PPP Director Kela Thomas spoke recently at a news conference sponsored by Mothers Against Drunk Driving about a bill in the legislature that would expand the use of ignition interlock devices. The devices are intended to prevent drunk drivers from starting their cars.

MEET PPP'S NEWEST AMBASSADORS

Sixteen employees of the South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services attended the first-time Speakers Bureau Training Pilot to become ambassadors for the agency. The Speakers Bureau is a Department initiative intended to cultivate leadership, develop spokespersons from within, raise confidence levels and encourage job satisfaction. The ambassadors will go into their local communities to "spread the word" and educate citizens about the accomplishments and contributions of the Department.

First Row, from left:  Tiffany Peacock, Charleston; Karen Williams, York; Meredith Wise, Aiken; Loretta Goodwin, Director’s Office; Kay Hutson, Administrative Hearings; Beth Belue, Union; Sherese Wilson, York; Tamara Ratliff, Spartanburg.  Second Row, from Left:  Sean Karr, Pickens; Quintus Young, Richland; Greg Whittaker, Jasper; Steve Holliday, Kershaw; Dwight Burns, York; Heyward Hinton, Administrative Hearings; Condie Johnson, Richland; P. J. Patton, Field Operations.

To schedule a member of the Speakers Bureau to speak at your civic club or community organization’s event, please contact Jodi Gallman at (803) 734-9284.

MIDLANDS AREA JOB FAIR ATTRACTS THOUSANDS

PPP AGENT BASIC GRADUATION

The PPP Agent Basic Graduationon was held on Friday, March 22nd in the Central Office 5th Floor Training Room, honoring ten graduates.  The guest speaker was the Department's very own Deputy Director of Paroles and Pardons Robert Mitchell. Congratulations to: Quincy Adams – Richland, Jeremy Brunson – Pickens, Taylor Cox – York, Jonathan Deal – Spartanburg, Jacob Graf – Richland, Mitchell Gilfillan – York, Eloise Jamison – Columbia Center, Lacey Jeffcoat – FIOS/Central, Adam Osborne – Dorchester, and Brittany Richardson – Dorchester.  We look forward to their many years of productive service.

2012 ANNUAL AWARD WINNERS

Congratulations to all of our winners! The Annual Awards Program is a wonderful way to honor those employees who have demonstrated great leadership, resourcefulness creativity, and dedication to the state of South Carolina, to SCDPPPS, and to the field of Community Corrections. Each honoree was nominated by their colleagues to acknowledge that their hard work is greatly appreciated and has not gone unnoticed.

Governor Nikki R. Haley has proclaimed July 15 – 21 Probation, Parole and Community Supervision Week in South Carolina. Since 1841, the practice of probation and parole has played a vital role in our justice system. These professionals are a critical part of the public safety system. Today in America, there are over 5 million adults on community supervision and most of these individuals are monitored by Probation and Parole Agents. In South Carolina , more than 32,000 people are on probation, parole and other forms of community supervision.

PPP county office locations statewide celebrated the week with community-focused events. Activities included clothes, book and food drives. Staff also concentrated on a healthier lifestyle and a renewed commitment to the Agency.

The Dillon County office of the South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services held a Walk for Heroes recently at the Dillon Recreational Department track to honor law enforcement and armed forces personnel who have made the ultimate sacrifice. (From Left): Florence PPP Agent Mamie Hannah; Dillon PPP Agent Sharlene Fore; DCSD 1st Sgt. Johnnie Mae Smith; Dillon County PPP Agent-in-Charge Antonio Vaught; and South Carolina Appeals Court Judge James E. Lockemy.  

CJA GRADUATION-MAY 11TH

2012 VICTIMS RIGHTS WEEK CONFERENCE

Hundreds of attendees including victims, victim service providers, and other professionals convened in Columbia for the annual South Carolina Crime Victims’ Rights Week Conference, held May 2-4. The opening event, the Survivorship Unity Ceremony, asked victims to light candles in memory of their loved ones whose lives were shortened because of a criminal act.

PPP Victims Services Director Carol Woodard reads the poem “Not That I’m Gone” at the Survivorship Unity Ceremony.

SIMMONS HONORED BY SCCA

SCDPPPS Director Kela E. Thomas spoke at a news conference sponsored by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) at the South Carolina State House. The news conference was held in support of Senate Bill 746, which will extend the paramenters of the Ignition Interlock Device Program. Director Thomas explained how the IID Program could reduce drunk driving in South Carolina. The program, administered by SCDPPPS, was implemented as a result of the Prevention of Underage Drinking and Access to Alcohol Act of 2007. To date, there are nearly 770 South Carolina drivers enrolled in the program.

Director Thomas and Deputy Director Norton welcome a new class of Agent Basic graduates after ceremonies on March 2, 2012. They are Corey Campbell - Chester; Niquita Cook - Kershaw; James Graham - Sumter; Andrew Guest - Greenville; Tilie Palmore-Kilgore - Anderson; Samantha Sherod - Sumter; and Artina Wallace - Richland.

On February 17, 2012, PPP Director Kela Thomas graduated from the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy as a Class One Certified Law Enforcement Officer. Director Thomas now knows firsthand the rigors and intensive training Entry Level Agents face at the CJA.

Director Thomas is seated with fellow graduates of Class 579 during ceremonies at the CJA.

Joining Director Kela Thomas as CJA graduates on February 17th were Meli'sa Israel, April McFedden, and Andrew Scott.

(From left): Orangeburg Agent-in-Charge Kim Brantley, McFedden, Deputy Director for Field Operations Scott Norton. McFedden will be assigned to Orangeburg County.	From left): Greenville Asst. Agent-in-Charge Jeremy Windle, Andrew Scott, Meli ' sa Israel, Deputy Director Norton. Scott and Israel will be assigned to Greenville County.

These Agents walked across the stage at the Criminal Justice Academy on January 27th after the 12-week course: (from left) Meredith K.L. Wise, Aiken County; Christopher Summerville, Charleston; Melissa L. Downs, Dorchester.

A new class of Agent Basic graduates completed three weeks of training on PPP policies, procedures and supervision methods in December.

They are: Nicole Albany and Harold Alexander - Beaufort County; Monica Anderson - Greenville County; Brandon Cutshaw - Richland County' Tyrone Hicks - Beaufort County; Noel Husbands - Richland County; Robert Kilgo, III - Orangeburg County; Chase Lentz - Dorchester County; Matthew McMillen - Horry County; Jennifer Papa - Charleston County; Daniel Schirra - Lexington County; Venitra Stocker - Charleston County; Joseph Weed - Aiken County; and Ethan Weston - Charleston County.

Over the next few months, these graduates will head to the Criminal Justice Academy (CJA) for 12 weeks of intensive law enforcement training. Agents Tyrone Hicks and Noel Husbands were C-1 certified prior to joining the PPP family, so they will jump right into their Agent duties in their county offices.

Orangeburg County Probation and Parole Agent Patrice Simmons was presented the Mark Hart Probation and Parole Agent of the Year Award at the Alston Wilkes Society's 49th Annual Awards Luncheon in Columbia. The award is named after Mark Hart, an Agent in the Spartanburg office who died of cancer in 1983.

Simmons, who has been with the Department since 2005, also is the PPP 2011 Agent of the Year. When nominated, Simmons was said to be well known for her assistance to offenders with challenges. She is committed to ensuring that her offenders have the resources and understanding to successfully complete supervision. Peers note that she is just as dedicated to co-workers.

A new class of Agent Basic graduates completed three weeks of training on PPP policies, procedures and supervision methods. They are: Richard Ayer - Horry County (Honor Graduate); Katherine Boyd, Training; Melissa Downs, Dorchester County; Meli'sa Israel, Greenville County; April McFedden, Orangeburg County; Lindsey Rinehart, Dorchester County; Andrew Scott, Greenville County; Christopher Summerville, Charleston County; Mason Thomas, Office of the Director; and Meredith Wise, Aiken County.

Included in the photo are two Agents, who graduated from the Criminal Justice Academy the same day: Jayson Audette, Richland County; and Joseph Quick, Spartanburg County.

How It All Began… PPP Director Kela Thomas and Director of Special Operations Randy Bumgarner take a look at a copy of the letter signed by then Governor J. Storm Thurmond creating the Department as an entity.

The Department, along with the rest of the country, celebrated Probation, Parole and Community Supervision Week July 18-22, 2011. Since 1841, the practice of probation and parole has played a critical role in our justice system. PPP County offices celebrated the week by participating in activities focused on networking and camaraderie. More importantly, the week allowed all staff to reflect on the contributions each employee makes to society daily.

"Thinking Outside The Box, the theme for this year's Probation and Community Service Week is a testament to the creativeness we have demonstrated to keep our standards of excellence, our expectations high and our momentum forward. This has allowed us to think differently, unconventionally and with new perspectives to get the job done," noted Director Kela E. Thomas.

PPP Director Kela Thomas brought greetings to the South Carolina Probation and Parole Association Spring Training Conference held at Saluda Shoals Park Conference Center in Columbia.

Michael G. Richards, a Probation and Parole Agent in the Laurens County office, is the J. P. Strom Award recipient for the Criminal Justice Academy Basic Law Enforcement Session 566. Richards, who was honored during graduation ceremonies on March 18th, is the 11 th Probation and Parole Agent to receive this award since its inception. The 1995 honor graduate of the Citadel served in the South Carolina National Guard from 1990 to 1996.

This award, named after the long time Chief of SLED, is given to the student with the highest overall academic average, with a minimum of 96%, including the successful completion of all performance tests.

Ceremonies were recently held for the first class of new agents in nearly three years. (Left to right): Michael Richards, Laurens; Robert Aroneck, Jr., Charleston; Wiliam Garmany, Dorchester; Lonnie Stuckey, Georgetown; (Deputy Director for Field Operations, Mike Nichols, Former PPP Director Samuel Glover) Brandon Wallace, Spartanburg; Anna Bailey, Richland; Robin Herndon, Aiken; Heidi Blackstock, Anderson.

During a news conference in Columbia, SCDPPPS Director Sam Glover and Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott announced the permanent stationing of a deputy at the Richland County office “another proactive step toward protecting the citizens of Richland County .”

Lott stated that the female deputy will serve as a liaison for both agencies, identify wanted suspects, identify gang members, identify sex offenders, working with investigators, identifying offenders in areas noted for crime, and locating offenders through the use of technology. Within a matter of days of the program's inception, Deputy Green had already made four arrests.

Director Glover and Sheriff Lott both agreed that a partnership at this level is the first in the state and it is a major step in streamlining law enforcement resources and efforts. They both agreed that the Deputy chosen was the most qualified candidate because she served as a Probation and Agent for more than a year before joining the Richland County Sheriff's Department in January 2009. She is aware of the policies and procedures for both agencies and the level of excellence required by both agencies.