County probation director elected president of state-wide association

Photo by Tom Rivers: Luci Welch, director of the Orleans County Probation Department, receives a special recognition award from County Legislator Skip Draper on Wednesday.

ALBION – Luci Welch, director of the Orleans County Probation Department, has been elected by her peers that lead probation departments around the state to serve as president of the New York State Council of Probation Administrators (COPA).

Welch was presented with a “special recognition award” on Wednesday by the County Legislature for her leadership in the state-wide association.

“You have added great value to the New York State Probation Council and the Orleans County Probation Department through your endeavor assisting justice-involved individuals,” the citation reads from the Legislature. “Your continued dedication to the Public Safety of the people of Orleans County will  forever be widespread, long lasting and extremely appreciated.  The Orleans County Legislature does hereby commend you for your passion and dedication to our Orleans County residents.”

The County Legislature also presented Welch and two probation officers with a proclamation recognizing July 18-24 as “Pre-Trial, Probation and Parole Supervision Week.”

Legislators said the Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the services provided by these essential workers at probation.

“During these times of uncertainty, change, and unrest, Probation Professionals provide essential public services that our communities depend on,” legislators said in the proclamation. “Even as their roles expand and change, Probation Professionals help offenders rehabilitate and keep the public safe.”

Probation workers connect individuals on probation to drug and alcohol counseling, mental health assistance, job training, and other services.

The probation staff perform “an array of law enforcement work, including the supervision of a wide range of offenses involving both adults and juvenile offenders, from DWI cases to sex offenses to domestic abuse,” legislators said.

The probation workers “continue to perform this public service even as the Covid¬19 pandemic has added many complications for probation officers to supervise and made their jobs more difficult,” legislators stated in the proclamation.