Aris Johnson, the deputy chief at Gregg County’s Juvenile Probation Department, recently received the Charles W. Hawkes Lifetime Achievement Award from the Texas Probation Association.
The statewide probationers group gave out the award at its annual conference in San Marcos this spring. The Hawkes award is considered the association’s highest award, given to individuals who, over the years, have made significant contributions to the field of community corrections.
Johnson has worked with Gregg County for 24 years, serving as an intake officer and a casework supervisor before becoming deputy chief. Previously, he worked 14 years at Harrison County Juvenile Probation Department as a detention superintendent and as chief juvenile probation officer.
“We are extremely proud of Aris for receiving this well deserved recognition,” Gregg County Juvenile Probation Chief Bing Canion said.
Johnson is a lifetime member of the Texas Probation Association, serving on both the membership and juvenile legislative committees. He was twice elected to the board of directors and served as the association’s president. He’s also a member of the Texas Corrections Association, where he also served as president.
Johnson is a member of the Federal Advisory Committee on Juvenile Justice in Washington, D.C., and the Texas Juvenile Justice Advisory Board, and past president of both the East Texas Network for Children and Northeast Texas Juvenile Chief’s Association.