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Probation
A Force for Positive Change
Our mission is to continually improve the quality of community life by enhancing public safety, by assisting victims with restoration and by offering the hope of a more productive lifestyle for offenders.
We Will Accomplish Our Mission by
- Assessing offenders risk/needs in order to help guide Court decisions and to apply an appropriate level of services
- Managing offender risk by enforcing Court orders, affording opportunities for pro-social change and expecting offenders to become law-abiding, productive citizens
- Assisting victims through the criminal/juvenile justice process and restoring them both personally and financially
- Working collaboratively with our community partners to provide evidence-based prevention and intervention services
- Recognizing and rewarding staff achievement and providing professional opportunities for growth within our organization
Our Goals
- Enhance community safety while holding all staff accountable to ensure compliance with the Department's mission, vision and values
- Develop collaborative partnerships with community and county agencies
- Implement proven and effective methodology to assess and change behavior of offenders through effective case management
- Recruit, retain and reward quality staff
We Believe
- In treating all people with dignity and respect
- People can change and that probation services are a viable means to affect positive change
- In promoting and maintaining a safe and healthy community
- In the value of our collaborative relationships
- Our staff is the means by which we accomplish our Mission
- What is the difference between probation, Post Release Community Supervision (PRCS), mandatory supervision, and parole?
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Any adult offender that is committed to a state institution for a violent offense will be released on parole. They will be supervised by state parole officials and the Probation Department will have no jurisdiction over their case with respect to supervision. Offenders that are placed on probation may be supervised by the Probation Department or may be on conditional release/summary probation. With respect to conditional release/summary probation cases, individuals are on probation directly to the court and are not supervised by the probation office. Individuals sentenced to the state prison for a non-violent offense will be supervised on PRCS by the Probation Department.
Additionally, individuals sentenced to serve in Lake County Jail on a prison sentence will serve a portion of their sentence on mandatory community supervision.
- If someone is placed on probation in another county or state, but they reside within Lake County, which agency supervises them?
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Other jurisdictions may request "courtesy supervision" of the Lake County Probation Department. If the request is granted, our agency will provide supervision services. However, in some cases, the other county or state does not request courtesy supervision which means that we have no supervision responsibilities/rights over the individual.
- How long are offenders on probation?
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Juvenile offenders may be on probation until age 21. However, the court may order a shorter period of supervision. The standard term of probation for an adult offender (felony) is 3 years, although this term can be 5 years or more, depending upon the crime.
- What is the Probation Department's responsibility with respect to offenders that have been adjudicated or convicted, but not yet sentenced?
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With the exception of minor traffic matters, all juvenile offenders and all adult offenders convicted of a felony are referred to the Probation Department for a presentence investigation and recommendation before sentencing occurs. It is therefore possible that Probation staff will be engaged in this particular activity, but that the offender will not be placed on probation at sentencing.
- What information can I obtain about a probationer from the Probation Department?
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Generally, the law prohibits dissemination of information about probation clients, especially juveniles, by the Probation Department. However, victims of crimes may be entitled to limited information and should contact the department with their request. Remember, the Probation Department does not handle all cases, therefore, victims may find it necessary to contact the District Attorney, or the Victim-Witness Division of the District Attorney's Office - depending on the case.