NCJ Number
161326
Date Published
1994
Length
19 pages
Annotation
Services provided by county probation departments are an integral part of California's criminal justice system, and the probation system touches virtually every person convicted of a felony and almost all juveniles arrested for any offense.
Abstract
County probation departments provide court services, supervise probationers in the community, incarcerate offenders (primarily juveniles), and offer many other services. Despite its importance in the criminal justice system, the role of probation is not well-known. An examination of California's probation system found that probation departments provide diverse services, including court services, community supervision, and incarceration; that probation resources have not kept pace with burgeoning caseloads; that probation departments have a difficult time competing for limited county resources; that probation services have declined due to growing caseloads; and that limited resources have spurred innovation despite growing demands for probation services. Recommendations to improve probation include increasing access to statewide data, establishing a statewide clearinghouse for information and ideas, and enacting legislation to provide more local funding flexibility. 5 figures