Ceremony To Honor Successful Probationer​s In Marin County

SAN RAFAEL, CA — A dozen probationers who turned their lives around will be added to the Marin County Probation Department's Wall of Change at a special ceremony at the county Board of Supervisors meeting this week.

The Probation Department has held the ceremony for the last six or seven years. Some of the 12 who will be recognized for their achievement on Wednesday may not be able to attend this year's 3 p.m. ceremony because they are working, Chief Probation Officer Michael Daly said.

Those who join the Wall of Change have their photo and short story posted on the Wall of Change in the Probation Department at the county Civic Center in San Rafael. The framed stories and photos include a first-person account from the probationer and words from their assigned probation officer.

"Almost everyone on the Wall of Change has hit the bottom of the bottom and came back up," Daly said.

They have committed themselves to leading safe and sober lives and have experienced stability and personal triumph and receive public credit for their accomplishments. Among those who made the Wall of Change in the past is a female probationer who currently is earning a doctorate degree, and a male probationer who overdosed and actually was dead for four minutes, Daly said.

Daly said they have overcome barriers to success other Marin County residents do not face.

"We have this Wall of Change ceremony so they feel the support of the community," Daly said. "A lot of times, that might be the first real public support and encouragement they have felt in their whole lives.

"We also do it to inspire the people who are new to probation, so they know the support system from this community event is there for them to succeed," Daly said.

The ceremony Wednesday is in the Board of Supervisors' chambers in Suite 330 at the Civic Center, 3501 Civic Center Drive. It starts at 2:30 p.m. with refreshments, and the ceremony begins at 3 p.m.

– Bay City News Service