirements, Reyes previously told the Tribune. He said many employees juggle caseloads heavier than the state recommends.
Evans, in the news release, said that the probation departments are “sorely lacking” up-to-date technology. The court is now seeking to replace the “outdated” electronic case management system that allows both adult probation and social services to “keep track of probationers’ compliance with court-ordered conditions.”
Evans said he has asked the county to issue a request for proposal for a system redesign, saying the current system has “hampered the ability of the officers to do their jobs.”
cdizikes@tribune.com
tlighty@tribune.com
The move comes after a Tribune investigation in December found that the department has lost track of hundreds of convicts and overlooked new crimes committed by offenders, some of whom went on to rape or kill.
The decision, announced in a news release, also comes as the Illinois Supreme Court prepares what is expected to be a critical report of how the department has run pre-trial services.
Evans appointed Jesus Reyes in August 2005 to become acting chief probation officer, but never formally made the title permanent, a fact that sources said left many questioning the department’s leadership.
For years, sources said, department employees have reached out to Evans with those leadership concerns as well as other deficiencies, but felt they were largely ignored by the chief judge.
On Monday, Evans thanked employees “for the dedication and professionalism that led many of you to bring your concerns and suggestions to me on how to improve our adult probation departments,” according to an internal memo obtained by the Tribune.
In the news release, Evans announced that Reyes was being replaced as both the head of adult probation and of social services where he has served as director since August 1999. While the adult probation department primarily oversees felony offenders, the social services department primarily handles those who have been convicted of misdemeanors.
Lavone Haywood, an assistant chief probation officer who has been with the department for more than three decades, was named as the new head of the agency. Sharon Hoffman, the assistant director of social services, will become the new director, according to the release.
“Mr. Reyes is expected to continue serving the court as an (adviser) of research and policy,” the news release stated.
Reyes declined to comment. Reyes has previously defended the overall work of adult probation, and has pointed to a loss of manpower over the years as well as antiquated technology systems as causes of the department's shortcomings.
The number of people working in the probation department has shrunk by about 26 percent since 2005 because of layoffs and retirements, Reyes previously told the Tribune. He said many employees juggle caseloads heavier than the state recommends.
Evans, in the news release, said that the probation departments are “sorely lacking” up-to-date technology. The court is now seeking to replace the “outdated” electronic case management system that allows both adult probation and social services to “keep track of probationers’ compliance with court-ordered conditions.”
Evans said he has asked the county to issue a request for proposal for a system redesign, saying the current system has “hampered the ability of the officers to do their jobs.”
cdizikes@tribune.com
tlighty@tribune.com
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