In honor of Women's History Month, the Department of Corrections will highlight some of the exceptional women who work for the DOC and the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole. We are grateful for the wonderful women who work in Pennsylvania's criminal justice system.
Michelle Rivera
District Director 2
Parole Eastern Region
District Director Michelle Rivera began her career with the commonwealth in 1993 as a youth aide worker at the Youth Development Center and ultimately became a youth counselor. In 1996 she worked as an income maintenance worker the Department of Human Services (Welfare).
Michelle began her career with the Parole Board in September 1998 and has held a variety of positions from line institutional agent, field agent, first line parole supervisor, deputy district director and director of parole. She has a wealth of information regarding the operation of probation and parole and related systems, and more importantly she has the passion and desire to share with her staff her knowledge base.
Her focus is always on improving her staff as well as herself while aligning herself with the agency's mission and vision. She has shown a commitment to her staff as well as the parolees and community serviced. She is detailed, fact oriented and relentless in the pursuit of resolution. Although her presentation is professional, it is often misinterpreted. She should be viewed as one who is a "go-getter."
Michelle is direct and tempers that directness with politeness and courtesy, forging ahead to empower her staff and herself to be the best at what they do.
Mary O'Neill
Parole Agent 2
Parole Special Offender Unit #2
Parole Agent Mary Katherine O'Neill joined the PBPP Sex Offender Unit #2 in 2015 after working for Philadelphia County Probation for 12 years. She came highly recommended from the chief of probation and has not been a disappointed. Mary admitted that she was not thrilled with the sex offender assignment but like every task she is given, she rises to the occasion by committing fully to the task and exceeding expectations.
Mary currently oversees one of the toughest sex offender caseloads as she volunteered to supervise the homeless population. With that said, Mary's unemployment rate is at 19%, and only 20% of her caseload is non-compliant with supervision fees. In addition to all the support for her caseload, she has also built a great relationship with the Office of Supportive Housing staff and all the shelters she supervises.
Mary's District Deputy Director Caitlin McLaughlin met with staff from the Office of Supportive Housing who commended Mary's balanced supervision approach with helping those that want the help and addresses the offenders that have failed to comply with conditions of their supervision and/or rules at the shelter.
Dr. Erica Williams of TAP - one of our sex offender treatment providers - had the following to say about Mary:
"Agent O'Neill possesses a difficult-to-emulate skill set in supervising a difficult population. Individuals who commit and are convicted of sexual offenses carry their own unique and specialized risk factors. Agent O'Neill is a constant at available trainings contributing to her specialized understanding of this population. In addition to taking the time to learn the skills, she consistently demonstrates the ability to apply the skills in an insightful and rapid manner. Agent O'Neil strikes a balance between managing the offender in the community and ensuring they are respected as a person who is rehabilitating. She collaborates with community partners and exchanges critical information regarding the offender to treatment providers throughout her in person observations and interactions of the individual in the community."
Allentown District
Lori Lynde
Parole Agent 2
Allentown District Office
On December 20, 2018, Agent Lori Lynde, while in the course of her duties, encountered a woman in the bathroom of a Wawa convenience store who was in a state of overdose of suspected heroin/fentanyl as evidenced by the presence of a heroin needle and the woman being in an unconscious state. Lori administered two doses of Narcan which revived the woman, which ultimately saved her life. In addition, Lori was in constant communication with emergency dispatch staff while all of this was occurring. She also sought the aid of Wawa employees as well as assisted EMS and law enforcement personnel on scene.
Lori's employment with the Commonwealth began in September 2006 as a corrections officer at SCI Mahanoy. Upon successful completion of one-year training (various shifts / positions within the prison), she was permanently assigned to 2nd shift as a block officer (F block) and later assigned to the prison's search team in early 2008.
On November 1, 2008, she started with PBPP and was assigned to the Reading Sub-Office (temporary assignment in the Allentown District Office in 2011 to assist with vacancies).
Lori has held various caseloads, including general supervision (Bethlehem City, Reading City and rural western Berks County), Wernersville Community Corrections Center (VPB and general housing), Conewago Pottsville (detox/inpatient), Gaudenzia New Destiny and Mental Health (Berks County).
Scranton District
Karen Musto
Clerk Typist 2
Scranton District Office
Karen has been employed with the Scranton District Office (SCO) since October 5, 2015.
During the first six months of 2018, the SDO's clerical staff was operating at 60% of authorized strength. Karen assumed responsibility for additional agents and helped keep daily operations on track.
During this period the On-Base uploading project was also on the front burner of assignments to be completed. She routinely came in early and stayed late to keep pace with the workflow. Her attendance was perfect.
Her dedication and enthusiasm toward her demanding job was ever present. During mid-2018, after the district's clerical complement returned to authorized strength, though not contained within her job description, Karen played a key role in training the two new members of Scranton's clerical staff.
Karen is a mature, no-nonsense administrative professional who does her job to the best of her ability day in and day out. An "unsung hero" she is most deserving of recognition for her many and varied contributions toward mission accomplishment.
Eileen Culkin
Parole Agent 2
Scranton District Office
Agent Eileen Culkin was appointed as a parole agent on September 24, 2017, and was assigned to the Scranton District Office.
Eileen currently handles all aspects of parole operations for a total of 108 Parole Violation Center (PVC) male/female beds divided between two Parole Violation Centers (Lackawanna County PVC and the Columbia County PVC), which are more than 60 miles apart.
In addition to in- and out-processing on average 60 individuals per month, she expertly handles 45-day case reviews, home plans, Bureau of Community Corrections center placement processing; and up to 30 transports to various state correctional facilities per month involving parolees with recommitment board actions.
Parole violators placed at Eileen's assigned PVCs usually come from five districts covering 37 counties within Eastern and Central Pennsylvania.
To assist her fellow agents from around the Commonwealth, Eileen is actively involved in serving Notices of Charges and processing parole hearing waiver documents on a daily basis. She also maintains her qualification as a Board appointed part-time Deputy U.S. Marshal charged will locating and apprehending parole absconders.
Eileen has the unique ability to multi-task and manage all actions without shortfall. She is a consistent top performer on the agency's Monthly Performance Audit Report.