news-record.com

Since the murder nearly two years ago in Chapel Hill of UNC-CH student body president Eve Carson, there's been an alarming lack of progress in efforts to reform the state's poorly performing probation system.

Two young men, who had fallen through the cracks of a broken, ineffective agency, were charged in Carson's death and await trial. Statewide between 2000 and 2008, 580 probationers were convicted of homicides.

At a December news conference, Gov. Bev Perdue said that the problems largely had been fixed. However, a recent investigation by The News & Observer of Raleigh indicates otherwise. That report says the system still is plagued by poor management, outdated technology, low pay, high turnover and unacceptable vacancy numbers for street-level officers who keep tabs on offenders.

For starters, the numbers are mind-boggling. In North Carolina, 1,750 probation officers are responsible for supervising more than 110,000 probationers. Caseloads approach 100 each.

A study last year showed that in Guilford County nearly a fifth of those people in the system couldn't be found. Often, they don't turn up unless they are arrested for other crimes. Yet, with more than 40,000 inmates already jammed into state prisons, probation must continue as a viable alternative to incarceration. This year, seven Department of Correction prison units were closed because of budget cutbacks.

Court plea bargaining, fair sentencing guidelines and prison overcrowding will only add to the number of probationers. Given that outlook, the state has no choice but to promptly address systemic problems.

Overworked, underpaid officers, tired of juggling heavy caseloads, often leave. An 8 percent vacancy rate and 10 percent turnover are crippling a beleaguered system.

The governor has vowed to pump millions into salary upgrades, improve technology and push for court reforms that make available to investigators relevant criminal records. Still, daunting problems persist.

Filling chronic vacancies must be a priority, and that means raising the $35,337 starting salary. But there also must be a cultural change that encourages bringing grievances to top managers and an increased reliance on new technologies.

Probation officers play a critical role in the criminal justice system. First, they monitor behavior. They also can get offenders on the path to becoming contributing, law-abiding citizens. And they most likely prevent future crimes by sending violators back to prison.

The focus now must be on giving them support and tools to do their job.