By Jakiya Dudley, Digital Media Specialist
GREENVILLE – On Wednesday, June 28, I visited the Greenville Field Office. Located in downtown Greenville at 102 Camellia Avenue, this field office serves the needs of probationers and parolees in Butler, Crenshaw and Lowndes counties.
Upon my visit, I was kindly greeted by Administrative Support Assistant III Jennifer Knighten, who is the newest member to the Greenville office. “I am excited to begin my journey of serving my community in a new way,” said Knighten. She previously served at the Crenshaw County Sheriff’s Office as an office administrator for 15 years, which made her the perfect person for her newly found position with the Bureau. She also highlighted her love for the small, close-knit group of staff members who she connected with almost instantly.
One of those staff members included Specialist Joyce McPherson, who is also a recent addition to the Greenville office. McPherson manages and organizes probationer and parolee records and documents for the office so they are easily accessible when needed. Her prior law enforcement experience with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office and the 35th Judicial Circuit Drug Task Force gives her a great advantage to efficiently serve in her new position. “Although it’s only been a short amount of time here in the Greenville office, I can already tell this is going to be like home,” she said. “It’s a different scope of law enforcement for me, but a great learning experience.”
I also had the pleasure of meeting relatively new Probation and Parole Officer Heather Koerner. Officer Koerner described this position as a new way she can help people. As a previous law enforcement detective and the Vice President of the domestic violence shelter in Opp, Alabama, most of Koerner’s career has consisted of lending a helping hand to those who need support and guidance. “One of my primary goals in my position is to help my clients be a better version of themselves,” she said. “I want to see them succeed and I’m willing to help and motivate them to do just that.”
Although the Greenville Field Office is filled with new team members, their combined knowledge is the fuel that will help them achieve greater heights in the community.
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.
Greenville Field Office Team
From left: District Manager Reginald Carter, Officer-in-Charge Amanda Poole, Probation and Parole Officer Heather Koerner, Specialist Joyce McPherson, Administrative Support Assistant III Jennifer Knighten, Probation and Parole Officer Melvin Stallworth
Administrative Support Assistant III Jennifer Knighten
Specialist Joyce McPherson
Probation and Parole Officer Heather Koerner
Greenville Field Office exterior.