NORTHAMPTON — Probation officers are not often recognized for their role in the criminal justice system and the ways in which they help keep the public safe by their work with offenders.
“Probation is similar to umpires and referees,” says Hampshire Superior Court Judge Richard J. Carey. “If they do their job, you don’t hear about them.”
But on Friday morning, Jason Patrissi, the court’s assistant chief probation officer, received a significant honor for his service, being presented the statewide Probation Ovation Award, given to one person working in the state’s 12 superior courts annually since 2015.
Carey, who jointly nominated Patrissi with Chief Probation Officer Garry Young, said Patrissi demonstrates his abilities daily by ensuring that people returning to society from prison do not relapse and that they and others serving probation are getting necessary support.
“I am very cognizant that when things are quiet, it doesn’t mean they aren’t busy,” Carey said.
In the courtroom, where employees from the superior and district courts, as well as the Northwestern district attorney’s office gathered, Sarah Joss, deputy commissioner for the state’s probation office, handed Patrissi the award, in the shape of a star.
The award, Joss said, describes Patrissi as tireless and going out of his way to ensure a proper solution is applied for all offenders.
“His integrity shines through in everything he does,” Joss said.
Patrissi complimented his six colleagues, observing it is a collective effort, and that the award reflects positively on the entire team.
“I feel inspired by the people who work hard every day,” Patrissi said.
In a typical day, Patrissi is often the first person someone sees when leaving the superior court, and he refers people to services and assigns them probation officers. Patrissi also contacts the victims to provide details about what is happening with their cases.
Patrissi has been based at Hampshire Superior Court since 2006 and in his current role for the past three years, where he also has been part of the Northwestern district attorney’s High-Risk Domestic Violence Team.
His wife Jac Patrissi said that her husband is soft-spoken, but when he does talk he speaks with integrity. She said that when he was working in probation in Vermont and her family would be walking on the street, some of those who knew her husband would approach him, give him a hug or a handshake and offer him thanks for treating them “like a human being.”
Young said Patrissi was interim supervisor for 13 months, from September 2017 to October 2018, and made the transition easy for him.
“He does work with such excellence that it has to be recognized,” Young said.
“His work speaks for itself,” Young added. “From day one he’s been on top of everything.”
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
