Success Stories

Article

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.

Post

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,

Post

Justice Marsha Slough Discusses Probation’s Work in Pretrial Services During Judicial Council Meeting

Justice Marsha Slough Discusses Probation’s Work in Pretrial Services During Judicial Council Meeting

During a Judicial Council meeting on July 21, 2023, the Honorable Justice Marsha G. Slough discussed the benefits of pretrial services and the work probation is doing with individuals out of custody on pretrial to enhance safety and services in our communities.

During their business meeting, the Judicial Council received the final report on California’s pretrial pilot program showing its overall positive effect on courts, defendants, and the public.

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

 

Post

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.

Post

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. 

Post

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.

Post

“Wall of Change” Honorees Share their Success Stories at Special Event

On December 1, 2021, twenty-three probationers were honored at the Marin County Civic Center’s Board of Supervisors chamber for positively changing their lives and inspiring others. Each probationer was celebrated on the Marin County Probation Department’s Wall of Change, where personal stories of their transformations are documented in the department’s lobby for all probationers to see. The Wall of Change ceremony was an emotional tribute to the 2020 and 2021 induction classes. The 2020 event was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Post

Why Being on Probation in Napa County is a Privilege
A Client Letter to Napa County Probation

This Probation Services Week, we honor the life transformations made possible by the opportunity, hope, help and accountability probation provides. We are proud to highlight this story, and hear in the client’s own words how probation’s trained experts successfully manage trauma and other needs of the people they serve by connecting service and need to enhance safety and restoration — creating sustainable safety in the communities we serve.

Post

Pretrial Program Highlight: Sonoma County Probation

Fred (not using his real name for privacy) had been having many challenges. He was repeatedly in and out of jail for drug use and property crimes. During multiple incarcerations he talked about changing his life and quitting drugs to reunite with his kids, as he had lost custody of his children due to meth use.

Earlier this year, following another arrest, he was released as a part of a Pretrial pilot program under the care and supervision of the Sonoma County Probation Department.

Post

This is California Probation
Equity in Gender, Diverse Officers Focused on Collaborative Safety for All

California Probation officers are diverse and highly educated professionals with over 72% of probation officers identifying as non-white, and 51% are women, the majority have four-year degrees, and over half of probation departments have employed former system-involved individuals.

California Probation is educated and trained to help protect communities by carefully balancing justice-involved individuals’ need for accountability along with their need for the help and hope required to safely leave the justice system permanently.