NATIONAL CORRECTIONS WEEK: That’s right, the first week of May is set aside each year to honor Corrections Officers and personnel, and the honorable job they do protecting society from its criminals.

McKean County Is home to many members of law enforcement including; police, probation parole and corrections. The responsibility of the local criminal justice system falls to these professionals, which includes investigation, arrest, incarceration and supervision. Corrections Officers are an integral part of this system.

The Corrections Officers at the McKean County Prison, Potter County Jail, Warren County Jail, FCI-McKean and SCI Forest State Penitentiary are tasked with ensuring the security of their facilities while ensuring the safety of staff and inmates. Corrections Officers take charge of defendants who were sentenced to incarceration and by doing so keep the greater population out of harm’s way of dangerous criminals. They continue the goals of the criminal justice system which includes punishment, deterrence and rehabilitation for the offender.

The work of these and other Corrections Officers is rarely seen, because they are able to ensure the security of their facilities without disruption to the surrounding community —Their roles are vital.

In the daily life of any Corrections Officer, the ever present risk of violence plagues their environment. Their dual obligations of maintaining peace while exuding authority is a unique mixture that is necessary to fulfilling their duties.

Corrections Officers are harmed and killed in the line of duty at an alarming rate. Which is a horrific reality they share with their brothers and sisters in other aspects of law enforcement. “We thank them for their sacrifice,” said McKean County District Attorney Stephanie Vettenburg-Shaffer. “On behalf of the McKean County District Attorney’s Office, I am honored to recognize correctional professionals and personnel.”