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Kern County Probation Department Uncovers Their Daily Routine as an Officer
From ABC 23.
Bakersfield, Calif., — Officers invited 23ABC on a ride along to see the life of a probation officer. The department has increased their presence in the community offering services that are meant to better residents.
Riverside County Probation Vehicles to Serve as `Mobile Service Centers’ for Probationers, Parolees
From NBC Palm Springs
Riverside, Calif. – July 29, 2025 – Parolees and probationers in Riverside County who are homeless or otherwise unable to find readily available transportation to make court dates or check in with their assigned agents now have the option of utilizing “mobile service centers” provided by the Department of Probation.
“Reliable transportation should never be the deciding factor in whether someone succeeds on probation,” Chief Probation Officer Christopher Wright said. ``By meeting people where they are, our Mobile Service Centers remove a major obstacle, helping clients stay on track, fulfill court-ordered requirements and ultimately move forward with their lives.”
Big Sur Foundation to Sponsor a Half Marathon Inside Monterey County Juvenile Detention Center
From Monterey Herald
Carmel, Calif., – July 23, 2025 - It started with a thought, then a phone call, some brainstorming and the willingness to provide a foundation.
In conjunction with the Big Sur Marathon Foundation, the Monterey County Juvenile Detention Center in Salinas has turned a vision into a reality with the inaugural Hall Half run.
Friday, ten incarcerated individuals between the ages of 17-23 will run 124 laps around a paved track inside the fences of the juvenile detention center. The 8 a.m. race will be an official half-marathon – 13.1 miles.
“These are the kind of things the Big Sur Marathon Foundation wants to be a part of,” Marathon Executive Director Jennifer Edwards said. “If we can change just one life, we’re all in. Our aim is to give these guys the tools and confidence to build a healthier, safer and active life.”
San Diego County Probation Youth Shine at Theater Camp
From San Diego County News Center. By Yvette Urrea Moe
SAN DIEGO, Calif., – July 23, 2025 - Three Probation youth not only got to help build theater sets backstage at the La Jolla Playhouse, they also got to build their self-esteem and their resumes.
The youth are students at the Youth Transition Campus and the week-long Tech Theatre Training camp is done in partnership with the theater, the San Diego County Office of Education and the County Probation Department.
“Programs like these support the long-term success of Probation youth by enriching their lives with creativity, structure, and opportunity,” said Mike Whatley, Probation division chief.
Whatley explained several reasons why programs like the theater camp are important for probation-involved youth. The young people get hands-on technical and creative skill development, and they get to see themselves as capable and talented individuals, sometimes for the first time. This can help them build their self-esteem and give them a sense of purpose, he said.
Probation Department’s Compliance Operation Yields Two Arrests
From Noozhawk.
July 19, 2025 – The Santa Barbara County Probation Department on July 17 conducted a countywide compliance operation with a focus on supervised clients convicted of sex offenses.
During the action, 24 locations were visited and 12 searches conducted in the Santa Maria, Orcutt, Lompoc, Santa Barbara, and Goleta areas. In the Santa Maria area, the Santa Maria Police Department joined the Probation Department effort.
The Connector Newsletter – August 12, 2025
California Probation Creating Safer Communities Through Accountability & Opportunity
In this issue of The Connector, read stories of hope and inspiration of how California Probation is helping create safer communities by focusing on holding justice-involved individuals accountable while helping them transition out of the system permanently through transformative and evidence-based rehabilitation. Probation Departments are a connector in the justice system, interlacing and maximizing the resources available within our systems and communities to reduce recidivism by carefully balancing direct human services and research-based interventions.
Madera County Offers Free Tattoo Removal to Help Residents Reclaim their Futures
From FOX 26 News
Madera, Calif., June 30, 2025 – The Madera County Probation Department is offering residents a fresh start with free tattoo removals, a program that has been running monthly for nearly a year. Mobile Tattoo Removal Experts host the clinic, where residents simply need to line up to participate.
Mono County Probation “Courage to Change” Earns National Achievement Award
From Sierra Wave
MONO COUNTY, Calif., June 30, 2025 – Mono County Probation’s Batterer’s Program, Courage to Change, recently received a National Achievement Award from the National Association of Counties (NACo). The awards honor innovative, effective county government programs that strengthen services for residents.
Yolo County Launches Innovative Program to Rehabilitate Youth with Animals
From FOX 40. By Chloe Curtis.
YOLO COUNTY, Calif., June 30, 2025 – A new program in Yolo County is shaping how the youth at its juvenile detention facility are rehabilitated.
The Yolo County Probation Department and Yolo County Animal Services recently introduced the program Paws for Change. The program allows youth at the juvenile detention facility to care for foster kittens before they are ready for adoption.
Staff said that since the program’s launch in late May, there have been zero disciplinary issues among the youths participating. For many youths at the facility, it’s the first time they have ever been responsible for an animal.
Marin County Probation Department DUI Check-in Connects Probationers with Support, Ensuring Compliance
From the County of Marin.
San Rafael, Calif. – June 30, 2025 – On June 26, 64 individuals on supervised probation checked in at Marin County’s first DUI Resource Check-in Site, a new initiative led by the Marin County Probation Department. Held at the Civic Center parking lot, the operation provided an alternative to home visits, enabling individuals to meet their probation requirements in a safe and neutral setting.
The event brought together supervision and support in a single setting. Probation staff partnered with the Sheriff’s Office, the Deputy District Attorney’s Office, and community-based service providers to ensure both accountability and access to resources.
ICYMI: Graduation Ceremony Held for Those Who Completed Kern County Probation Program
From KGET
Bakersfield, Calif. – June 27, 2025 – Multiple individuals took a step toward bettering themselves Wednesday night through a program offered by the Kern County Probation Department.
On June 25, the Kern County Probation Department celebrated graduates with a ceremony Wednesday night in east Bakersfield.
The guests of honor are those who successfully completed the department’s in-house program, which is anywhere from six months to a year. Organizers say the program gives people a second chance, by helping them change bad habits, learn valuable skills and ultimately realize personal growth.
County Spotlight: San Diego Probation Officer and New Narcotics K-9 Keep Youth Facilities Safe
From San Diego County News, by Yvette Urrea Moe, County of San Diego Communications Office and additional content from CPOC Communications.
SAN DIEGO COUNTY, Calif. – May 19, 2025 – Probation Officer Claudia Romero is working with a relatively new K-9 partner named Lilly that is trained to sniff out narcotics. Lilly and Officer Romeo trained for 10 weeks for a total of 400 hours at the Sheriffs department before getting to work across the county. Together, they are working to keep youth safe by checking for illegal drugs in juvenile facilities like the Youth Transition Campus and East Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility.
ICYMI: Experts Sound the Alarm on Prop. 36 Funding Gaps in Davis Vanguard Op-Ed
From Davis Vanguard
Sacramento, Calif., June 10, 2025 — In an opinion editorial published today, Davis Vanguard Editor and Founder David Greenwald highlights growing concerns about the recently announced legislative budget agreement and its failure to adequately fund implementation of Proposition 36, despite overwhelming voter support last November.
In the piece, Greenwald outlines concerns from across the spectrum – including from California Probation and state legislators – about the funding shortfall counties will face as they are expected to carry out the law’s provisions.
Sacramento County Probation Launches Third Mobile Probation Service Center to Support Unhoused Clients
From Sacramento County Probation
Sacramento, Calif. – May 30, 2025 – Assembly Bill 178 was approved in 2022, and appropriated $20 million to fund a competitive grant program for all county probation departments to establish Mobile Probation Service Centers. On April 13, 2023, the Board of State and Community Corrections awarded the Sacramento County Probation Department $1,319,860 to support implementation of these services within the community.
On June 2, 2025, the Sacramento County Probation Department will deploy its third Probation Outreach Vehicle through the Juvenile Field Services Division. With workstations and necessary equipment, this cargo van will function as a Mobile Service Center, offering a safe and welcoming space for engagement while assisting unhoused clients across Sacramento County.
San Mateo County Probation Youth Services Center – Juvenile Hall 2025 Graduation
From San Mateo County
SAN MATEO COUNTY, Calif. – May 30, 2025 – On May 28th, the San Mateo County Youth Services Center – Juvenile Hall proudly celebrated its 2025 graduates! Eight inspiring young men and women, together with their families marked the occasion with pride, elation, and hope for the future. Each youth proudly wore their purple gown and customized cap and tassel. Three of the graduates were conferred college degrees through San Mateo County Probation’s partnership with Project Change’s Rising Scholars Program. Two young men graduated Cum Laude and will be transferring to San Francisco State University.
Central Coast Juvenile Detention Centers Introduce VR Marine Science Program
From KSBW.
Seaside, Calif. – April 1, 2025 – Several juvenile detention centers on the Central Coast have introduced a virtual reality program, focused on marine science.
The immersive experience will allow incarcerated kids to virtually dive through the open water, all while learning more about the underwater world.
Lindholm shared his inspiration behind the virtual reality program that originated after two students who enrolled in his class developed epilepsy, barring them from scuba diving ever again. He wanted to give those unable to join the program a new way to collect marine data.
Empowering Change: Ventura County Probation Juvenile Justice Facility’s Inside-Out Program Bridges the Divide
VENTURA COUNTY, Calif. – May 22, 2025 – At the Ventura County Juvenile Justice Facility, a unique educational partnership is providing hope and opportunity for incarcerated youth while bridging divides between the incarcerated and non-incarcerated populations. The Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program, launched in collaboration with California Lutheran University (CLU) and the Ventura County Probation Agency, is giving incarcerated students the chance to engage in a college-level criminology course alongside traditional students from CLU.
This year marks the program’s first-ever implementation at the juvenile facility, providing a transformative opportunity for 20 students to examine the criminal justice system from different perspectives and discuss solutions for improving it.
The Connector Newsletter – May 29, 2025
California Probation Creating Safer Communities Through Accountability & Opportunity
In this issue of The Connector, read stories of hope and inspiration of how California Probation is helping create safer communities by focusing on holding justice-involved individuals accountable while helping them transition out of the system permanently through transformative and evidence-based rehabilitation. Probation Departments are a connector in the justice system, interlacing and maximizing the resources available within our systems and communities to reduce recidivism by carefully balancing direct human services and research-based interventions.
San Diego Probation Officer and New Narcotics K-9 Keep Youth Facilities Safe
From San Diego County News, by Yvette Urrea Moe, County of San Diego Communications Office
SAN DIEGO COUNTY, Calif. – May 19, 2025 – Probation Officer Claudia Romero is working with a relatively new K-9 partner named Lilly that is trained to sniff out narcotics. Together, they are working to keep youth safe by checking for illegal drugs in juvenile facilities like the Youth Transition Campus and East Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility.
Watch the video here.
Santa Clara County Probation Vans Bring Services To Homeless Residents
From SF Gate.
Santa Clara, Calif. – May 3, 2025 – Santa Clara County wants to help homeless people on probation avoid extra jail time by bringing legal services to encampments.
People on probation are required to attend regular meetings with a probation officer and court hearings. But for homeless people who lack transportation, making these appointments becomes an obstacle, which can lead to longer probation periods or going back to jail. The county aims to reduce these barriers by having a mobile probation service center.