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.

One example of this is how reentry has been missing from policy discussions around high-profile public safety changes taking place. 

Reentry is a complex subject and often misunderstood, but the bottom line is this – virtually all people who serve time in jails and prisons will be coming back to our communities at some point. Reentry is the guided transition from life in incarceration to life in the community.

And it has profound implications for public safety.

This fact is supported by FBI data that points to the fact that a small percentage of the population commits a large majority of crimes. Meaning, many people will repeat criminal behavior, especially if they do not get the necessary supervision and social supports and resources they need during their reentry process.

In California, the majority of offenders coming out of jails and prisons come under the supervision of probation departments at the local level.  It is those at the local level, specifically probation, that are trained experts in how to help people reenter society successfully by carefully balancing accountability and opportunities for lasting rehabilitation.

While reentry is a complex and collaborative effort, Probation officers specifically, are trained to balance individual rehabilitative needs with personal accountability. Our officers and staff work tirelessly to ensure the justice-involved individuals they supervise don’t recidivate and have the opportunity and resources necessary to reenter society safely and successfully.

For the last several years, there has been a state-level push to repeal or radically change laws intended to hold individuals accountable for crimes. And worse still, many of these changes have been passed in isolation, without considering how all of the changes work together and their broader impact on the justice system. The ironic truth of the matter is that while these changes were intended to promote rehabilitation in lieu of incarceration, the effect has been the exact opposite. This is because if individuals who commit crimes are not given both rehabilitative and personal accountability incentive-based tools, we are setting them and the whole system up for failure.

The state has imposed a system for dealing with those who commit crimes that suits its own processes and that undermines accountability by skewing policies that often don’t translate to the actual work being done on the ground. The state sees local resources, expertise, and capacity as tools to serve its interests, rather than collaboratively supporting and empowering local entities as it should.

A good example of this kind of misguided policy change is the arbitrary shortening of probation terms in 2021. Because drug treatment programs are now often longer than felony probation terms, people who are offered drug treatment turn it down at a much higher rate. While the change in law was aimed at helping offenders successfully move out of the justice system, by removing a critical tool used by courts and probation for safe rehabilitation, those very offenders are often finding themselves further entrenched in the system because their addiction (which is a huge driver of criminal activity) has not been addressed.

If our reentry system and supports are not systemically addressed, these kinds of unintended consequences and harm to public safety will be significant.

As policymakers work to address the issues within our safety systems, it is crucial they address reentry. Additionally, this time around, the state must consult, collaborate and coordinate with the experts on the ground including Probation, or dire consequences are likely to ensue.

Probation is uniquely positioned to and legally tasked with the responsibility of providing the support and supervision needed to help prevent recidivism and promote successful reentry.

The challenges faced by individuals reentering society are significant—securing stable employment, finding housing, managing mental health issues, addressing behavioral health issues and overcoming substance abuse. Probation officers, who are deeply rooted in local communities, understand these challenges and are dedicated and trained to help individuals navigate this transition safely. Through evidence-based supervision and tailored interventions, they connect individuals to workforce training, mental health services, substance abuse treatment, and educational opportunities. Probation officers not only support individuals throughout their reentry process but are also uniquely positioned to guide and mandate actions that ensure public safety.

As the primary providers of reentry supervision in counties across California, probation officers work directly with individuals transitioning from incarceration. Using deep knowledge of local resources and employing a personalized approach, probation officers help those they supervise address the root causes of criminal behavior, thereby reducing the risk of recidivism.

Despite progress, there are still significant barriers to successful reentry. Recidivism rates remain high, indicating gaps in the support systems available for individuals leaving prison or jail. Now is the time to reassess and strengthen local reentry systems to ensure a safe transition from incarceration to our communities.

With the state’s reentry challenges growing, it is critical not only that we get this right but that further changes to the law don’t make it worse. We urge lawmakers to review current laws and reform them in a way that equips local authorities with the tools needed to both support individuals and keep communities safe.

Reentry shouldn’t be about early release or avoiding consequences. It should focus on the hard work of supporting individuals as they learn to safely live within our communities, follow the law, and receive the support they need to overcome barriers.

Probation has a proven track record of successfully guiding individuals toward positive reentry pathways. Reentry strategies should be shaped by experts and emphasize a balanced approach that incorporates multiple responses, rather than choosing one over the other. Importantly, these strategies must be grounded in the needs and priorities of the local communities where individuals are returning, with state support and collaboration aligning accordingly.

Read the OpEd in Capitol Weekly.