Council hears Department of Probation staff concerns as leaders outline reforms and staffing plans

City Council members pressed Department of Probation leaders on a series of changes that staff and outside partners say have hollowed out the agency: rising vacancies, leadership turnover, program reductions and a more enforcement-oriented posture. Commissioner Juanita Holmes defended reforms, cited new training and data systems and said the department is increasing hiring and program evaluation.

Holmes opened the oversight hearing by describing DOP as “one of the largest alternatives to incarceration in the country,” saying it has “serviced over 33,000 cases, resulting in the supervision of over 16,000 clients year to date.” She outlined a reform agenda that emphasized housing, education, employment and mental health and said the department has launched new training and technology intended to measure outcomes.

Council members and outside witnesses, including legal-service providers and the probation officers' union, disputed the administration’s characterization of progress. Dalvinique Powell, president of the United Probation Officers Association (UPOA), told the committee the agency “is in crisis” and said the union has seen unusually high attrition and stalled hiring. Powell said command-discipline procedures and frequent suspensions without pay have eroded morale.

Vacancies and hiring: Members repeatedly raised the department's vacancy rates and hiring cadence. Council members cited a 23% vacancy rate in probation services (about 244 vacancies) and asked when the next civil-service class will graduate; Holmes said her next training/academy run is scheduled after the next civil-service exam and said the bureau is preparing to expand the academy and its instructors so larger classes can graduate. Holmes said the department has a pool of about 375 prospective candidates and increased training from three to five months while doubling academy…