Probation Officers Get Look at Service Provider Options

Getting probationers the right kind of help is key to getting their lives on track, and San Diego County probation officers Thursday picked up new knowledge about options available for those they supervise.

North County probation officers and staff met with community service providers for drug and alcohol treatment, vocational training, mentoring and housing as part of the Community Resource Directory Expo in San Marcos. They met with representatives from 45 program providers such as the Alpha Project, the Mano a Mano Foundation, Deaf Community Services, North County Serenity House, North County Lifeline and Volunteers in Probation.

 “Our goal is to link offenders with the right treatment services based on their assessed needs and this provider expo allows probation officers to discuss specific plans and options with the people who will be working with the offenders they are trying to rehabilitate,” said Chief Probation Officer Mack Jenkins.

Adult and juvenile offenders are referred using a web-based Community Resource Directory to these probation-approved providers as a way to help address and manage continuing issues in their lives that may have once led them down the wrong path.

“By building better communication and relationships with the community service providers, we can protect community safety and reduce crime,” said Jenkins.