By Jakiya Dudley, Digital Media Specialist
MOULTON, Ala. – With each field office visit, comes new insight about our officers at Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles. This time around, I had the opportunity to visit the Moulton Field Office, which recently relocated to 12441 Alabama Highway 157. This small but mighty office serves Lawrence County’s population of probationers, parolees, and mandatory supervised release individuals.
While having the busy task of overseeing seven counties, District Manager Sid Slate found the time to welcome me to the Moulton Field Office and introduce me to his top-notch team. DM Slate is no stranger to the ins and outs of law enforcement. He has been with the Bureau for two decades and has served as a police officer in many counties throughout Alabama. DM Slate takes pride in his Moulton staff, as he applauds their work. “The dedication and professionalism of my team here at the Moulton office never fails to impress me. Their commitment to serving our community and helping individuals rebuild their lives is truly remarkable,” DM Slate said.
After hearing such great remarks about the staff, I was excited to learn more about each of them — which led me to Senior Probation and Parole Officer Chad Guest, who is a 10-year employee of the Bureau. Guest explained the fulfillment he receives from witnessing the growth of parolees he has supervised. He said, “One thing I truly enjoy about my career is having the opportunity to guide individuals in need of my support toward a journey of rehabilitation and a fresh start.” However, every offender’s rehabilitation journey is not a success story. Officer Guest added, “Sometimes officers can’t change every probationer or parolee, so witnessing the change of just one is still rewarding.”
The Moulton office holds a wealth of knowledge and experience between each staff member and Officer William Kemp adds to it! Officer Kemp has also been with the Bureau for a decade and enjoys the diversity of his role. “Every day, my position presents a new way for me to be a positive impact,” Kemp said. “Whether it’s connecting clients to the appropriate resources or simply being a source of encouragement for them, the variety of roles I play allows me to see potential growth in each individual I encounter.”
Probation and Parole Officer Joshua Silas prioritizes building a professional bond with clients in order to catapult their success. “Building a strong relationship with offenders fosters a foundation of trust and a mutual respect,” he said.
Officers at the Moulton Field Office do an amazing job of serving the community on the forefront, but who plays the crucial role of supporting the daily operations of the office? Senior Specialist Erin Crocker serves as not only Moulton’s specialist, but also the district’s specialist. In addition to Moulton, she covers Franklin, Marion, and Winston counties. She provided her insight on what seemed to be a heavy workload. “Though it gets busy, I truly enjoy being a helping hand to all of the officers and ensuring everything is running smoothly,” Specialist Crocker said. “DM Slate and the officers make my tasks easy because they provide me with the necessities to efficiently assist them in whatever they need.”
Administrative Support Assistant Vickie Hood has served at Moulton Field Office for over 25 years. She was not in the office at the time of my visit; however, she was spoken of highly. “Ms. Vickie Hood is one of the unsung heroes here at the Moulton office,” District Manager Slate said. “Although ASA Hood and Specialist Crocker’s contributions may not always be in the spotlight, their impact resonates throughout every aspect of our work as officers.”
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.
The Moulton Field Office exterior
The Moulton Field Office interior