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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.

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County Spotlight: Lake County Probation Department hosts Collaborative Resilient Re-entry Events in their Community

County Spotlight: Lake County Probation Department hosts Collaborative Resilient Re-entry Events in their Community

The Lake County Probation Department, in collaboration with the Lake County Campus of Woodland Community College, hosted a Resilient Re-entry event in late 2023, designed to provide valuable resources and guidance to justice-involved individuals.

The event aimed to facilitate the reintegration of justice-involved individuals into society by offering a range of services, including record expungement, information about college education opportunities, and even free tattoo removal services.

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Report: 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,

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Placer County Probation Officer named Sacramento Regional Employee of the Year

From Gold Country Media.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — December 21, 2023 – A Placer County deputy probation officer received national recognition for his work in more than 45 cases regarding the homeless, according to a Chief Probation Officers of California (CPOC) press release.

Placer County Probation Outreach Team member Deputy Probation Officer James Corry has worked in probation since 2016 and for Placer County for 17 years. Through 2023, Corry has engaged with the homeless, coordinated cleanup efforts, distributed water and has even saved lives through his kindness.

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Breaking the Cycle: Sacramento County Probation works with community organizations to help juveniles changes their lives

From Sacramento News and Review.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — December 19, 2023 – Josef Gray is fighting against many forces as he tries to help young people stay clear of the justice system. Mostly, though, he is fighting a word.

Inevitable.

That’s how it seemed for him and his childhood friends from South Sacramento, who wound up tangled in the system. Wrong place, wrong time, wrong choice, and a story that seemed to repeat on an endless loop.

For Gray, it meant three years in the probation system. But it also meant a determination to chart a different course for the kids coming up behind him.