Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Probation Services topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council member reports timeline, grant extension for mobile probation unit
Summary
Council member Robert Parkinson told the Public Safety Coordinating Council that a vehicle for a mobile probation unit has been ordered, interior buildout is scheduled, and Florida Department of Law Enforcement approved a grant extension after the project’s timeline moved beyond the original grant period.
Council member Robert Parkinson said at the April 17 executive meeting of the Public Safety Coordinating Council that the county’s mobile probation unit project is moving forward and that partners have secured a short grant extension to cover an extended buildout timetable.
Parkinson said the board previously approved a contract with the Corrections Foundation and that the vehicle order has been placed. “We expect the bus to be actually shipped after completion on November 15,” he said, adding that the vehicle’s interior work is scheduled to begin on Dec. 1 and that final delivery is planned for Jan. 10. Parkinson said the vehicle will include the specifications requested by the Florida Department of Corrections, including a diesel engine configuration intended to extend useful life.
The update noted the project requires coordination between a vehicle builder and a separate fit‑out vendor; Parkinson said the timeline pushed the project past the original grant period, and that staff worked with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to secure an extension, which he said was approved "yesterday." He said local nonprofits and community organizations have contacted staff about partnering to provide services — such as health care, substance abuse treatment, mental‑health support and job placement — when the unit is on site.
Parkinson framed the unit as a compliance and support tool for people on probation. “The goal here is to help probationers be compliant with the terms and conditions of their probation and help them lead successful lives,” he said. He cautioned that the program includes a single vehicle, so scheduling and site selection will be important to maximize reach.
The chair added the update to the agenda for the council’s full meeting on May 15. The project timeline given at the meeting included calendar dates (Nov. 15 shipment, Dec. 1 interior work, Jan. 10 delivery); the transcript does not specify the year for those calendar dates.
Next steps: council members noted outreach and partnership planning; staff will continue coordinating with the Corrections Foundation, Florida Department of Corrections, FDLE and interested nonprofits as the vehicle approaches delivery.
