BOPP Launches Women's Support Group

NASHVILLE - In response to the growing female population on probation and parole, the Board of Probation and Parole's Knoxville District is forming a support group for women under its supervision.  The group's focus is to give female offenders who have experienced trauma the tools to overcome their experiences and successfully complete their supervision.

 

Gary Tullock, state Field Services Director for BOPP, says, "By helping female offenders recognize and address the unique issues that contributed to their crimes, we are equipping them to make better choices in the future."

 

The open house is scheduled for Thursday, April 1, from 6:00pm until 8:00pm EDT, at the Probation and Parole office, 1426 Elm Street, Knoxville.  The event will provide an introduction to the Women's Support Group.  Interested offenders, as well as members of the community, are invited to attend.  The support group will meet weekly.

 

The group’s formation is part of BOPP’s Think BIG initiative. Think BIG is a change in philosophy and operations that focuses on offender success through behavior intervention goals (BIG). BOPP Probation/Parole Officers and support staff are utilizing strategies in four critical areas: offender success through case management, allowing and encouraging officers to do more work in the field (outside of the office), communications and staff safety. 

 

The Board of Probation and Parole uses the latest research in working with offenders. Tennessee implemented advancements such as validated assessment tools and community supervision strategies before many other states. The Think BIG initiative continues Tennessee’s practice of taking research, converting it to supervision standards and using the findings to increase community safety.

 

The Board of Probation and Parole (www.tn.gov/bopp/) is an independent seven-member board whose members are appointed by the Governor. The Board is charged with the responsibility of deciding which eligible felony offenders will be granted parole and released from incarceration to community-based supervision. Along with the supervision of those granted parole, the Board is also responsible for supervising felony offenders who are placed on state-supervised probation by criminal courts.