(1215) Probation Operations Division

(50) Probation

Staff

Division Overview

Adult Division

 

The probation department's Adult Division works in collaboration with the San Benito County Superior Court, service providers, and law enforcement agencies to encourage positive change among those we serve. The adult division serves adult offenders and provides supervision for those who are granted formal probation, Mandatory Supervision, and Post Release Community Supervision (PRCS). Additionally, adult probation serves on a collaborative court for individuals who suffer from mental illness or extensive substance abuse. Overall, probation officers work with individuals to provide community supervision, support services, and address identified needs with the goal of achieving rehabilitation. Probation officers complete validated risk and needs assessments and develop case plans with clients based on risk to re-offend and a client’s individual needs.

 

Probation continues to collaborate with local law enforcement partners to promote community safety through regularly scheduled meetings, communication, and the organization of field operations. The Special Intelligence Unit (SIU) has been implemented by Probation, the San Benito County Sheriff's Office, District Attorney's Office, and the Hollister Police Department. This team focuses on intelligence gathering, crime suppression, and the reduction and prevention of the impact of criminal organizations and individuals which commit serious and violent crimes. Probation also utilizes a department drug identification canine to assist with probation searches and to support allied law enforcement agencies with drug identification.

 

Court Investigations Division

 

Probation continually revises departmental policy and procedures to maintain compliance with state mandates and legislation, to include but not limited to, the release of supervised persons (AB 1228) and pretrial services (SB 129). The Pretrial Services Program provides an opportunity for supervision of clients who are pending the court process. The Court Investigations Division completes pretrial service reports to the court and conducts the Public Safety Assessment (PSA) on referred clients. Supervision of the clients may vary from notification of court hearings to monitoring through a Global Positioning System (GPS) device. Probation facilitates the Electronic Monitoring Program (EMP), allowing for more custody alternatives options to incarcerated individuals.

 

Probation maintains a partnership with the Court to provide a variety of reports that include pre-plea, pre-sentence investigation, post sentencing, sentencing memos, and probation eligibility reports. Probation plays an active and essential role in Court proceedings and provides relevant information to the Judge. Court probation officers are present during court proceedings multiple times a week and recommendations are provided on supervised cases. The investigations unit is responsible for ensuring reports are timely, concise, and provide accurate information to the Court. They also ensure that assessments are completed for each client during the court process to determine the level of risk to re-offend and identify criminogenic needs. The criminogenic needs identified by the Court Investigations Division will then assist in the development of the case plan.

 

Juvenile Division

 

The Juvenile Division provides oversight of youth on probation in the community. Juvenile probation officers work to enforce court orders, protect the community and any victim(s), and help to rehabilitate youth through a trauma-informed and culturally responsive lens. Juvenile probation officers are responsible for providing referrals to service programs, pro-social activities, educational programs, and/or counseling programs. Probation officers collaborate with local county agencies, schools, and community-based organizations to re-direct delinquent behavior occurring at home or in the community. These partnerships foster healthy, safe, and strengthened families for youth in the community.

 

The juvenile division encompasses mandated court services, community supervision, mentoring, and general case management. The juvenile division is responsible for oversight of the following: juvenile intake and investigations, placement of youth and non-minor dependents, court reports, community supervision, and referrals for services. The Juvenile Division works with youth and their families through a trauma-informed care and collaborative approach to provide intervention and accountability to reduce recidivism.

 

The Juvenile Division handles all out-of-custody referrals for youth under the age of 18. All referrals are filtered through the Juvenile Division to determine level of intervention and follow up. This can range from mandatory referrals to the District Attorney's office, 654 W&I informal contracts, juvenile diversion program referrals, or simple counsel and close matters. All intakes are reviewed carefully and utilize the best interest of the child and least restrictive means approach.

 

For placement, the Juvenile Division is responsible for the custody, care, and control of youth removed from their homes. Probation officers are tasked with conducting monthly face-to-face visits, conducting child and family team meetings, meeting with the youth's parents, updating information into the Child Welfare Services Case Management System (CWS/CMS) website, and advocating for what is within the best interest of the youth and family. Placement matters have an overall goal of family reunification.

 

Reentry Division

 

The “Next Steps” Reentry Program prepares and assists probationers and incarcerated persons in their transition back into the community. This program provides information, education and linkage to resources including, but not limited to, goal setting, behavioral health, housing, employment, and education. This program also helps individuals obtain important documents and set up email accounts for post-release use. Furthermore, our department works to complete an assessment and individualized care plans for everyone that participates in the reentry program. Incarcerated persons that have a scheduled release also receive a transition plan and 30 days post release follow up assistance.

 

The Reentry Division encompasses a Reentry Program Manager and Reentry Case Manager. The Reentry Case Manager provides in-custody and community-based programs that target life skills development, transition planning, and interactive journaling to address criminogenic risk factors. The Reentry Program Manager develops and oversees programming for incarcerated persons at the San Benito County Jail in collaboration with the San Benito County Sheriff's Office Corrections Division.



STRATEGIC PLAN FOCUS AREAS

The Probation Department’s primary strategic endeavors are to assist clients in developing the pro-social skills needed to be successful in society and to avoid intervention through the criminal justice system. We do this through evidence-based services and best practices. The following strategic endeavors directly correlate with the county's strategic plan goals.   

 

  • Technology 

The Probation Department continually reviews data entry in Corrections Software Solutions (CSS) and makes an effort to clean up old data. The Lexipol policies that have been implemented are reviewed annually by staff and updated accordingly with changes in legislation. Probation has embarked on a transition from our current case management system, CSS, to eProbation, a system developed by Journal Technologies Incorporated (JTI). The new case management system will be configured to interface with the San Benito County Superior Court.

 

  • Planning for Sustainable Growth 

The department continues to concentrate on developing an adequate amount of workspace for our staff to interview referred clients. The current probation buildings are insufficient due to safety and security issues which further inhibits client confidentiality. There is a growing need for larger office spaces in which to work, with interview rooms and larger conference areas to facilitate meetings or in-house training. There are several probation staff that have been placed off-site to assist with the insufficient workspace provided in the current probation department building.

 

  • Community Engagement

The department has further developed cross-jurisdictional relationships with the San Benito County District Attorney's Office, Hollister Police Department, and San Benito County Sheriff's Office through a Special Intelligence Unit (SIU). This specialized unit was designed for intelligence gathering and communication between agencies to further promote public safety and suppression of serious and violent crimes in the community. Additionally, the Partners Achieving Change Together (PACT) team is a wraparound program that works with youth and families that are identified as moderate to high-risk and have complex needs. The team is composed of a deputy probation officer, family advocate, and clinician who work collaboratively with those relevant in the youth's life to develop goals, build natural supports, and overcome challenges or barriers.

 

  • Operational Development & Excellence  

The department continues to succession plan with staff in the department to assume leadership positions amongst the agency’s administrative ranks and administrative team to succeed the current executive staff. There are ongoing efforts to improve the organizational culture of the department and to ensure that community engagement is client centered.

RECENT DEPARTMENTAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

  • Completed the Request for Proposals (RFP) process for Community Support Services provided to youth and families referred by Probation and awarded the contract to the community-based organization, New Hope for Youth.
  • Completed the Biennial Data Review for placement services and documentation has been entered into the Child Welfare Services/Case Management System (CWS/CMS).
  • Completed the Community Corrections Partnership (CCP) AB109 Realignment Annual Plan to receive AB109 funding.
  • Ongoing Lexipol Policy Review/Updates.
  • Conducted field operations to include a 290 Sweep Operation, Warrant Reduction, and Juvenile Compliance Operation in collaboration with fellow Law Enforcement Agencies.
  • Continued the “Recycling Project” for youths.
  • Submitted and updated the Juvenile Justice Realignment Plan to the Office of Youth and Community Restoration (OYCR)
  • Submitted and updated the Juvenile Justice Crime Prevention Act (JJCPA)/Youthful Offender Block Grant (YOBG) to the Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) to receive JJCPA/YOBG grant funding.
  • Continued community outreach/engagement through social media accounts.
  • Submitted the Child Welfare Services (CWS)/Probation Disaster Plan to the California Department of Social Services in collaboration with Child Welfare for youth court-ordered into placement.
  • Reentry Services
    1. Expanded jail Garden Program
  • Continued to administer the Pretrial Services Program in compliance with SB129 and in collaboration with the San Benito County Superior Court.
  • Trained staff on Moral Reconation Therapy (MRT).
  • Submitted the final progress report for year 5 of the System Improvement Plan (SIP) to the California Department of Social Services (CDSS).
  • Continued the Partners Achieving Change Together (PACT) team and wraparound services for youth to prevent further delinquency involvement and secure youth track placement.
  • Continued to configure a new case management system through JTI.

Recommended Budget

TOP DEPARTMENTAL CONCERNS:

  • Physical office building/space which is safe for first responder/peace officer staff activities.
  1. Insufficient space to accommodate the increases in staffing in the department.
  • Loss of revenue from the passage of Assembly Bills 177, 143 & 1869 by not being able to collect fees.
  • New case law and legislation impacting the bandwidth of probation through the imposition of unfunded mandates.
  • Recruitment and retention of staff, so we can prevent neighboring counties from pilfering our qualified and fully trained (STC CORE) staff.
  • SB 823 funding and resources not being sufficient to meet the demands of the Juvenile Justice Realignment for secure track treatment youth in the San Benito County community.

 

LONG RANGE PLANNING GOALS (3-5 YEAR) FOR DEPARTMENT:

  • Succession planning and establishment of promotional track and training for in-house candidates to reach management and executive ranks.
  • Planning for sustainable growth within the current building space for staff or identifying alternative solutions to the current separation of staff in two buildings.
  • Further development of departmental procedures that coincide with departmental policies.
  • Further development and expansion of evidence-based programs, validated assessment tools, and services provided to supervised clients.
  • Increase the use of technology to maximize efficiency.
  • Establish service network for clients to efficiently receive needed services directed at specific identified criminogenic needs to mitigate risk of recidivism.
  • Formalize coordinated accountability efforts for clients and staff.
  • Full migration to a new case management system
  • Increased quality assurance measures to identify gaps in services, review the effectiveness of current services, and implement new innovative programs/services to benefit the community.