Candidates for Election

President Elect-Melissa Spooner, Cook County Juvenile

With more than 27 years of experience with probation, I have dedicated my career to advancing effective practices, supporting professionals at every level, and strengthening the systems that serve our communities. Throughout my career, I have had the privilege of serving in a variety of roles, each providing valuable insight into leadership, collaboration, and the importance of moving our profession forward with purpose and integrity.

Currently serving as the IPCSA Region I Representative and the Interim Chief Probation Officer in Cook County, I have worked closely with colleagues across jurisdictions to build partnerships, and support the growth and development of probation and detention professionals.  These experiences have reinforced my belief that strong leadership is rooted in service, communication, and a commitment to representing the voices and needs of our members.

I am seeking the opportunity to serve as President-Elect because I am prepared to continue supporting the mission and vision of IPCSA while working alongside the President and Executive team to strengthen our association and its impact statewide. I believe my years of experience, institutional knowledge, and collaborative leadership style have prepared me to step into this role and contribute meaningfully to the continued success of the organization. 

It would be an honor to serve in this capacity and to continue advocating for excellence, professionalism, and progress within the probation field.

President-Elect: The President-Elect shall preside at meetings in the absence of the President, or act for the President in case of his/her absence or disability.  The President-Elect will also be responsible for the following:

• Set the agenda for all Executive Board meetings.

• Shall meet with a member of the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts on a bi-annual or as needed basis.

The President-Elect will also review, advise, and vote on all other matters brought to the full membership of the Executive Board.

Statewide Representative-Les Niemi, Lake County  (Contested Race)

My name is Leslie Niemi, and I am honored to announce my candidacy for Statewide Representative of the IPCSA Executive Board.

I am a proud graduate of Illinois State University with a degree in Criminal Justice Sciences, and for the past 28 years I have had the privilege of serving the courts and community as a probation officer and supervisor with the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit in Lake County. Throughout my career, I have built strong relationships across the court system and within the community that have shaped both my personal and professional growth. I have relied on exceptional mentors and meaningful training opportunities to deepen my understanding of evidence‑based practices, strengthen the services we provide, and support individuals in making prosocial change.

I have been an active and committed member of IPCSA for most of my career with Lake County Adult Probation. I have served on the Supervisor Committee and the Officer Safety and Wellness Committee, and I am a past recipient of the Pauline Gansauer Award for Field of Dedication. In the spring of 2025, I was honored to graduate from the inaugural IPCSA Leadership Academy. The Academy allowed me to form new connections, expand my leadership skills, and sparked the desire, confidence, and motivation to become more involved in the inner workings of IPCSA. When I was asked to join the Board as Statewide Representative in the summer of 2025, I eagerly accepted.

Over the past year, it has been a pleasure to serve as your Statewide Representative. Being part of the Board has been a truly rewarding experience. Witnessing the passion, dedication, and professionalism of our Board Members has inspired me to seek re‑election. I would welcome the opportunity to continue supporting the Board’s efforts to expand training opportunities and to educate Justice Partners and Legislators about the essential role we play in the criminal justice system.

I would be humbled and honored to continue serving IPCSA as your Statewide Representative. I bring dedication, experience, and a deep passion for the work we do, and I remain committed to representing our members with integrity and enthusiasm. Thank you for your time and consideration.

• State-wide Representative: The State-wide Representative of the Executive Board will be elected to collaborate and assist the Regional Representatives in their duties.  The State-wide Representative shall review, advise, and vote on all other matters brought to the full membership of the Executive Board.

Statewide Representative-Linda Cardoso, Will County  (Contested Race)

Hello, my name is Linda Tornero Cardoso, and I am honored to be a candidate for Statewide Representative of IPCSA.

Throughout my career in probation and court services, I have witnessed firsthand the critical role our profession plays in strengthening individuals, families, and communities. I have also seen the important role IPCSA plays in supporting the professionals who carry out this work every day.

Since beginning my career in court services in 2006, I have had the opportunity to serve in a variety of roles across DuPage, Kendall, and Will Counties. These experiences have provided me with a broad perspective on the challenges, opportunities, and evolving needs of our field. One of the most valuable lessons I have learned is that our greatest successes often come through communication, collaboration, and a willingness to learn from one another.

Throughout my career, I have actively sought opportunities to connect with colleagues across jurisdictions, share ideas, discuss emerging issues, and collaborate on initiatives that improve services and operations. These professional relationships have been invaluable to my growth and have reinforced the importance of maintaining strong partnerships throughout the state.

I believe IPCSA serves as a vital resource by promoting education, advocacy, networking, and professional development. As Statewide Representative, I will be committed to serving as a strong link between our membership and the Executive Board. I will actively listen to the concerns and ideas of members, communicate important information to and from the
Association, and encourage collaboration among counties and partner agencies.

My goal is to ensure that every member feels heard, represented, informed, and connected.  Together, we can continue strengthening our profession and advancing the important work we do on behalf of the clients and communities we serve.

• State-wide Representative: The State-wide Representative of the Executive Board will be elected to collaborate and assist the Regional Representatives in their duties.  The State-wide Representative shall review, advise, and vote on all other matters brought to the full membership of the Executive Board.

Region II Representative-Jessica Brannan, Adams County

My name is Jessica Brannan, and I am seeking your vote and support for the IPCSA Executive Board position of Region II Representative.

I obtained my Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology with a minor in Psychology from WIU in 1997.  I began my career as a foster care case manager with Catholic Social Services, Diocese of Peoria. After moving to Quincy in 1999, I continued to work in the field of foster care, but also in the now defunct DHS program of Unified Delinquency Intervention Services (UDIS).  This is where I really became invested in working with delinquent youth. In 2006 I began my probation career as a juvenile probation officer.  In 2022, I was promoted to my current role as probation supervisor, where I supervise both juvenile and adult probation officers.

Throughout my career I have served IPCSA on many committees, primarily the juvenile committee beginning in 2008.  I held the co-chair position on the committee from 2018 until 2025. During my time as co-chair, our committee had the pleasure of combining our efforts with the Intra/Interstate committee and AOIC to develop and implement the first statewide standards for juvenile intrastate transfers. Additionally, our committee proposed legislation regarding the use of detention centers for youth in care, as well diligently working on the raise the age bill.  This committee has always been very hands-on with legislation and the ever-changing scenery of juvenile probation.

In addition to my juvenile probation involvement, I have been a Thinking for a Change facilitator since 2008 and currently am the coordinator of our program.  I was trained with the initial group of NRCT facilitators in 2016 maintaining certification through 2022. I was able to help train all the 7^th, 8^th and 9^th judicial circuits, as well as many other individuals at three separate IPCSA conferences.  In May 2025, I graduated with the Inaugural IPCSA Leadership Academy. The knowledge I was able to gain and the connections I was able to create with my leadership partners, including Dr. Alex Walker, have been unmatched.  I currently have the pleasure to serve as a mentor for the second round of Leadership Academy.  Over the years, I have also remained very active in my community, serving on several committees and coalitions such as: The United Way Mental Health Education Coalition, The Adams County Suicide Coalition, The Adams County Children’s Mental Health Partnership, Bella Ease Resilient Families Initiative, several different school based truancy and absenteeism committees, as well as serving my local schools as PTA president for many years.

My resume of service is just as long as many other well qualified people throughout Probation and Court Services.  I was very excited and humbled to be selected and appointed to serve as your Region II representative when the vacancy became available in January 2025.  I feel like I am just getting started and would very much appreciate the opportunity to continue this momentum to support the Court Services employees in my region.  I love being a part of this association and this Executive Board. I am inspired daily by the dedication, knowledge, and networking this association provides to each county in the state to bring us all together as true experts in this field.  If I am elected to this position through the support of my peers, I will continue to support Region II and do my best to be your voice to the Executive Board.

If you have additional questions for me, or suggestions as ways to further support Region II or the association, please feel free to reach out to me via email at jbrannan@adamscountyil.gov or by phone at 217-277-2178.

• Region II Representative (Region II encompasses the following circuits:  5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 21 and 24). You must work in the region to qualify as the region’s representative: Regional Representatives will have the following duties and responsibilities:
  • Shall represent the membership in their region and report any information to Executive Board.
  • Shall report to the membership in their region of any news regarding the Association.
  • Shall collaborate with other contacts and/or agencies in their region that are or may be pertinent to the Association.

  The Regional Representatives shall review, advise, and vote on all other matters brought to the full membership of the Executive Board.

VOTE HERE!