Michael F. Easley
Governor

Theodis Beck
Secretary

North Carolina Department of Correction

TAYLORSVILLE — When Alexander County needed a probation and parole officer to handle the sex offender caseload in 1996, Barbara Carrigan volunteered for the job. Since she took over, not one of the sexual offenders she has supervised has committed another sexual offense.

"They know that if they get caught, they’re looking at more time and they don’t want that, because other offenders in prison target them," said Carrigan. "Plus, they are required to comply with sex offender treatment as part of their probation and they learn what the red flags are and how to control them."

Carrigan has a caseload of 37 offenders, of which 21 are sex offenders. She makes sure that the offenders adhere to probation conditions, such as polygraphs, searches, home visits and drug tests. Most important, Carrigan focuses on getting offenders the treatment they need to modify their behavior, such as anger management, substance abuse treatment and sexual offense treatment.

"Sex offender treatment providers work hand in hand with community corrections and the offenders are required to meet each and every week to discuss issues dealing with their offense and any deviant behavior," says Carrigan. "The offenders can expect me to show up at any time during the class to make sure they are complying."

A 1994 graduate of Lenior-Rhyne College, Carrigan is a member of the board of the Alexander County Day Reporting Center. She also is a general instructor for the Department of Correction and a past president of the North Carolina Probation and Parole Association’s Division 3.

Governor Michael F. Easley has proclaimed July 14-20, 2002 Probation, Parole and Community Supervision Officers’ Week in recognition of more than 2,000 community supervision officers who help protect public safety by supervising approximately 116,000 offenders on probation, parole or post-release supervision in North Carolina communities.