RALEIGH — In a recent ceremonial session of court in Raleigh, Dr. James Corpening Jr. was sworn in as chief probation officer for the U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of North Carolina.
As chief, Corpening is the highest ranking official in the probation office and ensures the district fulfills its statutory obligations of providing pretrial, presentence and post-conviction supervision. Those duties include providing federal judges detailed background investigative reports that are used to assist in making informed sentencing decisions.
Corpening is a graduate of East Rowan High School and the son of Jim Corpening of Granite Quarry and the late Mildred Ellis Corpening.
Corpening oversees the administration and management of the district’s 44 counties and six offices located in Raleigh, Wilmington, Green-ville, Wilson, New Bern and Jacksonville. The district’s 92 employees work in the supervision unit, court services unit, information technology, administrative support or human resources.
He received a bachelor of science degree in criminal justice from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He continued his education at N.C. A&T State University in Greensboro and earned a doctorate degree at N.C. State University.
Many family members from Rowan County attended the investiture ceremony. Corpening and his wife, Felice, have a daughter.