Probation Services
The mission of the Probation Services Unit is to ensure a culture of Juvenile Justice Professionalism by pursuing excellence with the courts, community, case management and compliance.
Juvenile Probation Officers (JPOs) are responsible for conducting investigations of youth and families, making recommendations to the courts, and monitoring and supervising youth ordered to probation. Probation Officers have frequent contact with the youth based on risk and need and ensure that the families are provided with the necessary resources for rehabilitation and to meet all court ordered requirements for the successful completion of probation. In collaboration with community partners, the Probation Services Unit provides supervision strategies and effective interventions to adjudicated youth to increase public safety, promote behavioral change with youth and prevent recidivism.
The Probation Services unit provides client-centered services by improving efficiency and effectiveness through the implementation of Evidence-Based Practices (EBPs).
EBPs include programs that have been found to be effective and replicable when implemented under the highest-level of scientific scrutiny.
JPOs utilize Effective Practices In Community Supervision (EPICS) with all moderate and high risk youth in an effort to promote core correctional practices
by using cognitive based approaches to skill build during their everyday interactions with adjudicated youth to target their criminogenic needs.
Research has proven that traditional probation supervision is not effective in reducing recidivism with youth and families; therefore, the EPICS model of
community supervision adheres to the Risk Need Responsivity principle and utilizes enhanced efforts that have been proven to reduce recidivism.
Cognitive-behavioral interventions that address the delinquent thinking pattern characteristics of many offenders has consistently been found to be an
effective rehabilitative strategy for both juveniles and adults.
Aligning with research on adolescent development and effective behavior change, the Probation Services Unit has implemented an Opportunity Based Probation (OBP) model for youth supervision. OBP probation officers utilize a strengths-based approach with youth and families, emphasizing engagement of families to set goals. OBP probation officers assist in linking youth to positive development opportunities, provide incentives/rewards for improvement and positive behavior change. The objective being to increase family empowerment and promote long-term behavior change with youth.
The mission of the Community Support Unit is to provide oversight of youth in the community in an effort to promote public safety, support rehabilitative efforts and growth for the youth and families we serve.
The Community Support Unit oversees youth placed on the Community Support Program pending court proceedings as an alternative to secure detention allowing the youth to remain in their communities, attend educational/ vocational programming and engage in activities that promote growth.
The Community Support Officers assist probation officers with additional supervision and provide youth and families with additional support in the community.
The Community Support Unit oversees global positioning system (GPS) programming, monitoring youth in the community who are required to have GPS monitoring as an additional layer of supervision while still being afforded the opportunity to remain integrated in their community.
The Community Support Unit conducts the Department’s secure and safe transport of youth in the pre or post adjudication facilities, ensuring their wellbeing through community providers and supporting their journey towards positive change.
Community Support Officers also promote drug-free lifestyles by conducting urine analysis screening to protect the health and safety of the youth and the community.
The Community Improvement Program utilizes a combination of the Balance and Restorative Justice Model and Positive Youth Development strategies to enhance youth rehabilitation and address their delinquency.
This combined model promotes learning regarding the legal and judicial systems, giving back to victims and the community and assists youth in understanding the impact of their actions on others while identifying the cause and effect of a variety of community problems.
This model also promotes youth establishing meaningful working relationships with community groups and individuals and assists in their development of critical- thinking, citizenship, and problem-solving skills.
The CIP unit addresses real community needs to have youth recognize the need for their involvement by developing a personal stake in the well-being of their community and gaining a sense of their own effectiveness.
The Intern and Volunteer Program stands as a testament to the collective spirit, development, and community collaboration within the department.
The partnering of volunteers and interns enhances direct services to juveniles, broadens community resources for the department, and increases public awareness of juvenile justice services.
The Intern and Volunteer program is imbedded in operations throughout the department, though the onboarding and training compliance is overseen by the Youth & Community Engagement Senior and team within the Community Support Unit.
Community Support Unit
To provide the highest level of support services to the Department and partnering County entities that increases performance capabilities while also ensuring public safety through the oversight and supervision of juvenile justice involved youth while in the community.
In November 2025, the Department implemented the Community Support Program (formerly known as the Home Detention Program) for identified pre-adjudicated/pre-disposition youth. In alignment with transforming juvenile justice, the Community Support Program is a client-centered and strength-based program, incorporating positive youth development and family empowerment while promoting community safety. The objective of the Community Support Program is to empower and educate families through skill building opportunities and linking families to community resources to promote long-term behavior change.
Global Positioning System Monitoring (GPS) trouble shooting, installs and removals, adjustments, and diagnostic when and as needed.
Ensure that GPS devices are operational and all GPS equipment is collected and returned to the department. To include retrieving GPS devices from the field.
Returning of equipment to the provider for service and or replacement.
Troubleshooting devices in the office or at the Juvenile’s home to ensure compliance with GPS terms and conditions are met.
Coordinate with the provider of SCRAMnet when extra assistance on mapping when needed.
Report to JPD as needed on Saturday or Sunday if necessary, after contacting family in order to correct any tampers that occur over the weekend.
Clean and disinfect any and all E.M. equipment after use and before installation
Monitor and assist JPO’s with tracking and mapping of juveniles activity via SCRAMNET Dashboard and GPS mapping, phone calls and home visits.
Review mapping and provide input to JPO’s on valid movement vs drift points : GPS Compliance entry in JMIS, Analytics, SCRAM Report.
Contacting juveniles and JPO’s regarding juveniles battery status or critical alerts such as tampers, lost communication, location, zone alerts
Transport Juveniles to and from medical /psychological / court appointments as needed
Transport families to and from appointments (psychological evaluation) when necessary as instructed by the court.
Transport officer keeps track and schedules appointments with the service provider for the juvenile when necessary
adjusting for overlapping appointments, schedules, and court dates
Transport juveniles to and from out-of-town placement via ground or air
Provide assistance to JPO with additional visits / calls on Drug Court, ISP, Level III, Level IV, Deferred Prosecution Program and SHOCAP.
Assist with coverage of drug court visits in absence of drug court FCO
Adjust for coverage of calls/visits with area partner: holiday coverage, sick, vacation, transports, trainings etc...
Conduct urinalysis tests as scheduled
Conduct breathalyzer tests
Document drug test results in JMIS
Package and ship samples to lab for further analysis when disputed.
Document and distribute paperwork accordingly.
Provide assistance via partner visits with SHOCAP JPO’s when EPPD Officers are unavailable
Conduct scheduled mail run duty to ensure that documents are sent and received from court house and JPD.HR, MDR building,
post office, drop off warrants at the jail, Family Youth Services Building, Purchasing, District Clerk, etc.