Bob L. Timm

Minot

North Dakota’s Parole and Probation Department is broken. Truly I can only speak to Ward County’s Parole and Probation Department, but being the state office is being run by the former Ward County Parole and Probation supervisor, I am taking a leap of faith that the problem may be statewide.

My case and point are being made from my firsthand interactions with several probation officers and their supervisor, Mr. Scott Kope. My interactions involve concern over a friend I will identify as Kate.

Kate appeared before Judge Louser, and Judge Louser graciously granted Kate probation after Kate’s fourth felony for drug offenses. Judge Louser could see that there was/is still hope for Kate as she (Kate) truly wanted help with her addiction and to rid herself of the shackles of drug addiction. Judge Louser wisely put restrictions on Kate’s probation, ordering Kate to undergo routine drug testing, complete several hours of community service work, get a job, and to be regularly checked upon by a North Dakota State Parole/Probation Officer.

The first officer put in charge of Kate was doing a good job but for one reason or another, she was handed off to another officer, who not only failed to see that Judge Louser’s orders were met she lost track of Kate when Kate was evicted from the residence in which she was staying. The eviction was about three weeks ago and as far as I know, the Ward County Parole/Probation Department has no idea where she is today (note: I have seen her on the street several times since her “disappearance.”)

Speaking from experience, there is absolutely NO cooperation between the North Dakota Parole/Probation Office and the community. Not asking for ANY details, I have inquired as to if they know where Kate is, and they would not even acknowledge that, but I know for a fact that they do not.

When speaking to Ward County’s supervisor, Scott Kope, he told me flat out, “We don’t have to enforce the judge’s ruling and we will do whatever we want to do or don’t want to do.” I find that attitude surprising and appalling. These people are supposed to help people, not abandon them. The judges, in their wisdom, are giving those they think deserve a second chance. The Probation/Parole Department openly defies the judge’s ruling and thereby sabotages the chances of the offender doing their best to fit back into our society.

I conclude with shame on the North Dakota Parole and Probation Department for picking and choosing who they wish to help and deliberately allowing others, like Kate, to fail because they do not receive the care ordered by good judges like Stacy Louser.