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Tulare County highlights probation services, mobile outreach unit and declining recidivism ahead of Probation Services Week
Summary
Chief Probation Officer Kelly Vernon presented departmental accomplishments, including a new mobile services unit, a reduced vacancy rate, decreased recidivism and training requirements. The board adopted a proclamation recognizing Probation Services Week and toured the department’s mobile unit.
The Tulare County Board of Supervisors on July 15 recognized Probation Services Week and heard a departmental update from Chief Probation Officer Kelly Vernon on recent program changes, new mobile outreach capability and staffing gains.
Chief Vernon outlined the department’s mission and said the county now has 384 allocated positions (394 including extra-help staff) and reported recent improvements in recruitment and retention: “The last two years, calendar year ’23 and ’24, we have had the highest number of positive recruitments in the past 10 years,” Vernon said. She told the board the department’s vacancy rate has declined since 2021 and recruitment gains and retention pay approved by the board have helped stabilize staffing.
Vernon described several operational initiatives: the county’s mobile services center, which began road operations last month and provides interviews, check-ins, partner agency connections and Wi‑Fi for clients; an Adult Transition Unit that works inside the jail to link in-custody clients with community services prior to release; a Connections hub that offers a “one-stop shop” for clients to access partner agencies; and an expanded use of private vendor GEO Reentry to deliver cognitive-behavioral programs and free sworn staff to focus on high‑risk supervision.
On outcomes, Vernon said the department’s average recidivism rate is 14.1 percent and that the department has observed a steady decrease, acknowledging 2020’s low rate reflected pandemic-era case processing. Vernon also described technology and administrative improvements, including an electronic statement of personal history (eSOH) and a digital procurement workflow, and said the department recently received board approval to pilot an AI tool with Cognizant.
Board members praised the department’s community presence and staffing progress. Supervisor Amy Shucklian said seeing probation staff “out in the community” is important; Supervisor Eddie Valero commended upkeep of the juvenile detention facility and asked about school partnerships and future strengths and challenges. Vernon said the department has reinstated campus officers at numerous schools and identified staff as the department’s principal strength while noting outside advocacy and legal changes could present future challenges.
Supervisor Pete Vanderpool presented a proclamation recognizing July 20–26, 2025, as Probation Services Week in Tulare County; the board invited department staff to the dais, toured the mobile unit parked outside and then recessed for a closed-session period later in the morning.
The proclamation listed the department’s role in connecting court-ordered individuals to services and emphasized evidence-based programming to reduce recidivism. The board adopted the proclamation on a unanimous voice vote in the presence of department leadership.
