From Santa Clara County, by Eric Kurhi. 

SANTA CLARA COUNTY, Calif. – May 2, 2025 –  To most eyes, the Probation Department’s latest acquisitions look like a pair of unassuming Sprinter high-roof crew vans with discreet County branding. But to the department – and, more importantly, to the clients it serves – the vans represent the County’s latest effort to bring life-changing services out of government offices and into the communities that need them.

These Mobile Service Centers, funded by a state grant aimed at increasing access to probation services, made their debut this week at a County probation resources fair. Officials say they’ll soon be seen in the field – at homeless encampments, outside courthouses and community centers, and posted in areas of the County distant from the three brick-and-mortar probation offices. 

“We want to make sure that we are helping folks navigate the system and really get back to a normal place in their lives,” said Adult Probation Division Manager Daron Story. “We want to be there to service our clients, and this is another tool that we’re going to have to help them transform their lives.”

The vans will offer the same services that could previously only be done with an in-person office visit, including for meetings with probation officers or appearing remotely for certain mandated court appearances.   

Those are the most prevalent probation violations, and for an unhoused individual or someone who doesn’t have easy access to transportation, a remote meeting can mean avoiding a bench warrant for their arrest. 

“We do recognize that transportation is a huge issue for our unhoused population, and this removes that barrier for folks who are reporting to probation,” said Story. “There might be a lot of chaos going on in their world, and this offers one less item that they have to tackle.”

In addition to appointment services, the vans offer referrals for substance use treatment, behavioral health services and vocational programs, and information on what additional resources are available to assist someone on their path to successfully completing probation. Plus, they will be stocked with basic sundries such as hygiene kits, toothbrushes, ponchos, socks, hand heaters, nonperishable food, and phone-charging power banks. 

Assistant Chief Probation Officer Alex Villa said the department is very excited about the Mobile Service Centers, which represent a fundamentally different way of getting services into the community. 

“We are extending ourselves out into the community on a more intentional basis,” he said, “That means reaching out in different places, different locations, at different events, different venues, to really let people know that we’re here as a community service and support.”

Villa said it’s important for people to understand that the sole role of the mobile centers is to provide services and assistance, and they will not be used for enforcement or supervisory purposes. 

“Whenever you see our van, it’s because we’re out there to help, to perform outreach and offer support to you as a community member,” he said. “The van will be loaded with resources. We are there to help, support, and empower community members, and really have them see that probation is also an aspect of the community.”

David Cabrera, 25, who has been unhoused for two years, approached a van at its inaugural appearance in San José and appreciated the convenience offered by the roving service centers. He recently suffered paralysis from a spinal injury and is reliant on public transit – factors that can make it difficult to make it to required appointments. The mobile services could potentially be a boon for a lot of people in similar situations, he said. He encouraged people to check out what the vans have to offer.

“There’s no handcuffs, there’s nobody arresting us – it’s here to help you, whatever it may be,” he said. “…They are willing to help you if you are willing and want that help.”

Read the full article here, and watch video here.