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Dear Sir,
We are writing in regards to the recent abolishment of the Day Reporting Program at the Probation and Parole District #43 Office in Tazewell and Buchanan Counties Virginia. Sir, we feel that we must with great emotional hurt for our community voice our concerns.
Sir, since the induction of the Black Diamond Day Reporting Program and, the careful considered hiring and placement of the highly skilled and dedicated professionals that headed and made up the supervision of the program, our communities have exploded with support. For maybe the first time, our community has begun to view the Department of Corrections and Probation and Parole, not as a cold and uncaring entity with no care for the demise of the people caught up in the Criminal Justice System, but as an organization willing and wanting to assist people in making positive changes in their lives and in turn, in the community. Most of these probationers have been introduced to the Criminal Justice System due to the awful prescription drug and alcohol problem that has and continues to devastate the communities of Southwest Virginia in particular Tazewell and Buchanan Counties. So devastating that major national media has covered the story of Southwest Virginia, “The OxyContin Capital of the Nation.” Our community has begun to see attitudes shifting more toward care, concern, and true empathy. Not of just more “police” wanting to incarcerate them. Sir, please understand that our community includes first and foremost our children. Children that were left without mothers and fathers and, even extended family such as grandparents, bothers, sisters and aunts and uncles, as the effects of prescription narcotic drugs and alcohol ravaged their families.
Sir, just as our community through the churches, courts, probation and parole and other concerned organizations began to come together to fight against what has been destroying our community, this move on the part of the Department of Corrections, seems to indicate that they have or are willing to give up on the caring and treatment of the people of Southwest Virginia. Evidence Based programs were starting to see real results in these Southwest Virginia Counties. Give up, when other states are moving toward the treatment of the awful effects of alcohol and drugs (jails, institutions, and death). Give up and, what, build more prisons. Maybe not in the short run but, as the jails and prisons fill up and go above capacity, the state will have no choice. And what of the ones that occupy the prisons, the loved ones, neighbors, friends, fathers and mothers. What happens to the families left? The children, wives and husbands, mothers and fathers, where will they turn and what will the state have to burden to care for them.
Sir, we are well aware that Virginia had to make tough choices as the results of the economic situations that are upon us effect budgets. However, to make a choice to stop what is working to reduce recidivism, keep people in the community, allowing them to recover to become productive citizens, working and paying taxes, taking care of their children and, not having the tax burden to house them in institutions is questionable. Sir, the move by the Department of Corrections to close some institutions to save money and, having the ability to do so because other larger institutions can, at this time, absorb the burden of more people at a reduced cost, seems positive. However, than to stop what is working and to have an influx of new people entering the system will negate the move over time. Considering that some type of electronic monitoring will keep people from using does not seem positive. Our community knows that our people affected do not come from gangs, big time drug dealers, or even the common street dealer. Our problem is for the most part prescription drugs. Narcotic drugs obtained in some cases from legitimate sources but, once released have had overwhelming consequences to the user and our communities. We are now fighting this plague with the support and often the leadership of the Department of Corrections.
Sir, we are aware that some reduction across the state in treatment programs was and possibly is necessary. However, by leaving some or as many as possible of the Probation and Parole Officers in place to continue, even at an increased work load for them at this time, the work that has started and is growing in Southwest Virginia can continue. It does not need to have a name, it does not need to be called a program, it can with the highly trained and unselfish Probation and Parole Officers that were in place, continued support of the courts, support of community churches and organizations and, what public funds that are still available, continue to work and progress. The progress made will continue and the Department of Corrections will still reduce cost.
However, the “key” to the Department of Corrections part is the Probation and Parole Officers. These Probation and Parole Officers have dedicated their time and efforts to go above and beyond their duties. These Probation and Parole Officers have secured the training necessary to be effective in their field. Two of the Probation and Parole Officers are Virginia Licensed Certified Substance Abuse Counselors, have secured training and were leaders in Effective Communication and Evidence Based Practices. These Probation and Parole Officers have helped put into place and have attended community support activities aimed at stopping or reducing drug addiction and the consequences of such. These Probation and Parole Officers have worked with the courts and law enforcement of these two counties to reduce crimes and the burdens placed on local governments. This has taken dedication and work above what the Department of Corrections has asked of these Officers.
Sir, we are requesting that the Department of Corrections continue to support our efforts. Please, as positions HELD are available to be relocated to Southwest Virginia, especially Tazewell and Buchanan Counties, the most devastated counties in Southwest Virginia due to prescription narcotic drug abuse and the awful affects of such, consider keeping as many as possible of the dedicated personnel in place. According to Dennis Lee, Commonwealth Attorney for Tazewell County, Tazewell County is now leading the state of Virginia in the rate of overdose deaths, not per capita, but in pure numbers. Then, with God’s help, our communities can hopefully continue to recover. Saving not only money and reducing in the long run the cost to society and taxpayers, but first and foremost the lives and families of those affected here in Tazewell and Buchanan Counties.
Sincerely,