House Speaker DeLeo Explains Probation Commission, Overhaul Plans

The state’s top political leaders are forming a nine-member commission to develop legislation that will overhaul the troubled Massachusetts Probation Department.

House Speaker Robert DeLeo, along with Gov. Deval Patrick and Senate President Therese Murray, said Monday they agree the department’s hiring should be moved under the Civil Service system to reduce chances for political interference.

DeLeo joined WBUR's Bob Oakes on Tuesday's Morning Edition to flesh out some of the points he's made about the probation scandal and ways to fix it.

"I think it's important that at the end of the day, whoever is making their decisions relative to a particular candidate know that it's not about who was recommending, but who is the best possible candidate for that position," DeLeo said.

"The most important thing that we have to do is restore the confidence of the public, in terms of how the Probation Department is run, and I look at this as a major step forward for us to make sure that we have the best and the brightest in the Probation Department."

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