Featured Programs
ICYMI: Sonoma County Juvenile Hall opens new music studio
From Sonoma County
SANTA ROSA, CA | March 04, 2024
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.
Marin County Probationers Honored for Remarkable Turnarounds
Probation’s inspiring ‘Wall of Change’ recipients bask in pride at ceremony
From Marin County Probation New Release.
San Rafael, CA – Boris Rodriguez of Novato is a responsible young man now, but for much of his adult life he was responsible for a lot of anguish.
San Joaquin County approves new initiative to address homelessness (Video)
In KCRA by Lee Anne Denyer.
San Joaquin County is taking a new approach to helping the county’s homeless individuals.
The county’s board of supervisors approved the creation of a Community Assessment, Response and Engagement (CARE) team earlier this week. It will be headed by the county’s probation department.
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.
Report: State Investment in Probation Associated with Lower Recidivism, Improved Safety
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,
New Multi-Sensory Room “The Reef” in San Mateo County Youth Services Center-Juvenile Hall
On November 9th, the San Mateo County Probation Department unveiled “The Reef,” a multisensory de-escalation room for youth in the Youth Services Center-Juvenile Hall. The Reef is a sprawling ocean-reef mural filled with calming deep blues and turquoise all created by youth and staff as part of Probation’s art therapy program.
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.
ICYMI: Kern County probation program graduates 75 participants
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.
ICYMI: Probation Department Expands with Community Outreach Van
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.
…
ICYMI: County opposes juvenile justice changes in Assembly bill
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.
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: 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
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.
CBS News: Placer County opens first-of-its-kind mobile temporary homeless shelter in Auburn
From CBS News Sacramento
AUBURN — Placer County is taking steps to address homelessness with the opening of the first-of-its-kind mobile temporary shelter.
Located in Auburn, the shelter has about 50 heavy-duty tents with cots and basic bedding…
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.
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.
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.
Stanislaus County Probation: Being reflective of their community helps connection for better safety
Stanislaus County Probation is no different than California Probation Officers statewide, repesenting a highliy diverse and gender equitable profession which is reflective of the community they serve. Click on this recently released graphic from the Stanislaus County Probation Department to learn more about the Stanislaus County Probation Department.