Adult Community Supervision

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• Behavioral Health Court (BHC)

  BHC serves clients who have been diagnosed with serious mental illness, which may also include a diagnosis of substance abuse disorder. If deemed suitable for the program, clients are accepted post-plea with an Arbuckle Waiver, and successful completion may result in charges being dismissed. The program is a minimum of 18 months and includes four phases, with a housing plan and medication compliance prioritized. Clients who have committed arson or sex offenses, active parolees, and clients charged with use or possession of a firearm, use of a knife, or an offense involving great bodily injury are generally not eligible for the program, although the latter two are subject to the BHC team’s discretion. 

• Behavioral Health Supervision Unit (BHSU)

  This unit utilizes intensive case management with a client-centered and collaborative approach to supervising and assisting formal clients with Severe Mental Illness (SMI) who have significant impairment in functioning and who need additional support in order to complete probation successfully. Eligible clients are typically supervised by BHSU for 24 to 36 months and receive appropriate mental health services, as well as assistance with housing, treatment, and educational and vocational services, through community providers. Disqualifying factors include parole holds, immigration and out-of-county holds, and PRCS or MSO clients.  Clients are supervised based on acuity of needs, often requiring up to weekly contact by phone, in the office, or in the field.  A team approach to supervision is utilized to meet the needs of clients, their families, and the community. BHSU officers work closely with mental health professionals, attorneys, the Courts, and the community to ensure proper treatment and supervision of clients. Clients assigned to BHSU may be supervised as low, medium, or high risk, with the majority falling into the high risk category. 

• Community Transition Center (CTC)

  The CTC is the site of a multi-disciplinary team (MDT) comprised of OPTUM licensed mental health clinicians, a United HealthCare nurse case manager, two Medi-Cal application assistors, and Probation Officers, offering a continuum of services to address the reentry needs of the AB109 population. All Post Release Community Supervision clients are transported to the CTC from all CDCR facilities in the state, tested for current substance usage, and assessed for criminogenic, behavioral health, and physical health needs. Some Mandatory Supervision clients are transported to the CTC from local prison to await long term placement. Clients requiring detoxification services or short-term transitional housing are afforded those services immediately, and clients who access the brief transitional housing at the CTC receive early intervention services, which may include AOD education, Cognitive behavioral interventions, Relapse prevention training, Conflict resolution, Parenting skills, and Life skills, and those in need of a greater level of treatment are linked to appropriate services. For those in need of brief housing assistance, the CTC has 60 beds.

• Drug Court (DC)

  This program serves misdemeanor or felony high risk clients with high-need for Substance Use Disorder (SUD) treatment who have committed a non-violent drug offense or other non-violent offense as a result of drug dependence. The DC program is self-paced but lasts a minimum of 18 months. Participants may be placed in residential or out-patient treatment. Successful completion may result in dismissal of some charges. DC requires frequent court reviews, program attendance, drug testing, and employment/education. Sanctions increase in severity from community service to custody or termination from the program. Clients who are eligible for diversion or have prior records that include sales or transportation for sales, violent, sexual, or weapon related offenses, or prior strikes, prior parole, or multiple failures to appear are generally not eligible for the program.

• DUI Caseload

  Felony and misdemeanor DUI offenders with felony evading and felony child abuse are supervised by the DUI unit, a zero tolerance unit. Probation officers in this unit conduct compliance checks in the evenings, on weekends, and during most holidays and celebrations/events associated with heavy drinking. SCRAM is used for individuals who have shown an inability to remain sober while under probation supervision. Clients are subject to random, frequent, and “on the spot” alcohol and drug testing. The DUI unit uses the Impaired Driving Assessment (IDA) tool to assist in identifying the risks and needs of the DUI clients it supervises. 

• Gang Supervision Caseload

  Clients who are gang-involved and/or have committed an offense for the benefit of a gang are assigned to specific officers in their residential region who maintain up-to-date knowledge of and expertise in gangs and gang activities. Clients assigned to a gang caseload are supervised at the high risk supervision level with a focus on gang intervention.

• Intake and Investigations

  Probation officers help the Court collect pertinent information pertaining to a convicted  person’s behavior, history, assets, impact on victims, and mitigating and aggravating circumstances. The Probation Officer files a “pre-sentence report” with sentencing recommendations based on case law to assist the judge in making his/her sentencing decision.

• Interstate Courtesy Supervision Unit (ICSU)

  This unit coordinates the continuous supervision of clients leaving and coming to San Diego County from other states or California counties. To facilitate this process, ICSU staff communicates with clients, local probation officers, and probation officers in other jurisdictions throughout the country.

• Low Level Supervision and Administrative Bank

  Clients assigned to low level supervision Administrative Bank are generally monitored for new arrests or changes in their status or address. One hundred and eighty days prior to  a client’s probation expiration date, the case is reviewed and it is determined, based on the client’s compliance and ability to remain law abiding, whether the case should be allowed to expire or if further action is necessary by the Court.

• Mandatory Supervision (MS)

  Felons sentenced under PC 1170(h) who are not ordered to serve their entire sentence in county jail, and instead receive a sentence that is split between jail and local supervision by Probation or a sentence to be served entirely under Probation supervision are assigned to MS. Clients assigned to MS are supervised at the high risk supervision level and receive custody credit for each day completed under MS in the community. Clients participate in substance abuse treatment, mental health, and other intervention services as deemed necessary and participate in regularly scheduled Review Hearings, MS Court. Split sentences allow for Probation to provide supervision and case-management services to assist the client in his/her community re-entry.

• Medium Level Supervision

  Medium Level Supervision officers monitor clients through a series of compliance appointments that enforce the Court’s orders. During these compliance appointments, court ordered conditions are explained to the client and referrals are made to community providers if needed to assist the client. When a client fails to comply with the court orders, fails to report, or is arrested for new charges, he/she is returned to court for violation proceedings. Once the client is in compliance with his/her court ordered conditions of probation, his/her case may be transferred to a lower level of supervision.

• Post Release Community Supervision (PRCS)

  PRCS officers supervise local clients who, prior to AB109 and AB117, would have been released from CDCR and subsequently supervised by State Parole. Clients are eligible for PRCS upon release from CDCR, provided their most recent conviction is not a Serious Felony pursuant to PC1192.7. Upon release from CDCR, clients are transported immediately to the Probation Department’s Community Transition Center, where they participate in assessments designed to immediately identify and address the risks and needs of the reentering client, mitigate the client’s vulnerability to risks that endanger his/her chance of success, and provide access to a continuum of services. AB109 funding ensures clients in need of substance abuse treatment, mental health, and other intervention services receive them.

• PRCS Sex Offender Caseload

  These officers closely monitor sex offenders, released from prison, who score 3 or lower on the Static 99 assessment.  The officers often use a multi-disciplinary approach that includes the PO, treatment provider, polygraph examiner, and input from a victim or victim advocate.  Additionally, the use of a GPS monitor may be used, at the discretion of the PO, to assist in monitoring PRCS sex offenders.

• Re-entry Court

  Clients on formal probation, Mandatory Supervision (MS), Post Release Community Supervision (PRCS), or Parole who have committed a new non-violent, non-serious, and non-sexual felony or violation and are assessed as having a substance abuse disorder or co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder may be eligible for Re-entry Court. In order to be accepted into the program, clients must stipulate to a prison sentence post-plea and must be probation eligible. Generally, arson and sex offender registrants, clients with gang allegations, and clients who have committed an offense per Family Code 6211 are not eligible for the program. Prior strike allegations may be considered but the prior strike allegation must be stricken at change of plea. The program is a five phase program that takes a minimum of 18 months and may include residential or out-patient treatment. Successful completion may lead to early termination of probation but not dismissal of charges. Violations will result in graduated sanctions up to and/or including execution of the stipulated prison sentence.

• Sex Offender Caseload

  These officers closely monitor sex offenders via the Containment Model which is a multi-disciplinary approach that includes supervision by a team of professionals: PO, treatment provider, polygraph examiner, and input from a victim or victim advocate. The highest risk sex offenders are also monitored with GPS devices.

• Successful Treatment and Reentry (STAR) Pilot Project

  This program is designed for high risk clients or medium risk clients with high needs who are returning to east county upon release from a custodial period of at least 30 days. STAR employs a collaborative team of professionals to connect clients to substance abuse and mental health treatment, housing support and transportation services, Medi-Cal, CalFresh, CalWORKS, childcare, etc. STAR services begin before release and, except under special circumstances where services may be extended, continue for the first 90 days of the clients’ transition back into the community. Participation in the program is voluntary. Clients who have committed sex crimes, who are already participating in court ordered early release or collaborative court programs, who have pending immigration matters or orders to serve custody in Work Furlough or RRC or ordered to local custody w/early release to RTP, and clients under dual supervision are generally not eligible for the program.

• Veterans Treatment Court (VTC)

  This program serves veterans or active duty military personnel, regardless of discharge status, who are charged with a felony and are eligible for relief under PC1170.9. Clients who are accepted into the program must plead guilty and agree to formal probation. Eligible clients must have a mental illness as defined by PC1170.9, which may include Military Sexual Trauma (MST), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), substance abuse or other mental health disorder. The program generally lasts 18 to 24 months and includes three phases and an aftercare component. Clients are assigned to a mentor and provided individualized treatment plans. Successful completion of the program may result in dismissal or expungement of charges. Note, however, that a granted PC1170.9(h) may not restore all constitutional rights (ie. 2^nd Amendment). Clients who have committed arson and sex offenses or with gang allegations are generally ineligible for the program. Clients with prior or current serious or violent offenses may be considered for eligibility at the discretion of the VTC team. Clients assigned to VTC may be supervised as low, medium, or high risk, with the majority falling into the high risk category.

• Women and Their Children (WATCh) Caseload

  WATCh is a collaborative, zero-tolerance, intensive supervision effort to closely monitor pregnant clients who have histories of drug and/or alcohol abuse to ensure they give birth to drug and alcohol free babies. WATCh candidates must provide valid proof of pregnancy with an estimated delivery date and must have submitted to at least one recent drug test with negative results. Following the birth of their children, these clients will continue to be monitored by the WATCh officer for six to twelve months. If they maintain a drug free lifestyle, they will be transferred to the appropriate level of supervision identified via their assessment score. WATCh supervises all levels of probation, including those females assigned to DUI who are pregnant.