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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.
Reassessing California’s Approach to Public Safety and Reentry
By Karen Pank, Executive Director, Chief Probation Officers of California.
Every day, new reports of crime shake communities across California. Recent high-profile violent crime incidents have intensified concerns about public safety and the policies guiding safety decisions in our state. But it’s not just the high-profile cases that have California residents shaken, it’s the too-close-to-home incidents we all see on the streets of the communities in which we live every day.
It’s natural to wonder who or what is to blame and ask why this surge in crime is happening and what went wrong within our communities and public safety systems. The reality is that the situation is both straightforward and complex.
As on-the-ground experts in community safety and rehabilitation, Probation officers have seen firsthand how the state’s efforts to dictate how to address policy issues that impact public safety are attacking the problem from the wrong point of view. While well-intentioned, the state’s top-down approach, which has not fully taken into account the expertise and input of the professionals who do this work every day at the local level – is failing.
Orange County Probation Officer Earns Award from MADD
Orange, Cali., September 11, 2024 – In a world where driving under the influence (DUI) remains a critical public safety concern, the dedication and innovative approaches within the justice system can make a significant difference. One such individual, Ronald De La Riva, is a recently honored member of the Orange County Probation Department, whose work with DUI court programs has earned him the 2024 Outstanding Probation Officer of the Year from Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). The following insights shed light on this remarkable journey, from groundbreaking initiatives to a lasting impact on the community.
A Career Built on Commitment
The MADD 2024 Outstanding Probation Officer of the Year award was not a spontaneous accolade but rather a result of a deliberate and impactful career. De La Riva joined DUI Court as a Supervising Probation Officer (SPO) in 2013. His drive to improve DUI interventions was influenced by a department wide initiative towards evidence-based practices (EBPs). This commitment to employing effective, research-backed methods rather than traditional approaches laid the foundation for significant advancements in the DUI court program.
Statement on CPOC’s Support for Proposition 36 from President Kelly Vernon
The Chief Probation Officers of California support Prop 36 as an important step toward meaningful change in the justice system and the communities we serve. As professionals dedicated to public safety, helping individuals transform their lives and supporting victims, we recognize the urgent need for action and approach this decision with a lens of balancing accountability and opportunity for change.
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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Chief Probation Officers of California Response to Governor’s January Budget Proposal
State Budget Proposal Which Recognizes Probation's Integral Role in Public Safety and Rehabilitation
Sacramento, California, January 10, 2025 – The
Chief Probation Officers of California (CPOC) is encouraged by
Governor Gavin Newsom’s proposed January budget which recognizes
“the significant role probation plays in maintaining public
safety and reducing prison admissions.” We remain cautiously
optimistic as details related to several mission-critical areas
are unknown and some areas such as support for Proposition 36
implementation have not been adequately addressed.
Investing in the Future: Orange County Supports Innovative Programs for System-Involved Youth
From the Daily Pilot.
ORANGE COUNTY, Calif. – January 9, 2025 – The Orange County Probation Department (OC Probation) is honored to announce the historic allocation of over $2 million dollars to new Community Based Organizations (CBO) Programs through the Orange County Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council (OCJJCC).
