Survey Findings: Probation Officers Have No Confidence in Chief
Cook County probation officers have cast an enormous vote of no confidence in their current probation chief, according to an online survey conducted by the Illinois Policy Institute.
by Lee Williams
[Download the survey findings HERE.]
CHICAGO Cook County Adult Probation officers have cast an enormous vote of no confidence in their current probation chief, according to an online survey conducted by the Illinois Policy Institute.
An overwhelming majority of the survey participants 98.6-percentindicated they have no confidence in the abilities of acting-Chief Probation Officer Jesus Reyes to lead their department.
A clear majority of the respondentsmore than 70-percentbelieve someone should be promoted from within their agency to replace Reyes, rather than conducting a national search for a suitable candidate.
The officers chose the Cook County Chief Judge as the best person to fix the agency, rather than Reyes, the County President, state legislature or other elected officials.
The participants indicated that the biggest problem facing the probation department is a lack of accountability. A majority also chose increased accountability as the best way to correct the trouble-plagued agency, rather than additional transparency, more training or more resources and staff.
Reyes did not respond to calls or e-mails seeking comment for this story.
The Illinois Policy Institute sponsored the survey as part of its ongoing investigation into organizational and management practices within the Cook County Adult Probation Department. The online survey consisted of 11 questions, seven of which allowed the participants to anonymously insert additional comments. More than 180 written comments were submitted.
A total of 145 people participated in the survey32-percent of the 450 probation officers. Although an unscientific and informal poll, the depth of the written comments combined with interviews of sources within the department, who all said the poll became very popular among the probation staff, have given the Institute high confidence in the results.
The Institute furnished Reyes, Cook County Chief Judge Timothy Evans and County Board President Toni Preckwinkle with copies of the results of the informal poll. Their responses, if any, will be the subject of future reporting.