NJ PROBATION COLLECTION: S IS FOR SOMERSET

My New Jersey Probation Officer Collection is home to this fine badge. It is letter "S" for Somerset County.

If one doesn't know anything about Jersey and has to move to the Garden State this would be an excellent place to work.

There are many fine towns in this community with lots of open spaces and green lands. In days gone by Jackie Kennedy chased the foxes in those hills. In another sport Mike Tyson practiced is skills in his home located here.

During my early years as a probation officer I recall conversations with officers in Somerset. The talks were always focused on salary and benefits. Somerset was number one, and I don't believe they had any real cases. Okay they did.

One conversation that I have a fond memory of involved travel expenses. Where I worked we got paid by the mile, and you had to account for each mile very closely. We had the largest staff in the State, and one car.

They guys in somerset did not have to worry about accounting for their daily travel. Their County provided a fleet of cars. Dispite this luxury, coupled to the number one salary, they wanted more. I was told that they were strongly pursuing new cars with am-fm radios. I guess that tells you how long ago this trip down memory lane goes.

The badge above is from those days long gone. I estimate it to be 1960 vintage or earlier. It is in fine shape . It is gold finish with recessed blue letters. It reads: Probation, Officer, Somerset County, N.J. It has a State Seal in a field of Blue at the center giving a very impressive appearance.

As noted with other badges in my collection the "old county probation department" doesn't exist any more except under glass in my collection. I have had it over 20 years now. It provides a great addition to this collection, and also to my fine Collection of Memories.

CITY COLLECTION: R IS FOR RAHWAY

R IS FOR RAHWAY. This City is probably best known for the State Prison that has the Rahway zip code. Over my lifetime the prison had made the news on many occasions.

The well know "Scared Straight" program was founded in this facility. Inmates serving life terms created it "to help" juveniles get on the right track. Television made this program a heroic success. The criminal justice folk loved it and made it a sentencing tool. Schools sent kids for a visit on a regular basis. My feelings, as to its value, is neutral.

Maybe the experience being inside a tough prison was beneficial to some kids. I just don't know how one can say a day with the inmates is what did the trick keeping these kids "straight."

I saw the benefit to inmates getting special privileges to be part of the show. Good for them, but was that the real motive to help the kids?

Over the years Rahway and the prison became synonymous. With a little help from the politicos that was fixed. The institution officially changed its name to East Jersey State Prison. As a result the world is supposed to forget the community name where this institution is located. From what I know everyone still says Rahway, but in truth that was only the mailing address. The prison is actually in Woodbridge, NJ.

The City of Rahway dates back to the 1600's. Today it has a population in the area of 25,000. It has a major interest to me as a collector because of its location. It sits on some major roads and lines up with cities like Linden, Elizabeth, and Newark.

Of course this City has a fine "PD" and having a couple of their older badges in my collection makes me quite pleased.

As the pictures reveal one, Special Police #90, is a real antique. I believe it goes back to late 1800's to early 1900's. It is in excellent condition, and a great item to have in my collection.

The second badge is mid 1900's and shows the rank of "Captain". The remaining letters read Rahway Police, NJ. The letters are reverse blue on gold. The condition is also excellent.

When I look at them my mind travels back in time to many visits "inside" the prison, including a fifteen minute experience in a isolation cell. It was not expected, but a friend, on the inside, thought I'd enjoy the experience. It did make a memory, and Collecting Memories is a major part of this hobby.