Recognitions

The Joe Kegans Award for Victim Services in Probation and Parole is awarded to a community corrections officer who provides exemplary services to victims of crime. The award is named after the late Judge Joe Kegans, a founding member of APPA’s Victim Issues Committee who devoted her career as a jurist to bettering the lives of those impacted by crime. Award winner Brenda Duenas is Senior Parole Officer with the Adult Parole Authority, Akron Region with 31 years of service in case management supervising individuals with mental health, substance abuse issues and sex offenders. In addition, she presents violation hearings, was a LEADS TAC for 20 years, trains new officers and interns and is a lead officer in her unit. She is a mentor who exhibits transformational leadership.

For more than 30 years, she has devoted a large portion of her career to supporting victims, bringing compassion, strength, and unwavering advocacy to every role she has held. She is truly passionate about offering strength to victims. She focuses on empowerment helping survivors find their strength.

As she prepares for retirement, she leaves a legacy of service that cannot be overstated. She has changed lives, uplifted voices, and set a standard of excellence.