The program received its accreditation at the National Conference of the American Probation and Parole Associations on Aug. 29 in Norfolk, Va.

The center has offered the program since February 1997, said Peggy Spraggins, field coordinator for the center.

In 1994, judges from Summit County sought proposals for an adult probation officer training program, said James B. Tinnin, director of the center.

The judges chose not to enact the program for a year. Then, in December 1995, the center teamed up with Rick Osborne, a retired police officer from Tallmadge, and combined their bids, Spraggins said. They were accepted as the contract agency.

With almost two years underway, the center decided to apply for accreditation. It submitted its application July 1.

"When we decided to get the program accredited, we decided to do it through the university so that we could offer it to any of the other counties who wanted their adult probation officers to take part in this program," Tinnin said.

"If we had just accredited the Summit County program, it would have only been for their probation officers."

The yearlong program enrolls 39 officers.

The January 1999 program will be open to adult probation officers from across the state, and the center hopes to have 120 students enrolled, Spraggins said.

The program offers two four-hour classes each month, and officers are required to take 40 hours to complete the program.

Class topics range from managing change to business writing skills to the use of pepper spray in the field, Spraggins said.

The varied topics help to achieve the purpose of the program.

"The essence of the program is to create a more professional person who's doing the job," Tinnin said.

"For the last two years, we've brought in a lot of local resources to help them do this. We've met with the judges and looked at what's important in terms of the position."

George Harper, chief probation officer for the Summit County Court of Common Pleas, encourages his officers to enroll in the program.

"I'm in favor of officers and anyone looking to get into the field attending the program," Harper said. "It's important in any profession that you know your trade.

"The program can give an overview of what's involved, who's involved in the criminal justice system and what it entails. This along with an internship really blends reality with theory."