News Coverage

From the Red Bluff Daily News​.

Red Bluff, Calif. – December 7, 2024 –  Dual member of the Probation Business Managers Association and Probation Information Technology Managers Association  Oscar Morales has been honored at the 2024 Annual Chief Probation Officers of California Awards Ceremony with the Affiliate Employee of the Year Award.

This recognition celebrates Morales’ outstanding initiative, technical expertise, and dedication to advancing the mission of the probation profession.

“Oscar’s willingness to take initiative and go above and beyond to enhance our work in probation is exemplary,” Tehama County Chief Probation Officer Pamela Gonzalez said. “His expertise and dedication are invaluable to Tehama County Probation and help make our community safer for everyone.”

From the The Union.

NEVADA COUNTY, Calif. – December 5, 2024 –  Nevada County Probation Department Officer Karyn Mueller was recognized at the 2024 Annual Chief Probation Officers of California (CPOC) Awards Ceremony as the Sacramento Region Employee of the Year, honoring her tireless dedication to improving opportunities for youth and her innovative approach to community service in Nevada County.

“Karyn has become the go-to leader for juvenile services in our community, managing and spearheading transformative initiatives for youth,” said Jeff Goldman Chief Probation Officer for Nevada County. “Her commitment to expanding opportunities for at-risk youth makes her an invaluable member of our community and department.”

A passionate advocate for youth development, Officer Mueller leveraged her extensive experience and social capital to establish Beyond the Barriers California, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping transitional-aged youth (18-25), with a focus on former foster youth, access to reliable transportation. Recognizing the significant barrier that lack of transportation presents in rural areas, Officer Mueller mobilized a network of youth-focused community members to serve on her nonprofit’s board, partnered with local repair shops, and collaborated with the high school advanced auto shop.

…This holistic approach ensures youth are set up for success as they transition toward independence, accessing education and employment opportunities that would otherwise be out of reach.

From the KTLA.

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. – December 4, 2024 –  The principal of a San Bernardino school for students in juvenile detention has been honored with an esteemed award for her services. 

Monica Hatcher, the principal of the Central Valley Juvenile Detention and Assessment Center and A.R.I.S.E. Secure Youth Treatment Facility, was presented with the Tim Fitzharris Award, which honors a non-probation professional who has made an extraordinary contribution to corrections, recognizing their impact on individuals, communities and systems of care.

Hatcher, whose career in the justice system spans over two decades, showed “dedication to improving the lives of at-risk youth” through transformative programs, according to Chief Probation Officers of California. 

From KGET​ and The Bakersfield Californian.

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — November 5, 2024 — The Kern County Probation Department’s Mandatory Supervision Unit turned up suspected drugs, digital scales and drug paraphernalia during a home call Monday in Bakersfield, the department said Tuesday.

Officers who went to a home in the 3300 block of Monterey Street in Bakersfield found about 1.27 pounds of suspected methamphetamine and 2.6 grams of suspected cocaine, the probation department said in a news release.

Officers contacted Tina Wedgeworth, who they said is on active mandatory supervision and wanted for a felony warrant. Also contacted was Daniel Udall. Both were arrested on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance for sales, and paraphernalia; Wedgeworth was also arrested for the warrant, the news release said.

From The Bakersfield Californian​.

KERN COUNTY​ — October 28, 2024 — Monday was First Responders Recognition Day, and first responders throughout Bakersfield and across Kern County were honored by a crowd of admirers that gathered at Historic Union Cemetery.

Kern County Chief Probation Officer Bill Dickinson said he wanted to talk about the humanity behind Kern County’s first responders.

And he didn’t disappoint.

“They are sons and daughters; they are mothers and fathers; they are brothers and sisters,” he said. “They are people who live in and who often have been raised in our own community. They are our neighbors and they are our friends,” Dickinson said. “They are also created with a heartbeat and a soul.”