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ICYMI: Kern County probation program graduates 75 participants

Kern County Probation Day Reporting Center Graduation

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

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.

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ICYMI: Probation Department Expands with Community Outreach Van

Chief Probation Officer Ryan Oliphant

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.

…Mariposa County Probation also ranked number one in the small county category.

With this funding, the probation department was able to purchase a 2023 Thor motor coach, equipped with a kitchen, bathroom including shower, mobile desk, Starlink satellite for high-speed internet, solar panels, generator and electronic awning for shade.

“We are very excited to be able to expand our outreach with the new van,” shared Mariposa County Chief Probation Officer Ryan Oliphant. “The outreach van will help us better serve our community and continue to foster connections that will only strengthen Mariposa County.”

The outreach van is setup to provide all the services a probation officer can conduct in the office including case management, counseling, access to referrals, drug testing and electronic monitoring setup.

“Often those on probation who are either homeless or live longer distances away from services struggle to comply with conditions of probation or don’t receive all of the necessary rehabilitative services,” said Oliphant. “By providing mobile outreach, we are bringing the services to them while holding them accountable at the same time.”

The goals of the Probation Outreach Program are to:

  • Bridge the gap in services
  • Foster deeper connections with the community
  • Increase the chance of success on probation, and
  • Enhance community safety

The Mobile Outreach Program was officially launched in July and the team has already been able to provide services at homeless encampments as well as locations in Greeley Hill and Coulterville.

“The possibilities are exciting for how we can utilize this van for the benefit of our community,” said Oliphant. “Our team is looking forward to everything on the horizon.”

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ICYMI: County opposes juvenile justice changes in Assembly bill

Chief Probation Officer Chris Hansen

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.

It is the latest battleground in the three-year realignment of having counties take care of longterm, serious offenders, 18 to 25 years old, that had previously been held at state detention centers.

Hansen is OK with having what the county terms as youths – currently 12 in the program – but the funding strings would actually tie his hands.

He argues that it will impede stable county funding to support the realignment, funding needed “to carry out the rehabilitation of these youth in a way that keeps youth and staff safe.”

“The bill adds many new requirements that obstruct local responsiveness and planning; we must not set in motion new and unnecessary processes that hinder getting the work done,” Hansen noted in a document.

Furthermore, he said the state has not identified any need for the changes, which Hansen characterized as “premature and disruptive.”

“At the end of the day, it is better that we have these kids,” said Hansen, noting a letter send by the Chief Probation Officers Association that outlines abuses of these offenders when under state control.

He said in Solano County they get education and work training, and the department is working toward providing more transitional housing so they are not just sent back into the same environment where their troubles started.

“Counties are fully invested in a strong, vibrant and responsive juvenile justice system that does not result in more kids being referred to the adult court system and with the goals of producing improved and sustainable positive outcomes for system-involved youth,” the board letter signed by Chairman John Vasquez states.

“As counties are now responsible for the entirety of the juvenile justice system pursuant to (Department of Juvenile Justice realignment), it is imperative that county authority and responsibility remain connected to ensure the system can respond appropriately,” the letter states.

“AB 505 unnecessarily adds barriers to stable funding for counties responsible for implementing critical services to youth at the higher end of the system as locals look to build out the responses required upon the state closing DJJ. Additionally, there are other programmatic changes proposed in this bill that create instability and significant changes to the juvenile justice continuum,” the board letter states.

“There has not been a demonstrated need to make the changes proposed in this bill and therefore we urge the Legislature to take caution in making concurrent changes to programs whereby implementation is currently and earnestly underway as counties are working diligently to best serve the youth in our communities. It is for the reasons outlined above; the Solano Board of Supervisors must respectfully oppose AB 505.”

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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.

Press Release

PRESS RELEASE: Chief Probation Officers of California Foundation and California Department of Social Services Host Screening of Jetro’s Journey Documentary and Panel Discussion

PRESS RELEASE: Chief Probation Officers of California Foundation and California Department of Social Services Host Screening of Jetro’s Journey Documentary and Panel Discussion

For Immediate Release

May 25, 2023

PRESS RELEASE

Chief Probation Officers of California Foundation and California Department of Social Services Host Screening of Jetro’s Journey Documentary and Panel Discussion

The film showcases the positive impact of the support and care provided to a Jetro – a supervised foster youth – by his resource family and Sacramento County Probation

 

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Fresno County Probation Unveils 2023 Victims’ Memorial Quilt

On April 25, 2023, in recognition of National Crime Victims’ Rights week, the James Rowland Crime Victim Assistance Center in Fresno County unveiled the 2023 Victims’ Memorial Quilt.  

The Victims’ Memorial Quilt stands as a lasting memory to innocent victims of Fresno County who lost their lives to acts of senseless violence. This year, 22 patches were added to the Memorial Quilt, totaling over 500 patches since our first quilt in 1994.

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Webinar: Diversity Matters – Strengthening the Probation Profession for All

Webinar: Diversity Matters – Strengthening the Probation Profession for All

In celebration of Black History Month, CPOC hosted a webinar to hear from some of California’s Probation Chiefs talk about the diversity within the probation profession, their personal stories of struggles and triumphs as black leaders and how the unique and unduplicated work of probation professionals is enhanced by its high level of diversity in the field.

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Probation Departments Give Back to Communities by Participating in Annual Torch Run to Benefit the Special Olympics

In honor of Probation Services Week, Chief Probation Officers of California are highlighting probation staff and officers’ service and compassion on and off the clock. Probation is committed to giving back to communities and helping change lives. 

Probation departments from Mariposa, Sonoma, Solano, Sacramento, and Nevada counties participated in the 2022 Law Enforcement Torch Run for the Special Olympics. 

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Success Story: “Probation put a wall between what I should be doing and what I shouldn’t”

Success Story: “Probation put a wall between what I should be doing and what I shouldn’t”

Erik Garduno’s life could have turned out differently.

The 30-year-old grew up in a good family. But the area where he lived was rough and he spent some of his time with the wrong crowd. As a result, a high school beer run gone wrong put him on a short probation stint, which turned out to be a good thing because it kept him away from bad influences and helped him figure out what he was – and wasn’t – supposed to be doing.

E-mail blast

Probation Provides a Bridge to Services for the Unhoused through a Lens of Accountability

Probation Departments throughout California are innovating to become a bridge and connector to services and supports for unhoused Californians, all through a lens of safety and accountability.  Read below about how Stanislaus County Probation and Placer County Probation are working to meet the needs of their communities to enhance safety, restoration and health.   

Quarterly Newsletter

The Connector – March 2022
California Probation Creating Safer Communities Through Accountability & Opportunity

Puzzle piece showing how probation connects people to services and supervision

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.

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Women’s History Month Webinar
Women Empowering Women: Celebrating Women Probation Leaders

Women’s History Month Webinar

Each March, Women’s History Month serves to reflect on the history of women in America and their contributions to our communities. We are proud of California probation’s diversity and gender equity in our officers, with 51% of deputy probation officers in California being women.

That diversity extends to ethnic diversity with 72% of deputy probation officers being non-white.

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California Probation: A Common Sense Approach to Safety
Balancing Accountability with Opportunity Helps Create Sustainable Safety in Communities

California Probation: A Common Sense Approach to Safety

Check out the latest video from @Solano County Probation. Chief Chris Hansen talks about how probation offers accountability and opportunity to improve lives of justice-involved individuals and provides common sense safety to communities.

We also get to see and hear from probation clients and how Probation helped them get on a better pathway with a careful balance of direct human services and research-based deterrents and interventions. See how providing essential supports and bringing resources together helps shape stories of hope and makes us all safer. 

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Accountability can lead to recovery & healing: Anthony’s Story
A Powerful Story of Accountability with Opportunity & Healing

Accountability can lead to recovery & healing: Anthony’s Story

Watch Anthony’s powerful story of how accountability led to his path of recovery and healing.

Riverside County Probation proudly supports clients as they overcome challenges and regain their lives. After years of addiction, homelessness and family estrangement, Anthony was ready to change. He just didn’t know it yet.

It took a little tough love to nudge him in the right direction. Anthony’s daughter called his Probation Officer because she knew that may be the difference in saving her father’s life.

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Around Kern County Highlights Probation’s RAP Program
Ally Soper highlights Kern County Probation Department's solution to address individual needs of youth

Around Kern County Highlights Probation’s RAP Program

You won’t want to miss the final episode of Around Kern County where Ally Soper, Chief Communications Officer, highlights Kern County Probation Department’s solution to address individual needs of youth in their juvenile facilities. Their Re-Entry, ADA, and Programming Unit, also known as RAP, is an evidence-based program designed to set youth up for success after their release.