Probation means a court ordered
sanction imposed upon an offender for a period of supervision no greater
than set by statute. It is imposed as an alternative to confinement
or in conjunction with confinement or intermediate sanctions. The
purpose of probation is to deter further criminal behavior, punish
the offender, help provide reparation to crime victims and their communities,
and provide offenders with opportunities for rehabilitation.
The MACPO Legislative Committee assigned an "Option 60" sub-committee
to look into an early retirement option for probation officers and corrections agents
funded by increased employee contributions to PERA.
PERA conducted an actuarial study in 2008, and the findings were presented
to MACPO on April 20th, 2009. Here are the results of the study in PDF format. Also, an informational newsletter was put together in October 2009, explaining the Early Retirement Option and how it works in PDF format.