Who watches criminals in your community?

Probation Staff

Probation staff (Deputy Probation Officers and Juvenile Services Officers) ensure community-based public safety by closely supervising offenders and through contacts with employers, family members, associates, schools, and other law enforcement agencies.

• In Fiscal Year 2005-2006, approximately 2,500 adult and 900 juvenile offenders were supervised by the San Luis Obispo County Probation staff.
• Probation staff conduct searches for weapons, narcotics and contraband.
• Probation staff perform frequent drug testing of persons on probation with a history of substance abuse.
• Probation staff work cooperatively with the courts, schools and local law enforcement agencies to improve community safety and reduce truancy.
• Probation staff help the court keep the community safe by providing information that assists in the proper sentencing of offenders.
• Probation staff provide intensive supervision to high-risk offenders such as sex offenders, stalkers, domestic violence cases and violent gang members to reduce their risk of re-offending.
• Probation collaborates with local non-profit agencies and treatment providers to meet the needs of Probationers.
• Law enforcement book individual youths under the age of 18 into the Juvenile Hall which is operated by the Probation Department.

If you are a victim of a crime, who provides assistance?

Probation Staff

The Probation Department continually strives to improve services to crime victims.

• An average of $64,500 was collected each month in restitution payments for victims in Fiscal Year 2005-2006.
• Probation staff contact victims to provide referrals for counseling and other services.
• Probation staff solicit statements from victims for inclusion in court sentencing reports.

Who assists offenders in becoming law abiding, healthy, productive citizens in our community?

Probation Staff

Probation staff plays a central role in facilitating the successful rehabilitation of offenders. Education and professional backgrounds in criminal justice, psychology, sociology, and social work provide Probation staff with an understanding of the causes and remedies of criminal behavior.

• Our juvenile detention facility provides educational services, mental health counseling, victim awareness, anger management, life skills, counseling and drug treatment.
• The recidivism rate for Fiscal Year 2005-2006: 11% of Adults and 4% of Juveniles.

Who can you thank?

Probation Staff

Deputy Probation Officers in the Juvenile Services Division are primarily responsible for monitoring the compliance of juvenile offenders with court ordered terms and ensuring that they have access to appropriate services. Deputies conduct scheduled and unscheduled visits with juveniles and their families at their homes and schools in an effort to prevent further delinquent or at-risk behavior. Deputies are additionally responsible for assessing the juveniles risk levels and providing appropriate interventions when necessary.

Deputy Probation Officers in the Adult Division contribute to the protection and safety of the community by providing a variety of probation reports to the courts; delivering essential services by monitoring offenders and providing them with the opportunity to maintain law abiding behavior, while enforcing the orders of the court, and by supporting the rights of victims.