By Jakiya Dudley, Digital Media Specialist
TUSKEGEE, Ala – On Tuesday, March 14, I visited the Tuskegee Field Office in Macon County. Located downtown at 211 North Main Street, this field office provides centralized access to the needs of the county’s probationers and parolees.
I had the pleasure of meeting each of the office’s three employees: Officer-in-Charge William Riggins, Officer Nicholas Stewart, and Administrative Support Assistant Jacqueline Jordan. The jovial atmosphere was evident among the team upon my arrival. The small, closeknit group said they enjoy working together while providing reentry and rehabilitation services throughout their community. “We’re like a family away from home who help and support each other to reach the common goal,” said ASA Jordan.
Although the team is small, there is tons of experience between them. As a 19-year Bureau employee, OIC Riggins has a long history of law enforcement experience and state service. Riggins served as a deputy sheriff for Montgomery County for 13 years prior to working for the Bureau. Likewise, Officer Stewart also has a broad experience in law enforcement as he has worked with the Department of Youth Services helping to foster positive paths for delinquent children. Additionally, ASA Jordan has worked with Children’s Rehabilitation Services and Department of Human Resources.
The Tuskegee staff truly love what they do and find value in helping people change their lives. “We all are extremely passionate about reducing recidivism rates and ensuring that our probationers and parolees maintain a constructive lifestyle.” Stewart said. “We work diligently to prevent them from reoffending.”
“We find ourselves going the extra mile to encourage and help these individuals to stay on track in order to get off parole.” Riggins added. “We aspire to see them do better and be better.” The Bureau has 62 field offices, serving all Alabama counties. Field offices function as a local base of operations for Probation and Parole Officers, specialists and other support staff. Officers are required to make various contacts with probationers and parolees based on their risk level. These contacts range from a monthly office visit for lower risk individuals to weekly office, home, employment and curfew checks for higher risk individuals. In addition, officers are tasked with various types of investigations requested by the Bureau or courts, as well as assisting other law enforcement agencies when needed.
