Hillsborough County PSCC moves forward on mobile probation unit; DOJ and FDLE waivers cleared

Hillsborough County's Public Safety Coordinating Council heard an update on a mobile probation unit — described in materials as the MRU — that county staff say is intended to improve probation compliance and reduce technical violations.

Robert Parkinson, a PSCC staff member, told the council the MRU project is funded this year with Justice Assistance Grant funds and that "waiver approval" was received from the U.S. Department of Justice. Parkinson said the Florida Department of Law Enforcement had also cleared the project and that staff are drafting a contract with the Corrections Foundation that will be taken to the Board of County Commissioners for final approval before the vehicle is outfitted.

Parkinson cited outcomes from other Florida communities, saying they were able to "reduce technical violations by 27%," and that, locally, the MRU "could mean a VOP case reduction of approximately 12–15 cases a year," phrased in the meeting as an estimate. He described outfitting the vehicle as a more complex process than a retail purchase and said staff anticipate deployment in calendar year 2026 once contracting and outfitting are complete.

Parkinson said several nonprofits had volunteered to partner and provide social services on MRU outreach; PSCC staff will reach back out to those organizations as the vehicle is prepared. No final contract award or Board approval occurred at the meeting — staff described those as pending steps. The council did not take a formal vote on contracting at this meeting.

"It's happening. It's happening," Parkinson said, describing the approvals and progress.

Next steps identified by staff include completing the contract with the Corrections Foundation, submitting it to the Board of County Commissioners, and coordinating partner nonprofit roles prior to dispatching the vehicle.