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Some Highlights of Our Breakout Sessions and One of Our General Sessions!
Day 1 of our conference will feature a general session by the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) covering California’s new Permanent Foster Care Rate Structure. Starting July 2025, a key part of this rate structure will take effect, requiring the use of standardized high-fidelity Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS) assessment for all youth and non-minor dependents (NMDs) in foster care. This important CANS update will be explored in depth during a breakout session later that day.
Spotlight
Orange County Probation: Healing Paws, Healing Hearts
Orange County, Calif., April 21, 2025 – If you were to visit a room at the Orange County Probation Department’s (OC Probation) Juvenile Hall, you’d likely come across something unexpected — a photograph of a dog, side by side with the youth. It’s a small, yet powerful reminder of the unique bond they share, one that stands out in a place where many misperceive as a place where hope and connection can be out of reach.
Orange County Probation Officer Uses Superhero Persona to Uplift Communities Nationwide
Orange, Calif., April 17, 2025 – In a remarkable fusion of public service and community outreach, Yuri Williams, a dedicated probation officer with the Orange County Probation Department, has garnered national attention over the past few years for his unique approach to supporting those facing challenges. By donning superhero costumes, Officer Williams brings joy and hope to those in need, all while using his professional experience to make a lasting impact.
County Spotlight: Lake County Probation’s 3rd Annual Resilient Re-Entry Event
Building Brighter Futures and Safer Communities
At Lake County Probation, they believe in second chances and the power of resilience while providing both supervision and services to those in their custody. This commitment was on full display at the 3rd Annual Resilient Re-Entry Event, hosted in partnership with the Lake County Campus of Woodland Community College on October 11, 2024.
Serving Those Who Have Served: Veterans’ Treatment Court Provides Support in Lieu of Incarceration
From Sacramento News & Review, by Anne Stokes
SACRAMENTO, CA | October 26, 2023 — While post-traumatic stress disorder affects millions of people, veterans suffer at higher rates than civilians, three times more for those who were deployed. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 11-20% of veterans who served in operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom have PTSD in a given year. Approximately 12% of Gulf War veterans and an estimated 30% of Vietnam Veterans struggle with PTSD. Symptoms include persistent flashbacks or nightmares, difficulty with emotional regulation, particularly anger management, and reckless or self-destructive behavior. Through California’s Veterans’ Treatment Court, veterans facing criminal charges may be eligible for treatment rather than punishment.
“The most common [struggle] for vets is PTSD [and] TBIs, which are traumatic brain injuries, just from service. That can turn into addictions, can turn into anger issues, and those can turn into other criminal activities if it goes far enough,” says Kevin Cadena, senior deputy probation officer with Sacramento County.
“Approximately 90% of the veterans in Veterans’ Treatment Court are combat veterans from mainly the First Gulf War, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. Many have experienced gruesome events.”
The goal of Veterans’ Treatment Court is to address the underlying issues at hand in the hopes of getting those who have served their country back on their feet.
Anthony’s Story of Justice and Recovery
From The Press Enterprise. By Anthony Martinez.
As our communities come together to celebrate National Recovery Month, I want to take a moment to share my personal journey. My hope is that by telling my story, I can help inform ongoing discussions about addiction and criminal justice, while offering some hope to those who struggle with addiction.
I am a recovered addict, and am proud to say I have been sober for almost five years. My recovery journey has been shaped by many factors, but a few stand out as the most important: my family, especially my daughter, who never gave up on me; my faith in God; the treatment programs like the one I attended at the Salvation Army; and, surprisingly, the justice system.
In particular, I am deeply grateful for one of my probation officers who treated me with respect and compassion, seeing me as a human being.
Victim Resources
CA Department of Justice Victims’ Services Unit – The Victims’ Services Unit offers crime victims and their families support and information at every stage of the criminal process.
CA Dept. of Corrections and Rehabilitation, OVSRS – Provides information on offender release, restitution, parole conditions and parole hearings when the offender is incarcerated in prison. 1-877-256-6877
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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.
