News Coverage
A Message from CPOC on COVID 19 Response
CPOC’s top priority is the well-being and safety of our staff, partners, probation departments and probation clients throughout California.
For this reason, we are changing the way we work and how we support California’s 59 Probation Departments due to the rapidly evolving COVID-19 situation.
Report: State Investment in Probation Associated with Lower Recidivism, Improved Safety
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,
ICYMI: Probation youth create little mobile library to show appreciation
From Inland Empire Community News
A generous book donation from the Friends of A.K. Smiley Public Library prompted youth in the San Bernardino County Probation Department’s Gateway/Regional Occupational Program (ROP) to design and create a gift of appreciation for the organization.
Local Hero: Probation Officer Butch Hindman
Butte County Probation Officer & Camp Fire Hero is Officer of the Year Awardee
“In the early morning hours, it became apparent that the Camp Fire was going to be unlike any incident anyone had experienced… [Deputy Probation Officer] Butch Hindman was not only one of those officers who responded, but in those early and, critical hours, he led teams of probation officers who drove into an area that people were desperate to flee.”
~Chief Wayne Barley, Butte County Probation
ICYMI: California’s Plan to Raise the Age of Its Youth Justice System Heads to the Legislature
From The Chronicle of Social Change
A plan to expand California’s youth justice system to include 18- and 19-year-olds is heading to the state legislature.
SPOTLIGHT: Probation Officer Tiffany Stokes Receives Human Trafficking Awareness Month Award
California Probation embraces a human service approach toward supervision while focusing on components associated with an effective reduction in recidivism.
Probation Officer Tiffany Stokes of the Fresno County Probation Department was recognized by the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) this past month for her invaluable work with the rehabilitation of human trafficking victims. She was recommended by a number of leaders in her local community who strongly commended her passion and dedication to the youth she works with on a daily basis.
California’s Historic Juvenile Justice Evolution
Led by Chief Probation Officers, California has seen a historic shift in how we serve youth referred to our justice system.
California should be proud of the evolution and success in the juvenile justice over the last decade. Led by Chief Probation Officers, along with the state and community-based agencies, California has seen a historic shift in how we serve youth referred to our justice system. California has reduced usage of local detention facilities by 60% and successfully serves 90% of youth in the juvenile justice system within our communities.
SPOTLIGHT: “I wasn’t afraid of probation”
One Veteran’s Positive Journey Alongside Two Probation Officers
Probation embraces a human service approach toward supervision while focusing on the components associated with effective reductions in recidivism.
The Veterans Court in the Santa Barbara County Probation Department has successfully helped a client named Kevin. Kevin has completely changed his way of life and has consistently maintained a healthier lifestyle. Kevin was recently interviewed along with his current and former probation officers about how his journey and how the relationships built between client and officer helped achieve success:
Probation Chiefs Support Governor Newsom’s Proposal to Advance Proven Probation Practices
SACRAMENTO – The Chief Probation Officers of California (CPOC) announced their support for Governor Gavin Newsom’s budget proposal to advance proven practices by probation, tailor probation term length based on research and expand these practices to high risk misdemeanants. The proposal will support adults on probation through the enhancement of best practices and alignment of some misdemeanor offenses with risk and need principles to improve public safety, reduce repeat offending, save taxpayer dollars, and increase the stability and success of people exiting probation.
ICYMI: Young offenders don’t belong in adult prisons. California has a chance to end the practice
By Vince Schiraldi
From the Los Angeles Times
Adulthood doesn’t magically happen on the day someone turns 18. Any parent knows this, and numerous laws and social practices also recognize the fact.
Opinion: Young offenders don’t belong in adult prisons. California has a chance to end the practice
By Vince Schiraldi
From the Los Angeles Times
Adulthood doesn’t magically happen on the day someone turns 18. Any parent knows this, and numerous laws and social practices also recognize the fact.
California can lead the nation in science-based juvenile justice solutions
From Cal Matters
California’s juvenile justice system has evolved as we have learned more about brain development, the effects of adverse childhood experiences and social, emotional, and mental health needs of our young people.
Watch now! What is California Probation?
What is Probation?
The answer can differ greatly from state to state however probation in California has evolved to become one of the leaders in the use of evidence-based practices to help implement positive behavior change. Watch this video to find out more about how California Probation is Leading The Change in policy and in the lives of justice-involved individuals.
California can lead the nation in science-based juvenile justice solutions
From Cal Matters
California’s juvenile justice system has evolved as we have learned more about brain development, the effects of adverse childhood experiences and social, emotional, and mental health needs of our young people.
ICYMI: Probation Chiefs Announce New Proposal that Elevates and Evolves Juvenile Justice
The Elevate Justice Act will raise the age of juvenile court jurisdiction to encompass all teenagers with an elevated focus on rehabilitation and restorative justice for youth
Last week the Chief Probation Officers of California (CPOC) discussed on KQED-FM radio its new proposal, known as the Elevate Justice Act, that builds from the decade of successful reforms further elevating and evolving the juvenile justice system.
State Probation Chiefs Propose Overhaul of Juvenile Justice System, Including Maximum Age Increase
From KQED News by Marisa Lagos
California’s probation leaders want to reshape the state’s juvenile justice system — in part by raising the maximum age of eligibility from 17 to 19 years old.
Judicial Council Report Finds SB 678 Highly Effective in Increasing Evidence-Based Practices
SB 678 Passed in 2009 to Increase Evidence-based Practices in Probation
Sacramento, Calif. – November 8, 2019 – The Judicial Council of California recently found that California Probation Departments have been highly-effective in implementing evidence-based practices while protecting public safety since the implementation of Senate Bill 678. The SB 678 program helped lead to the revamp of California Probation’s practices to adopt more evidence-based, scientifically-supported approaches that have yielded considerable positive results.
ICYMI: L.A. County Probation Department Recognizes Martha Corbett’s Act of Bravery
Probation Officer Rescues Youth from Oncoming Train
If one were to refer to Los Angeles County Deputy Probation Officer II (DPO II) Martha Corbett as a hero, she would deny it—much like what most heroes do. However, her denial of this title recently bestowed upon her doesn’t change the fact that she helped save the life of a young boy because of her quick thinking and fast action while relying on her extensive training as a probation officer.
Probation Officer’s Life Mirrors Juvenile Justice Transformation
From County of San Diego Insite News
When Probation Officer Elizabeth Brown works with teenagers in detention, she knows what they’re going through. She really does. It doesn’t come from empathy training. She was one of them.
She just had her first anniversary as a County employee. Her long, difficult path there included several stints in juvenile hall and years as a Probation client.
Probation Success Story – Building Client Success Through Relationship
Jillyne, a former Probation client in San Bernardino County is a true story of transformation and success.
“I made some bad decisions and it caught up with me,” she says in an interview about her journey. However, she did not allow those decisions to define her.
After she was assigned to Officer Kirby in the Probation Department, she began making new choices and rewrote her life into an inspiring story of growth and success.
