A plan to close the state Probation and Parole office in Middlebury as part of the state’s budget cuts is coming under fire. Some local officials worry about the oversight of offenders and whether the closing will save money.
Corrections officials estimate closing, scheduled for Jan. 31, will save the state $40,000 in rent and payroll.
But some local officials, including the Addison County state’s attorney, says the closing will cause additional costs and headaches to the court system, when offenders lack supervision or are held in violation because they can’t get to Rutland or Burlington to report to probation offices.
Corrections officials say supervision won’t suffer and could even be strengthened when caseloads are moved to Rutland and Burlington.