Speaker Name
Kito J. Bess
Job Title
Chief Probation Officer
Company
Minnesota Probation Office
Speaker Bio
Kito J. Bess was appointed Chief U. S. Probation Officer (Chief), on October 1, 2018, by the Judiciary of the District of Minnesota. Prior to his appointment, Chief Bess served in the same capacity, for the Eastern District of Louisiana (EDLA), from July 2009 to September 2018. Prior to becoming Chief, he served in the Southern District of Iowa (Des Moines, Iowa): Assistant Deputy Chief Probation Officer (Court Services), from June 2008 to June 2009; and Supervisory U.S. Probation Officer (Presentence), from June 2007 to June 2008. Chief Bess is a native Floridian, born in Miami, Florida, who began his federal career in the Southern District of Florida, in March 2001. He has more than 25 years of community corrections experience. Chief Bess received his undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice, from Florida Memorial College (now University); and his graduate degree in Criminal Justice, from Florida International University, both in Miami, Florida.
Chief Bess is committed to providing quality service to the Court, Persons Under Supervision, and the Community. Through his leadership, Chief Bess established EDLA’s Rise and Recover Re-entry Court program (Rise and Recover), expanded their workforce development programming, and increased the use of technology in the probation office. After consolidation of Probation & Pretrial Services in the EDLA, Chief Bess later became the recipient of the Administrative Office’s Daniel B. Ryan Award, recognizing the outstanding work of pretrial services. Chief Bess has continued the same trajectory in the District of Minnesota. On September 30, 2021, the District of Minnesota hosted its first Reentry Court Commencement/Training Program in St. Paul, Minnesota. This has now become an annual event, whereas our last Reentry Court Commencement/Training Program featured former Food Network Reality Chef Jeff Henderson: Commencement. The District of Minnesota’s workforce development program has extended its reach with the hiring of a Community Intervention Administrator; and renovating space within the Minneapolis Office creating the district’s Workforce Development Center. With the goal of educating future practitioners and the community, the District of Minnesota began a series titled “Road to Recovery”, which highlights the success of Reentry Court graduates and/or former persons under supervision: Road to Recovery.
Chief Bess is committed to providing quality service to the Court, Persons Under Supervision, and the Community. Through his leadership, Chief Bess established EDLA’s Rise and Recover Re-entry Court program (Rise and Recover), expanded their workforce development programming, and increased the use of technology in the probation office. After consolidation of Probation & Pretrial Services in the EDLA, Chief Bess later became the recipient of the Administrative Office’s Daniel B. Ryan Award, recognizing the outstanding work of pretrial services. Chief Bess has continued the same trajectory in the District of Minnesota. On September 30, 2021, the District of Minnesota hosted its first Reentry Court Commencement/Training Program in St. Paul, Minnesota. This has now become an annual event, whereas our last Reentry Court Commencement/Training Program featured former Food Network Reality Chef Jeff Henderson: Commencement. The District of Minnesota’s workforce development program has extended its reach with the hiring of a Community Intervention Administrator; and renovating space within the Minneapolis Office creating the district’s Workforce Development Center. With the goal of educating future practitioners and the community, the District of Minnesota began a series titled “Road to Recovery”, which highlights the success of Reentry Court graduates and/or former persons under supervision: Road to Recovery.
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