Featured Programs
Inyo County Drug Court Graduate Celebrates 15 Years of Sobriety
By Julie Weier, Inyo County Probation Deputy Chief Probation Officer. Additional messaging by CPOC.
Recovery is an act of self-love, a reclaiming of your life and a new beginning full of possibilities. Anthony Brown created a new life 15 years ago when he entered the Inyo County Probation Drug Court program in 2009 and dedicated himself to a life of sobriety, forgiveness and living with a purpose. Mr. Brown successfully completed the program in June of 2011.
#CAProbation Spotlight: San Joaquin County Probation Partners with Loads of Hope to Help Unhoused
San Joaquin County Probation has recently partnered with Loads of Hope in downtown Stockton to connect the unhoused population with clean laundry, internet access, and health services.
Check out this short video highlighting San Joaquin Probation’s positive partnership with Loads of Hope.
ICYMI: “Reading Has Given Me Hope”: Bringing the Library to Incarcerated Youth
From Santa Clara County, by Omar Perez
SANTA CLARA, CA | March 20, 2024 - Coordinated efforts by multiple County of Santa Clara agencies are bringing library services directly to incarcerated youth who currently reside in the County’s Juvenile Justice Centers.
For years, teens in youth detention facilities in Santa Clara County had no access to libraries or reading programs.
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#CAProbation Spotlight: Contra Costa Probation Unveils New Multi-Sensory Room for Youth
On March 20th, 2024, the Contra Costa County Probation Department unveiled a brand new multi-sensory de-escalation room for youth at the John A. Davis Juvenile Hall in Contra Costa County.
Chief Probation Officer Esa Ehmen-Krause, along with Manager Tamara Gusman-Taylor and Director Malkia Crowder welcomed the crowd of probation partners and staff to celebrate the grand opening, provided a tour of the room, and encouraged people in attendance to enter suggestions for the room name.
ICYMI: How to Prepare for Organizational Change – Chief Marlon Yarber Shares Probation Tip: Taking on a New Role
From NAPE Monthly Email. By Marlon Yarber, Sacramento County Chief Probation Officer
SACRAMENTO, CA | March 07, 2024
– Be Ready for Change – whether planned or unexpected
Organizational change can happen at any time. When executives
have a transition plan in place, they should be ready for change
most every time.
…
ICYMI: Now Recording At Juvenile Hall: Incentive-Based Music Studio
From Patch. By Maggie Fusek.
SONOMA COUNTY, CA | March 05, 2024 – A new music recording studio that recently opened in Sonoma County’s Juvenile Hall in Santa Rosa has proven to be a motivation for youth incarcerated at the facility.
ICYMI: Sonoma County Juvenile Hall opens new music studio
From Sonoma County
SANTA ROSA, CA | March 04, 2024
County Spotlight: Butte County Probation Drug and Veterans Treatment Courts Success
The Butte County Probation Department has four collaborative Courts. Collaborative Courts are comprised of multi-disciplinary teams, who work to be responsive to the needs of the participants. They allow participants an opportunity to participate in evidence based treatment models as an alternative to traditional court processing. This week, we are highlighting two of those courts, Drug Court and Veterans Treatment Court.
Drug Court:
Butte County Treatment Court (BCTC) is a post-conviction program for non-violent offenders who assess as high prognostic risk and high criminogenic needs for substance abuse and/or addiction diagnosis. The program is operated in compliance with the Ten Key Components and Best Practice Standards of Drug Courts, as established by the National Association of Drug Court Professionals (NADCP).
Some of the graduates include:
- Kayla Saise, has worked diligently over the last 3 years to create a new, successful, life for herself. She obtained employment, obtained her own residence, obtained her driver’s license, purchased her first vehicle, and regained custody of her child. Through it all, she has remained strong in her sobriety!
Veterans Treatment Court:
The Butte County Veterans Treatment Court (VTC) is a voluntary, Court-supervised program designed to offer justice-involved veterans an opportunity to participate in a treatment-based model as an alternative to traditional Court processing. The VTC is comprised of justice partners, veterans services groups, and community-based organizations who work together to create a collaborative, multi-disciplinary approach to treatment that is responsive to the needs of the Veteran and the community.
Veterans continue fighting even after their military service has ended as they struggle with substance abuse, mental health, and reintegrating into civilian life. With the help of the Veterans Treatment Court team, these veterans complete an intensive treatment program and period of probation supervision lasting a minimum of 12 months. Graduates fight hard to address their needs, complete the program, and have achieved a tremendous accomplishment.
Veterans Treatment Court was established in 2015, follows the National Drug Court model, and is tailored to the unique needs of veterans. The Butte County Veterans Treatment Court has graduated over 20 veterans from the program.
Some of the graduates include:
- Christopher Claxton, a United States Marine Corps member from 2006-2010, Iraq War Veteran, completed innovative restorative programs and reached educational achievements.
- Jeremy Bailey, a United States Army member from 2008-2014, Iraq and Afghanistan War Veteran, completed educational achievements at Butte College and plans to use his creativity with a career in graphic design.
- Zak Schulps, a United States Marine Corps member from 1988-1991, Gulf War Veteran, is a local business owner, completed innovative restorative programs.
- Randy Cook, served in the U.S. Marine Corps Special Forces during the Vietnam War, arriving when he was 17 and facing combat as soon as he turned 18; now 68, he still faced demons from those dark days, but since has graduated, bought a home, and got engaged.
- Brian Dudley, an honorably discharged U.S. Army veteran, was facing a possible prison sentence for felony Assault with a Deadly Weapon and misdemeanor Driving Under the Influence. October 2020 marked the graduation of Mr. Dudley from the Butte County Veterans Treatment Court.
- Richard Hubbell, an honorably discharged U.S. Army veteran, was also facing a possible prison sentence for felony Driving Under the Influence. In October 2020, Mr. Hubbell successfully graduated from the Butte County Veterans Treatment Court.
Probation Officers who are a part of a collaborative Court team have additional responsibilities than other officers. They have regular team meetings, more Court appearances, and additional assessments and other paperwork to be completed.
Butte County Probation is fortunate to have officers that are willing to put in the extra work to help all participants succeed and make changes for the betterment of themselves and the community.
Marin County Probationers Honored for Remarkable Turnarounds
Probation’s inspiring ‘Wall of Change’ recipients bask in pride at ceremony
From Marin County Probation New Release.
San Rafael, CA – Boris Rodriguez of Novato is a responsible young man now, but for much of his adult life he was responsible for a lot of anguish.
San Joaquin County approves new initiative to address homelessness (Video)
In KCRA by Lee Anne Denyer.
San Joaquin County is taking a new approach to helping the county’s homeless individuals.
The county’s board of supervisors approved the creation of a Community Assessment, Response and Engagement (CARE) team earlier this week. It will be headed by the county’s probation department.
County Spotlight: Lake County Probation Department hosts Collaborative Resilient Re-entry Events in their Community
The Lake County Probation Department, in collaboration with the Lake County Campus of Woodland Community College, hosted a Resilient Re-entry event in late 2023, designed to provide valuable resources and guidance to justice-involved individuals.
The event aimed to facilitate the reintegration of justice-involved individuals into society by offering a range of services, including record expungement, information about college education opportunities, and even free tattoo removal services.
What Works Wednesdays: State Investment in Probation Associated with Lower Recidivism, Improved Safety
The California Probation Resource Institute (CaPRI) released a study conducted by respected expert Mia Bird who is a Visiting Assistant Professor at UC Berkeley and Ryken Grattet who is a Professor of Sociology at UC Davis. The report, titled, “SB 678 Incentive-Based Funding and Evidence-Based Practices Enacted by California Probation Are Associated with Lower Recidivism Rates and Improved Public Safety,
New Multi-Sensory Room “The Reef” in San Mateo County Youth Services Center-Juvenile Hall
On November 9th, the San Mateo County Probation Department unveiled “The Reef,” a multisensory de-escalation room for youth in the Youth Services Center-Juvenile Hall. The Reef is a sprawling ocean-reef mural filled with calming deep blues and turquoise all created by youth and staff as part of Probation’s art therapy program.
Video Highlight: Lake County Probation Department hosts Resilient Re-entry event
The Lake County Probation Department, in collaboration with the Lake County Campus of Woodland Community College, hosted a Resilient Re-entry event a few weeks ago, designed to provide valuable resources and guidance to justice-involved individuals.
The event aimed to facilitate the reintegration of justice-involved individuals into society by offering a range of services, including record expungement, information about college education opportunities, and even free tattoo removal services.
ICYMI: Kern County probation program graduates 75 participants
From KGET
Family and other supporters celebrated their graduates after completion of a local reentry program.
A graduation ceremony was hosted for participants who completed the The Kern County Probation Department and GEO Reentry Services “Day Reporting Center” program on Aug. 30
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The graduation ceremony featured plenty of families of graduates celebrating their completion of the program.
The intensive supervision program for individuals on probation is designed to change criminal behavior and reduce recidivism. The program includes regular reporting to the center involved and frequent testing for substance use.
Individuals also complete courses that ready them for job preparation.
ICYMI: Probation Department Expands with Community Outreach Van
From Mariposa Gazette
Mariposa County Probation has added to their services, this time
with a new outreach van.
The Probation Outreach Van was made possible from a 2022 Mobile
Probation Services Grant Program from the California Board of
State Community Corrections.
While it was a competitive grant, meaning Mariposa County was battling with others for the funding, they were one of the 25 departments awarded the funds.
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ICYMI: County opposes juvenile justice changes in Assembly bill
From Daily Republic
The Solano County Board of Supervisors has sent a letter opposing state legislation that Chief Probation Officer Chris Hansen said would add strings to how juvenile-detention funds get to the counties.
ICYMI: Ribbon cutting held for regional juvenile hall
From The Appeal Demorat
The Tri-County Youth Development Center, a new juvenile hall facility focused on providing treatment-based rehabilitation, will begin serving Yuba, Sutter and Colusa counties this fall.
Community leaders, members of law enforcement and county probation services gathered at the facility in Marysville for a ribbon cutting ceremony on Thursday morning.
