1. By: Deandra Davila

2. • To provide protection for the community,
support victim advocacy, and deliver
essential services to the courts. This mission
is accomplished through collaboration and
partnerships which encompass a continuum
of sanctions including
prevention/intervention programming,
investigation, supervision, and incarceration.

3. Fresno County Probation: Juvenile Services Division

4.  Juvenile Supervision Unit: DPOs supervise
offenders released to the community on
probation. They monitor the minor’s
compliance with the conditions of probation
ordered by the Courts both at home and the
schools they attend.
 Court Services: Deputy Probation Officers
prepare written presentence reports on minors to
aid the Courts in the sentencing process.
 Placement Unit: DPOs work with Group Homes
and other out-of-home placements for minors
removed from the custody of their parents by
Juvenile Court Order.

5.  The Population worked with are minors who have
been ordered by the courts to be on probation.
 The majority of minors on probation have
committed crimes against people, crimes against
property, and have violated their probation.
 There’s a DPO at every school whose caseload
consists of the minors on probation at that
location.
 There are also DPOs who are assigned certain area
codes. Their caseload has minors that are not
currently enrolled in a main stream school.

6.  Funding is provided from Federal and State
Grants.
 One of the major sources of funds comes
from Title IV-E of the Social Security Act.
These are minors who are at risk for being
removed from the home and must be
younger than 17.6 years old.
 The Parents and the minor are responsible for
paying for any program that the minor is
assigned by the court to attend.

7.  Probation Officers work with the minor and the
parents to provide the best services to help the
minor.
 The main goal is to redirect minors from
continuing their deviant behavior.
 Probation Officers refer minors to many agencies
around Fresno County depending on what is
court ordered.
 The DPO works with Police Officers, School
Officials, agency workers, and the parents to
make sure the minor is complying with the terms
and conditions of their probation.

9.  The DPO provides the minor with a referral sheet to
different agencies depending on what they are
assigned to complete.
 It is the responsibility of the minor to sign up,
attend, and complete what needs to be done.
 Probation provides services to accomplish the
mission because the minor is given resources that
will help work through the issues that caused them
to get into trouble.
 The programs assigned teach the minors that their
actions are wrong and let them learn from the
mistakes.

10.  The minor got themselves in to this mess, it is
their responsibility to get themselves out of it.
This means the DPO isn’t going to hold the
minor’s hand through the process, instead they
need to be accountable and be responsible.
 The probation officer is there to monitor the
minor and to support them in anything they
need. As long as the minor is complying with
terms and conditions, Probation won’t be hard.
If the minor is not complying then probation has
to provide the discipline.

11.  I meet with minors and their parents to discuss
grades and attendance at school, progress with
Community Service hours, drug testing, check
behavior at home.
 I go to the school setting, talk with the Police
Officer and staff to check behavior at school.
 I talk with minors who have been sent back to
the JJC, to discuss a plan of action.
 I’ve learned to fill out the standard documents
and paper work needed as a DPO.

12.  Probation helps improve the quality of life for a minor
because we are helping them change for the better.
 The minor is held responsible for the crimes they have
committed, and they have to pay the consequences for
their actions.
 There are minors of every race on probation. I have
noticed that white parents are more likely to defend and
protect their children. They tend to not want to see their
child can do wrong.
 Probation Officers don’t treat anyone better than another,
they are all juveniles on probation and all need to pay the
consequences for their actions.

13.  Service: DPOs work and assist the minor so
they can successfully complete probation.
 Social Justice: DPOs report to the court all
the positive accomplishments of the minor.
Make the minor “give back” to the
community through community service.
 Dignity and Worth of a Person: DPOs
evaluate the family using the strengths
perspective and focus on getting the minor
active in positive activities.

14.  Importance of Human Relationships: DPOs
build a trusting working relationship with the
minor to achieve success.
 Integrity: DPOs are honest in their reports to
the court about minors and act in a
trustworthy and responsible way.
 Competence: DPOs work with the minor and
refer them to agencies where they can
benefit from the most.

15.  The courts assign the minor to counseling if it is
needed. The DPO also has the right, anytime
throughout probation to recommend the minor for
counseling or any type of program, if they see fit.
 The minor loses their right to privacy when on
probation because their person and property can be
searched by any Officer without a warrant. Probation
makes sure the minor is attending school to they can
get a proper education.
 Probation gives the minor a chance to fix their
mistakes and to be rehabilitated in to society.

16.  Deputy Probation Officers help minors
become rehabilitated and help them change
their ways.
 The main goal for the minor to become a
productive member of society.
 This is achieved through monitoring and
assignments given to the minor throughout
the term of probation.