To: Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Probation Department
Staff Name and Phone Number: David Koch, 565-2732
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Pretrial, Probation, and Parole Supervision Week in Sonoma County
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Adopt a Gold Resolution proclaiming the week of July 21 - July 27, 2019, as Pretrial, Probation, and Parole Supervision Week in Sonoma County.
end
Executive Summary:
In recognition of national Pretrial, Probation, and Parole Supervision Week 2019, this report highlights some of the Sonoma County Probation Department’s recent work and its role in creating a safe, healthy, and caring community.
Discussion:
National Pretrial, Probation, and Parole Supervision Week is recognized by the American Probation and Parole Association, a 100,000 member-strong organization of community corrections professionals. During this week, we pause to honor the compassion, strength, and determination of the Sonoma County Probation Department in creating a safer community while helping to rehabilitate offenders and guide them toward positive, productive lifestyles.
Sonoma County Probation is committed to
• reducing recidivism,
• fostering accountability,
• promoting positive behavior change, and
• safeguarding the community.
-Probation Department Mission Statement
Following are a few of Probation’s recent accomplishments both in the Adult Division, which provides community supervision for offenders and defendants, and in the Juvenile Division, which supervises juveniles in the community and at Probation custodial facilities.
Adult Offender Services
The Adult Division collaborates with treatment and mental health providers, community-based organizations, and law enforcement to bring accountability to the conduct of probationers and guide them toward meeting their court obligations and becoming responsible, contributing community members.
Within Adult Offender Services, Probation’s Day Reporting Center (DRC) is Sonoma County’s hub of evidence-based programming for adult offenders reentering the community from jail or prison. Staff from Probation, Health Services, Human Services, and community-based organizations work together to deliver a broad range of programs designed to protect public safety and stabilize offenders.
The evaluation firm Resource Development Associates recently studied outcomes for individuals receiving services at the DRC. The evaluation included analyses of: (1) program-specific outcomes, and (2) the association between DRC participation and recidivism. Evaluation results are promising, and highlights appear below.
DRC Evaluation Highlights:
• Assessment results showed a 19% increase in participants’ use of pro-social skills and a 10% decrease in pro-criminal attitudes.
• DRC participants with higher dosage levels (60+ hours) were less likely to recidivate within two years compared to participants with lower dosage levels. DRC participants that received high dosage were 58% less likely to recidivate compared to those receiving less than 10 hours.
Pretrial Services
Traditionally, courts have based decisions of release from pre-adjudication incarceration partly on defendants’ ability to meet financial burdens of bond or bail, a system that may release dangerous defendants while incarcerating those who pose little risk to their communities. By contrast, under the pretrial services program, release decisions consider defendants’ risk of 1) posing a threat to public safety, and 2) failing to appear in court. By using a validated assessment tool to predict these risks, the program protects the public and allows lower-risk defendants, regardless of financial status, to remain in the community while awaiting adjudication.
Informed by these assessments, the Superior Court determines appropriate levels of pretrial supervision, which can range from monthly check-ins at the Probation Office for low-risk defendants to field visits from a Probation Officer coupled with GPS monitoring for higher-risk defendants. Defendants who cannot be safely supervised in the community remain incarcerated. Through this program, Probation safeguards the community and fosters accountability while reducing incarceration costs.
The Court began using pretrial services in January 2015, and the program has grown rapidly, soaring from 689 pretrial grants in calendar year 2015 to 2,119 grants in calendar year 2018, as judges increasingly embrace this risk-based approach.
“We currently have 434 inmates out of custody on some form of pretrial release. This is significant because without pretrial, we would be exceeding our capacity and incurring additional custody costs of approximately $74,700 per day.”
-Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office, May 2019
Juvenile Services
Probation’s Juvenile Division works with wonderful community-based organizations to offer a multitude of services that engage youth in pro-social and rehabilitative activities. For example, last year, almost 300 youth performed community service work in which they were matched to opportunities based on their interests and needs. Through this work, they were able to build skills and connect to the community in a meaningful way. The program results below encourage us to continue this valuable program. Other youth programs include violence prevention; parenting skills; trauma counseling; mental health, substance abuse, and sex offender treatment; and aggression replacement training.
Juvenile Services FY 17-18 Community Service Work Program Results
• 82% successfully completed their community service assignment
• 99% reported increases in concrete or task oriented skills, professional development, social skills, or self-confidence
• 89% reported a new relationship or connection to the organization where they completed their community service assignment
• 98% reported a new understanding of the impact they can have in our community
• 26% were offered paid positions or internships
Pretrial, Probation, and Parole Supervision Week 2019
Every day, Probation works hard to reduce recidivism, foster accountability, promote positive behavior change, and safeguard the community. During Pretrial, Probation, and Parole Supervision Week, we invite the community to join us in honoring this committed group of professionals.
Prior Board Actions:
07/21/15 - 07/10/18: Annual Board Resolutions Proclaiming Pretrial, Probation, and Parole Supervision Week
Fiscal Summary
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Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
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Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
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Attachments:
National Probation Supervision Week 2019 Resolution
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None.