The Kern County Board of Supervisors proclaimed July 20–26 as Probation Services Week and Chief Probation Officer Bill Dickinson accepted the proclamation at the Board’s July 15 meeting.

Dickinson summarized the department’s work, saying probation staff “work hard to provide opportunities for people of all ages to turn their lives around” and that they handle challenging situations in youth facilities, courtrooms and other environments. He also described expanded responsibilities for the department, including oversight of “the most high risk youth adult pretrial assessments, and monitoring certain individuals pending the resolution of their criminal cases.”

The proclamation recognizes the Department of Probation’s stated goals of accountability and opportunity and applauds staff dedication, work ethic and commitment to public safety. The Board’s formal proclamation and Dickinson’s acceptance were the only formal actions mentioned in the segment; no vote tallies, ordinance numbers or additional board directions were provided.

Background details provided in the segment noted the department’s work spans youth facilities, court settings and community supervision but did not specify staffing levels, budget amounts or particular programs beyond a general reference to pretrial assessment responsibilities. The segment directed listeners to kernprobation.com for more information on employment opportunities and department programs.