Congratulations go to Selma Carrow, Court Officer, with the Alachua County Pretrial Services, for being the recipient of the 2009 National Association of Pretrial Service Agencies (NAPSA) Southeast Region’s James B. Droege Memorial Scholarship Award.  NAPSA is the only nationally recognized Pretrial Services Association in the United States. 

Selma is a valuable member of the Alachua County Pretrial Team who has taken on the role of maintaining the training files for all Pretrial staff members.  Selma was also instrumental in Alachua County Pretrial Services achieving their initial Pretrial Accreditation status.  Selma is a true dedicated professional who enjoys assisting behind the screens.  In addition to these additional duties, Selma has been instrumental in maintaining the Association of Pretrial Professionals of Florida (APPF) membership lists and membership data base.  For the past few years, Selma is also responsible for preparing APPF membership certificates.

The James B. Droege Memorial Scholarship Award is a scholarship to attend the annual NAPSA training conference.  It was first awarded in 1987.  The purpose of the award is to allow qualified individuals to attend the conference and return to their programs and put their newly acquired knowledge into action.  In April 1989, the NAPSA Board of Directors voted to continue the scholarships in memory of Jim Droege, former Director of the Indianapolis Bail Project (1969 to 1974) who oversaw the development of pretrial services in Marion County as Director until 1978.  Jim Droege served as Vice-President of the original NAPSA Board from 1973 to 1974 and again from 1976 to 1978.

Selma will be attending 37th NAPSA Annual Conference and Training Institute to be held in Charlotte, North Carolina.  This year’s conference, entitled ‘Game Plan for Change’, will be held at the Omni Charlotte Hotel from September 13-16th 2009.  Each year, NAPSA holds a conference that brings together pretrial practitioners and program directors from all jurisdictions including federal pretrial & probation, attorneys, judges, and researchers to discuss ideas and issues pertaining to the assessment and supervision or diversion of persons awaiting trial.  Over 500 participants attend the conference from across the country, including the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.

Way to go Selma.  You make us proud.

Jeff Kilpatrick, Pretrial Services Supervisor with the Department of Court Services has been selected to attend the National Institute of Corrections (NIC) management training program for pretrial executives. He was selected from a host of applicants who applied nationally. The National Institute of Corrections will offer the Orientation for Pretrial Executives on August 9-14, 2009, at the Institute’s Training Academy in Aurora, Colorado.

This 40-hour program is designed to enhance the leadership capacity and promote sound pretrial release practices for pretrial professionals with decision-making responsibilities. The program incorporates the National Association of Pretrial Service Agencies (NAPSA) Pretrial Release Standards with cutting-edge organizational and leadership strategies.

The program will provide participants with a collaborative learning environment for addressing the practical challenges facing pretrial release executives each day. In addition, the program will focus on enhancing participants’ knowledge and skills, strengthening networking among attendees and other pretrial professionals, and creating a learning and problem-solving environment through peer interaction and discussion between faculty and participants. Only 20 applicants are selected nationwide for each training.

Jeff is also president of the Association of Pretrial Professionals of Florida and a Commissioner with the Florida Corrections Accreditations Commission. He has many other professional and personal affiliations as well. Jeff is a well respected practitioner in the field of Pretrial Services. Attendance at this workshop is a career advancing opportunity for Jeff. It provides an opportunity for him to expand his pretrial services expertise as well as represent Alachua County and the State of Florida on a national level. He is well deserved of this opportunity. We are very proud of his accomplishments. Congratulations Jeff on being selected!!!!!

Submitted by:
Gerie R. Crawford,
Pretrial Services Manager
Department of Court Services

The National Association of Pretrial Service Agencies (NAPSA) began offering a certification program for professionals working in the area of Pretrial Services in 2006. Since that time, several Florida Pretrial Services agencies applied to NAPSA to take the examination in order to obtain certification CPSP (Certified Pretrial Services Professional) status.  Florida is leading the way with the number of pretrial practitioners passing the examination with Alachua and Volusia counties in the forefront.