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probation officers discretion when reporting willful non-compliance with technical violations to the sen tencing or releasing authority. Creating the Alternative Sanctioning Program (ASP) has effectively addressed minor technical violations. The ASP, developed by Flor ida Community Corrections, was officially established in statute in 2018. It offers a streamlined administrative approach for addressing specific technical violations committed by non-violent offenders, circumventing the need for the formal violation hearing process. Since its inception, more than 8,300 individuals have partici pated in the ASP program. This diversionary approach has resulted in these individuals being diverted from the traditional court process, effectively reducing the number of revocations for technical violations by over 2,000 annually.

probation officers has become multifaceted. Their pri mary objective remains to ensure public safety, and they achieve this by vigilantly monitoring supervision condi tions, offering tools and resources to assist individuals in completing their terms while promoting productivity, employing incentive programs judiciously and utiliz ing alternative methods to address minor technical violations. Modern probation supervision strategies have yielded significant success, with Community Corrections prov ing to be a viable alternative to incarceration. Roughly 60% of individuals under community supervision com plete their terms. Among those who do, approximately 90% avoid returning to the Department’s custody, either in prison or under further supervision, within three years. This remarkable achievement is attributable to the pivotal role played by probation officers in enhancing public safety. REFERENCES Allen, Harry E., Edward J. Latessa, and Bruce S. Ponder. 2015. Corrections in America: An Introduction (14th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. Citrus County Sheriff’s Office. “Partners Against Crime.” CCSO. Press Release , 18 June 2019. Dressler, David. 1970. Practice and Theory of Probation and Parole. New York, NY: Columbia University Press. Fox, C., Harrison, J., Hothersall, G., Smith, A., & Webster, R. (2022). A Rapid Evidence Assessment of the impact of probation caseloads on reducing recidivism and other probation outcomes. Probation Journal, 69(2), 138-158. https://doi.org/10.1177/02645505211025595 Reinemann, J. O. (1941). John Augustus-Penal Reformer Hundred Years Ago. The Prison Journal, 21(3), 124-126. https://doi. org/10.1177/003288554102100303 Taxman, Faye S. 2012. “Probation, Intermediate Sanctions, and Community Based Corrections.” p. 363-385 in The Oxford Handbook of Sentencing and Corrections, edited by J. Petersilia and K. R. Reitz. New York, NY: Oxford University Press. Winkler, Joe 2021. “Probation — Past, Present, & Future.” P. 23-33 in the American Probation and Parole: Perspectives, vol. 45, edited by K. Kras, San Diego State University.

Graphic courtesy FDC Bureau of Research and Data, 2023

Conclusion In 1841, John Augustus boldly decided to blaze a new trail rather than follow the established path. He charted his course, and for nearly two centuries, probation officers have been safeguarding the public through various meth ods (Reinemann, 1941). The progression of probation in Florida has witnessed a growth in the supervised population, driven by a shift in philosophy toward providing individuals under su pervision with the necessary resources to successfully complete their terms and become more productive mem bers of society. The “Father of Probation” would likely find modern day probation highly impressive, as the role of today’s

Joe Winkler, the Assistant Secretary of Community Corrections at the Florida Department of Corrections, oversees operation of over 146 statewide probation offices and provides direction to correctional probation staff supervising adult felony offenders, bringing over two decades of experience in various roles within the department.

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