Adult Services

The Superior Court refers criminal cases to the Probation Department to prepare reports with recommendations to the Court for sentencing. The report includes:

• A summary of circumstances of the offense
• Social history
• Prior record
• Defendant’s statement
• Victim’s statement
• Restitution amounts
• Eligibility and suitability for probation supervision
  • Specific conditions of probation supervision

Deputy Probation Officers may present at sentencing hearings and violation of probation hearings to provide the Court with information and to represent the Probation Department regarding the sentence for each case.

Deputy Probation Officers provide supervision of offenders who have been granted probation by the Court. Officers monitor offender compliance with the terms and conditions of probation in the following ways:

• Conducting residence searches
• Drug testing
• Collecting restitution payments
• Referral and monitoring of counseling and treatment programs
• Arresting offenders who are in violation of their probation.

Officers investigate violations, initiate revocations and make recommendations for resentencing offenders.

After Assembly Bill 109 was passed, California made significant changes to the sentencing and supervision of adult felony offenders convicted of non-violent, non-serious, and non-sexual related offenses (triple-non). This reduced the number of offenders eligible to serve sentences in state prison and shifted these offenders to serve their sentences in the county jail.

Mandatory Community Supervision (MCS) was established for triple-non offenders who are ordered to a split sentence by the Court. A split sentence requires an offender to serve a portion of their confinement in the county jail that is less than the maximum allowed by law followed by a term of MCS. The MCS term cannot exceed the total maximum period of confinement as prescribed by law. Specific conditions of MCS are established by the Superior Court at sentencing.

Post Release Community Supervision (PRCS) was established, shifting supervision responsibilities to county probation departments. PRCS offenders are offenders committed to state prison for a triple-non offense(s). Supervision levels, appropriate services and programs, and supervision conditions are determined by the Probation Department, including sanctions such as flash incarceration up to and including revocation.

Realignment legislation established the Executive Committee of Community Corrections Partnership (CCP) and the CCP is tasked with planning for all the necessary changes, implementing local plans, and presenting the local plans to the Board of Supervisors for acceptance as it relates to Public Safety Realignment.

The Sex Offender Supervision Program is dedicated to enhanced supervision of all registered sex offenders on formal probation, Mandatory Community Supervision, and Post-Release Community Supervision.

All offenders are supervised according to their risk levels following detailed assessments of factors that could lead to a new sex-related offense. This is to ensure victim and community safety by conducting unannounced visits to the offender’s residence, place of employment, and/or areas the offender is known to frequent.

Probation officers work closely with mental health professionals, polygraph examiners, and other law enforcement agencies to monitor offender compliance with conditions of probation and adherence to all laws governing registered sex offenders.

Behavioral Health Court (BHC) is a mental health and problem-solving court that combines judicial and probation supervision with community mental health treatment and other support services to reduce criminal activity and improve the quality of life of participants. The judge oversees the treatment and supervision process and facilitates collaboration among team members.

BHC effectively utilizes limited criminal justice and mental health resources to:

• Connect participants to treatment and other social services in the community
• Improve outcomes for offenders with mental illness
• Respond to public safety concerns
• Address jail overcrowding

Participation is voluntary for offenders for whom involvement in the criminal justice system can be attributed to demonstrable mental illness. Early intervention is essential, with screening and referral occurring as soon as possible after beginning BHC. Intensive case management includes probation supervision with a focus on accountability and monitoring of each participant's performance.

Veterans Court is a hybrid drug and mental health court that uses the drug court model to serve veterans struggling with addiction, serious mental illness and/or co-occurring disorders.

Veterans Court promotes sobriety, recovery and stability through cooperation and collaboration with the Probation Department, the Mental Health Department, other appropriate treatment providers, as well as the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs health care networks and the Veterans' Benefits Administration.

Domestic Violence (DV) Court handles intimate partner violence through a special domestic violence court calendar, coordinating cases and making consistent court orders in different cases involving the same parties.

Following a problem-solving model, DV Court addresses perpetrator accountability through batterer’s treatment, as well as victim safety and advocacy, while attempting to reduce domestic violence crimes.

Interstate courtesy supervision requests are investigated and accepted/denied under the Interstate Compact Agreement. Courtesy supervision requests from within California are accepted and classified according to local procedure and California State Law.

The Probation Department operates the EMP to enhance community safety by providing a supervised alternative to incarceration for local adult inmates. This alternative to incarceration will assist the Sheriff’s Department in safely managing the jail inmate population and overcrowding issues in the jail.

The EMP emphasizes public safety while relieving jail overcrowding and costs associated with inmate housing and medical needs, while achieving accountability, rehabilitation and victim support. EMP provides qualified offenders the opportunity to be contributing community members as they complete sentences within our community.

Applications for the EMP are available at Probation Field offices, the Superior Court and both jail facilities, or select the Forms section of this website.