Mission and History
Protecting Your Job and Advancing Your Career
The Black Probation Officers Association (BPOA) is a voice to advance the interest of our members and a leading voice in the field of Probation and Corrections. As a non-profit organization, we serve the interest of our members through training conferences and advancing public policy measures to ensure the safety and well-being of the public and our members. BPOA is the largest and most influential African American law Probation organizations in the country.
Our History
BPOA was founded at the height of the African American Freedom Movement in the 1960s. African Americans in the Probation Department were subject to discriminatory practices that limited their advancement and voice in the Department. Given this, in 1968 fifteen, African American Deputy Probation Officers demanded an end to racial discrimination and fought for racial and gender diversity in the Department. The courageous stand and struggle of these men and women has made possible the diversity in all employment classifications we see today. The Probation Department is substantially better off because of its diversity. We owe a debt of gratitude to our founding members and to those who have followed in their footsteps to make the Probation Department the best and most productive place to work.