During this Probation Services Week 2025, I want to extend my deepest appreciation to the dedicated professionals working in probation departments across California.

Each day, probation professionals walk a careful line—holding individuals accountable for their actions while also providing the structure, support, and services they need to change. This dual role is what makes probation uniquely effective in promoting long-term public safety. True community safety doesn’t come from any one approach alone — it comes from accountability paired with opportunity to change. That is what probation delivers every day.

This year, our celebration is also marked by a sobering reminder of the risks our officers face. As our fellow officer is still recovering from serious burns incurred in the line of duty, we are reminded of the courage probation officers demonstrate each day and the critical importance of wellness and safety for our staff.

That officer—and every probation professional who shows up each day to serve—reflects the strength, professionalism, and resilience that define our field. We stand together as we continue to advocate for the recognition, resources, and protection all probation professionals deserve.

Probation is not just an arm of the justice system—it’s a bridge to something better. It is the frontline of accountability, and the front door to rehabilitation. Whether it’s helping someone find housing, connecting them to treatment, ensuring compliance with court orders, or simply being the person who believes they can turn things around—probation plays a central role in helping people succeed and creating safer communities.

On behalf of the Chief Probation Officers of California, thank you. Thank you for holding the line and for continuing to evolve our profession in ways that reflect the needs of our communities.

Let us carry the momentum of this week forward, not just as a moment of recognition, but as a renewed call to invest in the people and systems that make real public safety possible. Let us support one another, prioritize wellness, and continue working together to build a safer California.

With deepest gratitude,

Chief Steve Jackson, CPOC President