Probation chief outlines expanded services, caseloads and reentry work

Karen Humiston, Mono County Chief of Probation, presented an informational update on the department’s responsibilities, reforms and operations.

Humiston described legally mandated probation duties under Penal Code 1203 and discussed how reforms such as AB 109 and changes to juvenile justice have shifted responsibilities to counties. She said the department has grown from four officers to 10 over the past 12 years and that pretrial work is now the largest caseload. "We currently have 69 on formal probation," Humiston said, adding roughly 20–25 people on pretrial and additional juvenile caseloads and diversion participants.

Humiston highlighted diversion programs for youth, a locally recognized pretrial program, reentry services under AB 109 and behavioral‑health coordination in jails and the community. She said the department is expanding batterers‑intervention programming and planning parent‑support offerings tied to juvenile cases.

The presentation was informational; no board action was required. Supervisors thanked staff and noted outreach efforts such as the recent Foro Latino event where probation and behavioral‑health staff participated.