CORRECTIONAL SERVICES PS CALLS FOR INTEGRITY AS SHE OPENS INDUCTION WORKSHOP FOR PACS MIDDLE LEVEL MANAGERS

By Nicholas Kigondu

State Department for Correctional Services Principal Secretary Dr. Salome Beacco says the department has embarked on evidence-based strategic reforms meant to propel probation and aftercare services to the next level.

Speaking at the Nakuru Girls probation hostels during an induction workshop for PACs middle level management, the PS said probation and aftercare services remain important pillars in the criminal justice system.

“We must take probation and aftercare services to the next level. The significance of your role can never be gainsaid. This is your time to shine.” The PS told the forum.

She said the induction programme was borne out of the fact that it was important to equip station heads with requisite skills for efficient service delivery adding that it was necessary for them to internalize the great responsibility of running the affairs of the state department.

“Do we have the maturity of character to give our best without necessarily being supervised? That is what we should demand of ourselves each day,” she challenged the participants.

This even as she called for dedication, integrity and consistency in service delivery saying the work of probation officers has great impact on those at the bottom of the pyramid and the most vulnerable.

“Let’s be consistently hardworking, be steadfast, embrace emotional intelligence and embrace tenets of contentment,” she implored.

 The PS said the dedication of the officers saw 4,000 offenders benefit from the Community Service Orders programme undertaken by the judiciary last year revealing that the judiciary has pledged to support in capacity building efforts for the officers to further enhance service delivery.

Urging the participants to embrace teamwork, the PS challenged the officers to be ready to support those they have been given the responsibility to serve in line with this year’s theme of efficient service delivery for the common good.

Last month, the department organized a 3-day induction workshop for Probation and Aftercare Service senior managers in an event that was opened by the PS.

The Principal Secretary has been spearheading reforms within the department meant to transform the country’s correctional system into a corrections service of excellence.

Photo by Patrick Ambani