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McGrath Named 2019 Chief Probation Officer of the Year

Franklin County Chief Juvenile Probation Officer, Kathleen “Kati” McGrath was awarded the honor of Chief Probation Officer of the Year by the Pennsylvania Juvenile Court Judges’ Commission during the 2019 Juvenile Justice Annual Conference.

Juvenile Probation

January 16, 2020

Two women stand side by side, one holding a plaque. They are on a stage with blue curtains and an American flag in the background.
Pictured above: Pennsylvania Juvenile Court Judges’ Commission Awards Committee Chair Teresa Wilcox and Franklin County Chief Juvenile Probation Officer Kathleen McGrath

Chief McGrath has served as Chief Juvenile Probation Officer since 2013, after six years as Deputy Chief. Kati also serves as the chair of the Victim Service Committee of the Pennsylvania Council of Chief Juvenile Probation Officers as well as facilitator for Pennsylvania’s South Central West region planning committee. Locally, Kati chairs the Juvenile Justice Committee of the Franklin County Criminal Justice Advisory Board and the Children’s Round Table. She also helped to establish a graduated response committee, case plan committee, and quality assurance team to carry out Juvenile Justice System Enhancement Strategy initiatives.

Throughout her career, there have been numerous changes within the delinquency system. Chief McGrath has been instrumental in implementing new ideas and programs to assist in the treatment, rehabilitation, and engagement of juveniles. These include, but are not limited to, school-based probation, the summer work program, and most recently, working with Franklin County schools to establish Youth Courts, which Kati is hopeful will expand to all secondary schools in Franklin County.

Within the community, Kati fosters dogs awaiting placement in the Franklin County Veterans Affairs’ Save-A-Vet, Save-A-Pet program.