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APPA's Scholarship Program is dedicated to supporting community supervision professionals by providing financial assistance for training and development opportunities. These scholarships help individuals gain valuable skills, advance their careers, and enhance the field as a whole.
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Dr. R.J. Polisky Line Officer Scholarship
The Dr. R. J. Polisky Line Officer Scholarship provides financial support for line-level staff working in community corrections to attend APPA’s Virtual Training Institutes. It aims to increase access to professional development opportunities and recognize the important contributions of line-level staff to the field of community corrections. Dr. Polisky and APPA are excited to equip line officers with the skills they need to achieve better outcomes in communities.
Please apply for the scholarship by Friday, June 27, 2025.
Apply Now
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Dr. R.J. Polisky
The Dr. R. J. (“Randy”) Polisky is a Past President and first Vice President of the American Probation and Parole Association. He began his professional career as an adult probation and parole officer in Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C. During that time, he was also an institutional parole officer in one of Virginia’s prisons. He received a Special Commendation from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Attorney General’s Office in Alexandria, Virginia while working in Northern Virginia.
Dr. Polisky has been a staunch supporter of the work of line personnel and believes they play a significant role in community safety and the reform and rehabilitation of justice-involved individuals.
His list of contributions supporting field officers includes:
● Training all adult probation and parole officers as Assistant Director of the Division of Adult Probation and Parole Services for the Virginia Department of Corrections.
● Teaching sociology and community corrections courses as an adjunct faculty member at the Northern Virginia Police Academy, Virginia Commonwealth University, J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, and Virginia Union University.
● Serving as a community corrections management consultant, lecturer, trainer, and program evaluator for federal, state and local governments throughout the United States.
● Developing the only scientifically valid job satisfaction questionnaire for probation and parole officers.
● Publishing ten articles on community-based corrections subjects nationally and internationally.
● Authored the introduction section in the First Edition of the Probation and Parole Directory by the American Correctional Association.
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If you're interested in sponsoring a scholarship and making a lasting impact, or have any scholarship related questions, reach out to APPA today!
Stu Gooden
Communication and Membership Specialist
(859) 244-8039
email
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