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Pennsylvania State Senate
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=S&SPick=20150&cosponId=19675
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Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2015 - 2016 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted: February 12, 2016 11:30 AM
From: Senator Sean Wiley and Sen. John C. Rafferty, Jr.
To: All Senate members
Subject: Critical Incident Stress Management for Adult and Juvenile County Probation Officers
 

Please join us in co-sponsoring legislation expanding the existing definition of “law enforcement officers” under Act 53 of 2010 to include county probation officers. This act provides that absent certain limited exceptions a “critical incident stress management team member who, while in the course of duty, has acquired information from any law enforcement officer in confidence may not be compelled or allowed without the consent of the law enforcement officer to disclose that information in a legal proceeding, trial or investigation before any government unit.” However, the existing definition of “law enforcement officer" pursuant to the act includes almost every type of individual involved with law enforcement, except county probation officers.

Responsible for following and enforcing terms of probation, enforcing the rules and regulations handed down by the court, and assisting the offenders in rehabilitation and reassimilation into society, probation officers are tasked with supervising offenders from all levels of misdemeanors and felonies. To do this, officers must make contact with offenders in their homes, businesses, and treatment facilities at all hours of the day and night; they are authorized by statute and court order to carry firearms and other intermediate weapons to protect their safety and that of the general public, and they attend regular training to keep their skills and training sharp.

Because it is a priority of the office to arrest offenders for violations of supervision, officers are exposed to the possibility of violence on a regular basis. Any arrest or offender contact has the potential to turn into a critical incident. The addition of adult and juvenile probation officers would correct a likely oversight and afford them the same protections granted to other law enforcement in Pennsylvania.

A copy of the blueback is attached for your review.


Thank you for your consideration.

View Attachment


Introduced as SB1183