Vanessa Williamson of Troy was sworn in Friday, Aug. 31, as Lincoln County’s first probation officer.

Judge Jay C. Sheffield, Lincoln County Justice of the Peace, handed Williamson her badge after swearing her in at noon.

According to a news release, Williamson will monitor the compliance of misdemeanor offenders convicted in Lincoln County Justice Court, handle pretrial monitoring of defendants in Montana 19th Judicial District Court, and be a “key member of the anticipated Lincoln County Treatment Court.”

“Her oversight is expected to have a significant impact on current jail overcrowding issues, as well as enhance victim and public safety by closely scrutinizing defendants’ activities,” the news release states.

Williamson will be supervised by Sheffield and have an office in the Lincoln County Annex building at 418 Mineral Ave. in Libby.

Williamson has a bachelor’s degree in criminology from Portland State University, where she focused on community corrections and crime prevention. She recently finished her criminology and social work master’s thesis at Arizona State University.