Kentucky Department of Corrections Division of Probation and Parole Director Johnathan Hall announced today the appointment of Jason Hardwick to the division’s operational integrity officer. This newly created position will be responsible for conducting internal investigations, overseeing probation and parole officers working with the U.S. Marshal’s Fugitive Task Force, and managing the extradition and special operations unit.
“Jason Hardwick has proven himself a respected leader within the Division of Probation and Parole,” said Hall. “His dedication and knowledge of policy, along with his commitment to the division’s mission, will help him to excel in this role.”
Hardwick began his career with the Department of Corrections in May 2001 as a probation and parole officer in Somerset. He supervised a caseload of parolees, probationers, sex offenders and pretrial diversion cases. He attended Pulaski Circuit Court where he was responsible for completing presentence investigation reports and testifying in revocation proceedings. In addition to being a member of the drug court team, Hardwick was also on the community corrections board.
In January 2007 Hardwick was promoted to an assistant supervisor in District 10 in London. He supervised officers in the Monticello and Williamsburg offices. In January 2012 he was promoted to the district supervisor position of the newly established District 20 based in Somerset. During his tenure with the department, Hardwick has served as a trainer for motivational interviewing, acted as an American Correctional Association (ACA) audit compliance team member, and remains a member of the division’s firearms board.
In 2017 Hardwick worked with the U.S. Marshal’s Office to develop a partnership with the Division of Probation and Parole to conduct absconder apprehensions. The Absconder Apprehension Project has been a major success resulting in numerous fugitives being returned to custody. This led to Hardwick being sworn in as a special deputy U.S. Marshal for the Central Kentucky Fugitive Task Force.
Hardwick is a 1998 graduate of Lindsey Wilson College where he earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. He is a 2007 graduate of the Commissioner’s Executive Leadership Program. In 2017 Hardwick was named the Probation and Parole Supervisor of the Year at the department’s annual awards ceremony.