They would never say it or even think it, but in their mind they know that the workers in this area are the people they can trust. I have people who are no longer my probationers who call me and say they need to come by for just a few minutes. One man had to come here for some sense of normalcy and security, then he was alright for the time.

I think that they can feel secure and that there’s a sense of security with their PO. Because this person isn’t going to be abused, I think that there’s almost an understated sense of security.

In contrast, the relationships on the street are generally there for mutual exploitation and can be easily broken when one doesn’t live up to the other’s purpose.

Marilynn Watchorn
Probation Officer

Update: Marilynn continued as a PO for many years. She received the Governor General’s Corrections Exemplary Service medal in 2003 and a bar to add to that in 2011.