Every year, more than two million people with serious mental illnesses find themselves behind bars in the United States, according to Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown.
Housing and Development Newsletter
For decades probation in California has led, collaborated and defended effective reforms within the justice systems. Probation is focused on helping justice-involved individuals transition out of the system permanently through transformative and evidence-based rehabilitation.
Probation departments are a connector in the justice system: interlacing and maximizing the resources available within the courts, local governments, law enforcement, social services, schools, nonprofits and the community to reduce recidivism by balancing direct human services and research-based deterrents and interventions.
Together, this approach provides the help and accountability needed to create hope and restore trust.
The resolution commemorating Pretrial, Probation and Parole Supervision Week from the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors “recognizes these officers for their significant contribution to making Santa Barbara County a safer place to live.”
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SANTA MARIA, Calif. - Chief Probation Officer Tanja Heitman with the Santa Barbara County Probation Department reported that one staff member at Santa Maria Juvenile Hall (SMJH) recently tested positive for COVID-19.
The probation department said the staff member last worked at the facility on Jan. 25 and was tested for COVID the following day.
As a precaution, in coordination with the Public Health Department and the facility’s medical unit, the department conducted contact tracing of staff and youth for potential exposure. Fortunately, all youth and staff reportedly tested negative.
For more information on the probation department's approach to COVID-19, visit www.sbprobation.org.
Chief Probation Officer Tanja Heitman reported Friday that a staff assigned to the Santa Barbara Probation Department’s Santa Maria Juvenile Hall (SMJH) recently tested positive for COVID-19.