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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.

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County Spotlight: Lake County Probation Department hosts Collaborative Resilient Re-entry Events in their Community

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.

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What Works Wednesdays: State Investment in Probation Associated with Lower Recidivism, Improved Safety

Probation Officer smiling and speaking with a Client

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,

Article

Video Highlight: Lake County Probation Department hosts Resilient Re-entry event

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.

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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.

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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.