All this week on Eight Forty-Eight we’re following young people in trouble with the law as we kick off our series Inside and Out. We figure, if people understand who these kids are—there’s a much better chance they can be helped by people like Rodney Purdy. He’s a Cook County Juvenile Probation Officer. His job begins after a young person is found delinquent, or guilty, by a judge. Probation officers, or P.O.s, are – in a way – the eyes and ears of the court. They make sure the kid follows through on the judge’s orders. Maybe they have to go through drug rehab. Or do community service. Or attend an anger management class. The P.O is supposed to make sure the young person’s getting what they need, to stay out of prison and get a new footing in life. Officer Purdy says the pulse of probation is out in the streets. For WBEZ, Linda Paul introduces us to him.

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