Success Stories
Pretrial Program Highlight: Sonoma County Probation
Fred (not using his real name for privacy) had been having many challenges. He was repeatedly in and out of jail for drug use and property crimes. During multiple incarcerations he talked about changing his life and quitting drugs to reunite with his kids, as he had lost custody of his children due to meth use.
Earlier this year, following another arrest, he was released as a part of a Pretrial pilot program under the care and supervision of the Sonoma County Probation Department.
Probation Spotlight: Welding Program Offers Opportunity for Justice-Involved Individuals
The San Bernardino County Probation day reporting centers offer justice-involved individuals many resources to help transition them back into the community in a positive way. These programs include evidence-based rehabilitation programs, education and workforce development.
This is California Probation
Equity in Gender, Diverse Officers Focused on Collaborative Safety for All
California Probation officers are diverse and highly educated professionals with over 72% of probation officers identifying as non-white, and 51% are women, the majority have four-year degrees, and over half of probation departments have employed former system-involved individuals.
California Probation is educated and trained to help protect communities by carefully balancing justice-involved individuals’ need for accountability along with their need for the help and hope required to safely leave the justice system permanently.
Women’s History Month Spotlight: Removing Barriers & Changing Lives
From the Merced County Times.
For someone like Kelly Turner, a fulfilling life is being wide awake at 5:30 a.m. for the drive to Los Banos where a troubled young man is in need of a ride to court.
It’s a 19-hour Saturday for a field trip to Folsom Prison where a group of teens experience a heartfelt and emotional intervention program and then a decompression dinner in Sacramento.
ICYMI: ‘Second chance’: Court Program Offers Treatment Over Jail Time For Veterans With Criminal Cases
By Evan Tuchinsky
Thursday and Friday mornings, like clockwork, Randy Cook heads to Five Mile Recreation Area in Bidwell Park to connect with fellow veterans. Cook served in the U.S. Marine Corps Special Forces during the Vietnam War, arriving he was 17 and facing combat as soon as he turned 18; now 68, he still faces demons from those dark days.
ICYMI: Pilot program at San Benito Juvenile Hall aims to change youth behavior
By Noe Magaña
Eight current and former youths in custody in San Benito County Juvenile Hall were celebrated on Jan. 8 in a virtual graduation ceremony for a new program called Believe to Achieve, which teaches participants about goals, responsibility and accountability. Half of the residents remain in juvenile hall, while the others completed the program upon release.
San Joaquin County Probation’s Passport Program: Steven’s Story
As a child, Steven grew up with neglectful parents and was placed in a group home. He had a very rough life in and out of the system for what felt like a lifetime. Steven suffered from an addiction to harmful substances and alcohol.
He always wanted a change in his life but never knew how to ask or get the help he needed.
After years of unsuccessful attempts to get his life on a better path, Steven and his family moved to Stockton.
ICYMI: Removing Barriers & Changing Young Lives
By Jonathan Whitaker
From the Merced County Times.
For someone like Kelly Turner, a fulfilling life is being wide awake at 5:30 a.m. for the drive to Los Banos where a troubled young man is in need of a ride to court.
It’s a 19-hour Saturday for a field trip to Folsom Prison where a group of teens experience a heartfelt and emotional intervention program and then a decompression dinner in Sacramento.
Highlight — Veterans Overcome Challenges With San Bernardino Veterans Treatment Court
Kevin, a former client of San Bernardino County Probation, is an uplifting story of transformation and success.
After serving three tours in the United States Army, Kevin realized he had to get help after run-ins with law enforcement and several suicide attempts. He found out about San Bernardino County Veterans Treatment Court and was partnered up with Probation Officer Victor Hernandez, who is also a veteran.
Probation Services Week Highlight: Orange County Probation Celebrates First Young Adult Court Graduate
On June 26, 2020, Abraham became the first graduate from Orange County Probation’s Young Adult Court, a two-year program that gives first-time felons a second chance.
Orange County Superior Court Judge Maria D. Hernandez wiped clean Abraham’s slate – untethering him from the stain of past mistakes.
The inaugural class consisted of 25 students randomly selected from hundreds of men between the ages of 18 and 23. Those who complete the course are eligible to have their convictions reduced or dismissed.
Probation Services Week Highlight – Probation Officer Helps Client Overcome Challenges
Yolanda, a former client of San Bernardino County Probation, is an uplifting story of transformation and success.
As a past substance abuser, Yolanda has done things she regrets. Since then, with the help of San Bernardino County Probation and the Drug Court Program, Yolanda has been able to turn her life around.
It was during her time in the intensive Drug Court program that Yolanda finally learned how to be happy, and lead an independent lifestyle free of substance abuse.
ICYMI: El Dorado County Probation officers get creative with technology during pandemic
El Dorado County Probation has implemented and expanded the use of telecommunications and technology to ensure that supervised youth and adults have access to the programs and services they need during the COVID-19 crisis.
Technology has allowed El Dorado County Probation to adapt and enhance their work in innovative ways, to keep clients and communities safe.
Probation Officers in Riverside Deliver Essential Items to Clients in Need
Riverside County Probation Officers have been delivering essential and hard to find items to probation clients during the COVID-19 pandemic. In an effort to help in the overall community health and public safety response, the Riverside Probation Department is working with the Valley Community Pantry in Hemet, CA to help get care packages to probation clients who need them most. The care packages contain essential items, some items that are hard for anyone to locate in a store during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Legislative Briefing: SB 678 – Creating Safer Communities Through Rehabilitation & Evidence-Based Practices
On behalf of the Chief Probation Officers of California (CPOC) we invite you to join us on Wednesday, May 6 from 1-2pm for a legislative briefing to highlight SB 678’s impact on probation practices and client outcomes.
Researchers Mia Bird and Ryken Grattet will be presenting on their recently concluded research report commissioned by the California Probation Research Institute (CaPRI).
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,
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
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 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.
