The Bottom/Oranjestad – The Pubic Entities of Saba and St. Eustatius now have their own probation officer. Rijksdienst Caribisch Nederland (RCN) has recruited a probation officer for Saba and St. Eustatius in the person of James Williams. Williams officially started work in the islands effectively March 14th and is assigned to set up and execute probation and youth probation activities.
This includes setting up the three intervention models in line with how these have been introduced on Bonaire. He is expected to advise on the scope of the formation and eventual execution of activities which are required on both islands. This assignment is commissioned by the Director of the Court of Guardianship of the Dutch Caribbean, Esther Pourier and the Director of the Dutch Caribbean Probation Foundation, Roos Barelds.
Other responsibilities within this assignment include bringing into view the relevant network for the implementation of probation, youth probation and community services. This means working in close collaboration with employers and closing contracts with those who are willing to allow youngsters to carryout community services in their employment. The probation officer is expected to advise both directors and the Quartermaster for Security and Justice, Mariette Horstink, on how to approach the situation based on a complete overview of the number of offenses to indicate the need for intervention by youth probation and probation. He is further expected to research the possibility of youth probation handling more criminal related tasks with special attention for care for victims.
Youth probation work and probation work for Saba and St. Eustatius involve lending early intervention when a person is detained; preparing an information report for the Prosecutor or the court in criminal cases; setting up community service projects and guiding persons who are sentenced to community service or who receive community service based on a provisional dismissal; guiding youth under youth probation and guiding adults who are under probation by the judge; leading perpetrator- victim interviews. The probation and youth probation activities are being financed by the Ministry of Security and Justice.