CSOSA Celebrates Pretrial, Probation, and Parole Supervision Week 2026

Connected for Change: Building Bridges in Supervision

Each year during the third full week of July, communities across the country pause to recognize the men and women who supervise, support, and guide individuals on pretrial release, probation, and parole. This year, Pretrial, Probation, and Parole Supervision Week runs July 19–25, 2026, under the theme Connected for Change: Building Bridges in Supervision.

The Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency (CSOSA) joins the Pretrial Services Agency for the District of Columbia (PSA) and community supervision professionals nationwide — more than 90,000 strong — in marking this observance.

A legacy more than 180 years in the making

The profession traces its origins to John Augustus, a Boston shoemaker now known as the Father of Probation. In 1841, Augustus asked a court to allow him to personally supervise a man convicted of public intoxication rather than send him to jail. He helped the man secure stability and employment, and when the man returned to court weeks later, transformed, the judge suspended the sentence. Augustus went on to assist nearly 2,000 individuals over his lifetime, demonstrating that public safety and rehabilitation could work hand in hand — a principle that still guides the field today.

As CSOSA Interim Director Marcus Hodges wrote in a message to staff this week, that legacy continues through the daily work of the agency’s employees:

“John Augustus was not a judge, a lawyer, or a law enforcement officer. He was a humble Boston shoemaker who believed something that many others did not — that people are capable of change.”

Recognized locally and nationally

The observance has drawn formal recognition from DC and federal leaders alike. Washington, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser issued a proclamation declaring July 19–25, 2026, “Pretrial, Probation and Supervision Week” in the District, citing the role supervision professionals play in connecting individuals with treatment, education, and employment resources that reduce recidivism.

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton also entered remarks into the Congressional Record honoring the nation’s community supervision professionals, specifically naming CSOSA and PSA as “models of excellence in community supervision.”

Continuing the mission

Today, CSOSA’s Community Supervision Officers, Treatment Specialists, and the many staff who support them carry forward the work Augustus began nearly two centuries ago — connecting individuals to the resources and accountability they need to build better lives, while keeping communities safe.