Featured Programs
Sacramento County Probation Launches Third Mobile Probation Service Center to Support Unhoused Clients
From Sacramento County Probation
Sacramento, Calif. – May 30, 2025 – Assembly Bill 178 was approved in 2022, and appropriated $20 million to fund a competitive grant program for all county probation departments to establish Mobile Probation Service Centers. On April 13, 2023, the Board of State and Community Corrections awarded the Sacramento County Probation Department $1,319,860 to support implementation of these services within the community.
On June 2, 2025, the Sacramento County Probation Department will deploy its third Probation Outreach Vehicle through the Juvenile Field Services Division. With workstations and necessary equipment, this cargo van will function as a Mobile Service Center, offering a safe and welcoming space for engagement while assisting unhoused clients across Sacramento County.
San Mateo County Probation Youth Services Center – Juvenile Hall 2025 Graduation
From San Mateo County
SAN MATEO COUNTY, Calif. – May 30, 2025 – On May 28th, the San Mateo County Youth Services Center – Juvenile Hall proudly celebrated its 2025 graduates! Eight inspiring young men and women, together with their families marked the occasion with pride, elation, and hope for the future. Each youth proudly wore their purple gown and customized cap and tassel. Three of the graduates were conferred college degrees through San Mateo County Probation’s partnership with Project Change’s Rising Scholars Program. Two young men graduated Cum Laude and will be transferring to San Francisco State University.
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.
The Connector Newsletter – May 29, 2025
California Probation Creating Safer Communities Through Accountability & Opportunity
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.
San Diego Probation Officer and New Narcotics K-9 Keep Youth Facilities Safe
From San Diego County News, by Yvette Urrea Moe, County of San Diego Communications Office
SAN DIEGO COUNTY, Calif. – May 19, 2025 – Probation Officer Claudia Romero is working with a relatively new K-9 partner named Lilly that is trained to sniff out narcotics. Together, they are working to keep youth safe by checking for illegal drugs in juvenile facilities like the Youth Transition Campus and East Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility.
Watch the video here.
Santa Clara County Probation Vans Bring Services To Homeless Residents
From SF Gate.
Santa Clara, Calif. – May 3, 2025 – Santa Clara County wants to help homeless people on probation avoid extra jail time by bringing legal services to encampments.
People on probation are required to attend regular meetings with a probation officer and court hearings. But for homeless people who lack transportation, making these appointments becomes an obstacle, which can lead to longer probation periods or going back to jail. The county aims to reduce these barriers by having a mobile probation service center.
Outreach Vans Bring Santa Clara County Probation Services to Unhoused Community
From Santa Clara County, by Eric Kurhi.
SANTA CLARA COUNTY, Calif. – May 2, 2025 – To most eyes, the Probation Department’s latest acquisitions look like a pair of unassuming Sprinter high-roof crew vans with discreet County branding. But to the department – and, more importantly, to the clients it serves – the vans represent the County’s latest effort to bring life-changing services out of government offices and into the communities that need them.
These Mobile Service Centers, funded by a state grant aimed at increasing access to probation services, made their debut this week at a County probation resources fair. Officials say they’ll soon be seen in the field – at homeless encampments, outside courthouses and community centers, and posted in areas of the County distant from the three brick-and-mortar probation offices.
Sonoma County Probation Partners with Local Artists on Juvenile Hall Mural Project
From County of Sonoma.
Santa Rosa, Calif. – April 25, 2025 – The Sonoma County Probation Department has partnered with artists Amanda Lynn and MJ Lindo-Lawyer to create nine large murals at Sonoma County Juvenile Hall. The project was funded through AB 178, which supports improvements to juvenile halls in California, and the Youth Programs and Facilities Grant Program Part A, which helps redesign therapeutic and programming spaces.
Sonoma County Probation has worked to create therapeutic spaces in Juvenile Hall to support rehabilitation. The new murals bring intrigue and wonder to areas that lacked color, helping to reduce stress, promote comfort, and enhance overall well-being. The artwork has a positive impact on mood and provides an uplifting environment.
Reentry Program Celebrates Graduates Reforming their Lives in Fresno County
From Fox 26 News.
Fresno, Calif. – April 24, 2025 – GEO Reentry Services and the Fresno County Probation Department celebrated several people working to reform their lives.
Dozens of men and woman on probation graduated from the Reentry program at the Fresno County Day Reporting Center.
… The program offers an alternative to jail incarceration while holding individuals on probation accountable in a community corrections setting.
The Fresno County Probation Department funds the program as one of its evidence-based strategies in reducing criminal activity. Evidence-based practices refer to programs backed by scientific research to reduce recidivism.
Marin County Probation Check on DUI Probationers Results in 5 Violations
From Marin County.
MARIN COUNTY, Calif. – April 2, 2025 – Unannounced checks of Marin County residents on active supervised probation for DUI offenses resulted in five individuals found in violation but no arrests, according to the Marin County Probation Department.
“Alcohol-impaired driving remains one of the biggest threats to public safety and well-being on our roadways,” said Chief Probation Officer Marlon Washington.
“That’s why operations like this are critical — not only for community safety but also for ensuring that individuals on probation comply with the terms of their supervision.”
Yuba County Probation Department Hosts Graduation Celebrating Recovery and Education Milestones
Graduates Highlight the Transformative Impact of Accountability and Rehabilitation in Creating Long-Term Community Safety
Marysville, CA. – On March 14, 2025, the Yuba County Probation Department celebrated the success of 11 individuals who completed the department’s outpatient substance abuse treatment program, For Our Recovery Families (F.O.R. Families), alongside six individuals who earned their high school diplomas. The graduation ceremony, held at the TEAM Center in Marysville, marked a powerful moment of resilience and transformation for participants working to rebuild their lives.
San Diego County Probation: Empowering Youth Through the YDA Fire Program
The Youth Development Academy (YDA) Fire Program is a transformative initiative that equips young adults with the skills, discipline, and mindset needed to build a better future. This program not only provides hands-on training in firefighting but also fosters personal growth, responsibility, and a commitment to community service.
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.
The Connector Newsletter – March 31, 2025
California Probation Creating Safer Communities Through Accountability & Opportunity
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.
Marin County Probation Inspiring Probationers Receive Public Ovation
A resilient and successful group of 17 is now recognized on Probation’s Wall of Change.
From Marin County Probation.
Marin County, CA – February 24, 2025 – The Marin County Probation Department proudly recognized 17 individuals who successfully transformed their lives after being on supervised probation. The honorees were celebrated at the annual Wall of Change ceremony, an event that began in 2011 as a small, intimate gathering and has since grown into a significant ceremony.
…During the event, two honorees, Seena Aguilar and Mohammed Majdoubi, shared powerful testimonies about their personal journeys.
Sena Aguilar, standing at the podium, invited her fellow honorees to stand beside her in solidarity, emphasizing that the moment belonged to all of them. She shared her story of growing up in an environment affected by alcoholism and addiction, experiencing trauma that led to instability.
“I came to the realization that I was powerless against alcohol and that my life was unmanageable,” she said.
“It was time to change, and that change began with the justice system. I saw it as an opportunity, not a punishment. With the right resources, and the support of my probation officer, recovery coach, and therapist, I was able to rebuild my life. Today, I am two years sober.”
Probation Officers Find Hiding Suspect, Stolen Handgun, Firearms, and Ammo in Apple Valley
From Victor Valley News Group.
APPLE VALLEY, Calif. – February 22, 2025 – On Friday, February 21, 2025, San Bernardino County probation officers carried out a significant compliance check in Apple Valley, resulting in the discovery of a probationer hiding in a bedroom.
During a thorough search of the residence, officers uncovered twelve firearms, including a stolen handgun, and hundreds of rounds of ammunition. As a result, two individuals were arrested.
The compliance checks extended beyond Apple Valley, with several residents reporting similar operations in Victorville.
At least one of these checks involved a SWAT team and a K9 unit, with a man being detained while officials conducted a detailed search of a home.
Sonoma County Probation Department Receives State Grant To Crack Down On Repeat DUI Offenders
From KZST.
SONOMA COUNTY, Calif. – February 21, 2025 – Sonoma County is cracking down on repeat DUI offenders.
The Probation Department has received a $240,000 grant from the state to fund intensive supervision for those convicted of felony DUIs. The money from the Office of Traffic Safety will help probation officers closely monitor offenders, ensuring they follow court orders and stay off the road. The grant will also support warrant operations targeting those who violate probation or skip court, distribute “Be On the Lookout” alerts for DUI suspects, and improve collaboration with courts and prosecutors.
The program runs through September 2025. This effort is funded by the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Read the full article here.
ICYMI: San Diego County Holds First North County Community Resource Fair
From San Diego County News Center.
SAN DIEGO COUNTY, Calif. – February 21, 2025 – Hundreds of people moved from booth-to-booth in the parking lot of the North County Superior Court in Vista Thursday, seeking some welcoming help as they work to successfully reenter and rejoin their neighborhoods and communities.
They had come to the first North County Community Resource Fair, organized by the San Diego County Probation Department and the state Division of Adult Parole Operations.
…
John, a probationer, came to the event and said he hoped to find a job. He said events like the resource fair were not only important for the tangible help they provide, but also for the hope they give to the people who come to them.