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Mono County probation chief outlines services, rising pretrial workload and juvenile work
Summary
Chief Probation Officer Karen Humiston told the Board of Supervisors on Jan. 21 that the department has expanded duties and caseloads and outlined current services for adults and juveniles, pretrial work and reentry services under AB 109.
Chief Probation Officer Karen Humiston told the Board of Supervisors on Jan. 21 that the department has expanded duties and caseloads and outlined current services for adults and juveniles, pretrial work and reentry services under AB 109.
Humiston described the department as a nexus for multiple services: pretrial supervision, adult probation, juvenile services, reentry (AB 109) work and victim and survivor support. She said pretrial is the department—s largest caseload and noted the county is implementing pre-arraignment screening so some arrests can be assessed for release before booking.
Key points - Caseloads: Chief Humiston reported roughly 69 people on formal adult probation (snapshot) plus an active pretrial caseload (several dozen) and juvenile caseloads assisted by diversion and foster-care coordination. Juvenile services include placement coordination, wraparound supports and search for resource family homes when needed. - Reentry and behavioral health: The department coordinates with behavioral-health contractors and has a behavioral-health coordinator who arranges jail-based assessments, transition care and community referrals. Humiston said the department—s reentry work and local case-management support are substantial parts of its mission. - Programs: Probation provides restorative and evidence-based programs (e.g., batterer-intervention programs with victim services, cognitive-behavioral approaches) and said school resource officers are assigned to every high school in the county. - Capacity: Humiston said the probation department has grown from four to ten officers during her 12-year tenure and now includes a court-services presence to coordinate hearings.
Why it matters: The county—s probation operations touch public safety, juvenile welfare and reentry outcomes. Board members asked about caseload counts and the county—s approach to warm handoffs at release from custody, and staff said individual reentry plans and service referrals are routinely used.
No board action was required; the presentation was informational.
