(50) Probation

Completed department policy review and made appropriate updates and revision through Lexipol and implemented the new Lexipol policies.

Participated and dedicated department resources to the new Behavioral Health Diversion Re-entry Court.

Instituted a new prosocial and physical fitness awareness program for juveniles through collaboration with San Benito CrossFit.

Entered into an MOU to place a juvenile probation officer at the San Benito County Office of Education’s alternative school sites, San Andreas, Santa Ana, and Pinnacles Schools.

Successfully fostered the move of the juvenile court proceedings from the Juvenile Hall to the Superior Court location.

Purchased a new van for transports to the new juvenile court location and departmental outdoor prosocial programming.

Entered into a contract with Enterprise to lease vehicles, also to manage and maintain the fleet to ensure safety and appropriate utilization.

Expanded the physical work space of the probation department by acquiring the former Public Health Building, refurbishing the Public Health Building, and creating the Probation Annex which houses the field unit staff, staff lockers, evidence room, and file room.

Purchased a secure evidence/property shed and developed and implemented evidence policies and procedures to ensure chain of custody for evidence.

Through CCP contracted with a consultant to assist in the correction of deficits in CSS case management system and to assist in the work flow process in the department.

Developed a Court Unit to better assist with court reporting mandates.

Developed a Field Unit to ensure probationer compliance with court orders in the community.

Increased the Field Training Program to include two new Field Training Officers to ensure safe field techniques and increasing the number of armed officers from four to nine .

Successfully completed a five year Systems Improvement Plan(SIP) which was approved by the state and adopted by the Board of Supervisors.

Entered into a trauma informed care audit to advance awareness in the departments culture and to increase our clienteles odds of successfully completing probation in partnership with the Child Abuse Prevention Council of San Benito County.

Provided evidenced based training of Motivational Interviewing (MI) for deputy probation officers to enhance their interviewing skills.

Held a full department staff meeting in October to assist in department wide communication and acknowledge outstanding job performances.

SB 10 or Bail Reform compliance should the referendum fail and development of pretrial services.

Appropriate field training for officers.

Case law and legislative changes impacting mandates to Probation Department.

Development of duties and procedures to further define caseload responsibilities.

Physical office building/space and office furniture inadequate for workload.

Increase in county population resulting in additional workload.

Mid-level management rank to increase effective oversight and service delivery and assist in the implementation of crucial infrastructure.

Ability to obtain accurate data for the purposes of compliance in reporting to BSCC and DOJ. Also to apply for Grants and to respond to Public Act Request.

Recruitment and retention of staff.

Succession planning and establishment of promotional track and training for in-house candidates to reach management and executive ranks.

Increase use of technology to maximize efficiency.

Establish service network for offenders to efficiently receive needed services directed at specific identified criminogenic needs to mitigate risk of recidivism.

Formalize coordinated accountability efforts for offenders.

Fully revised departmental policies, procedures and standard operating procedures.

Further development of best practices and evidence based practices.