B Y K I K I W I L L I A M S

B efore I began my career at the Probation Department, I never gave a second thought to where the children of Contra Costa

County went after they committed a crime. I, along with the rest of the common world, often saw a child on the news in handcuffs, and did not hear about him or her again until sentencing day. It never occurred to me there was a place called Juvenile Hall nes-tled in a quaint neighborhood, where “Probation Counsel-ors” supervised the misbehav-ing children of others around the clock, until they were set free or moved on to the next level of incarceration. I recall the day I read the on-line job announcement for Probation Counselor. I smiled while I telepathically congratulated the au-thor on making a lightly labored, yet mentally com-plex job sound so gleeful and ordinary. At orienta-tion, it appeared as if other new-hires had not translated the definition accurately. Some wiped their brows at the men-tion of foul language, blood, and fights. Several seemed shocked at the details of the job and never was counseling mentioned. Our duties were very similar to those of deputies in the county jail. The orienta-tion was a psychological experiment, with each negative phrase causing a distinct physical reaction. The new Juvenile Hall is comprised of eight, two-tier living units, a response and a visiting unit, a transportation unit, and a central control room where all doors, halls and rooms are monitored with the assistance of cameras and computers. Seven units house boys separated by age, crime and mental capacity; while only one houses females.

Each unit is staffed with two Probation Counselors to supervise up to 24 residents, including serious offenders. During the PM shift staff have the highest risk of being involved in a disturbance. Maintaining stabil-

ity among more than 20 children, who are twice your size, from all walks of life and all areas of the county, is challenging in itself. Counselors are encouraged to plan activities for the minors, such as games, movie nights, crafts and guest speakers. Despite all the advantages of our new juvenile hall, we lost an important component that helped make the activities possible: the Sierra holding room. The holding room was located off

the unit and was a place where a disruptive juvenile could air his frustrations to the Building Supervisor and take time to relax.

On one particular evening, I introduced a group of 16 and 17-year-old boys to their first board game dur-ing evening free play—complete with prizes. I set out the game boards and playing pieces and let most of the residents out. As I explained the rules to the group, problems began. One resident became angry about a room restriction that excluded him from participating in the activity.

He insisted he was wrongly accused and demanded a grievance, while he pounded loudly on his door. Using every curse word in existence, he threatened to flood his toilet and demanded to see the Building Supervisor. A previously quiet resident, who was also serving a room restriction, became agitated and threatened the first resident. The commotion disturbed the entire group.

(Continued on page 3)

I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E :

Livestock Program

2

Chatman’s Chat

3

Meet the Staff

5 & 9

Regarding the Money

5

Making the Difference

6

Chris Adams Fashion

7

Start Smart Program

8

Latino Leadership

9

Milestones & Memories

10 & 11

Word Search 13

C O N T R A

C O S T A

C O U N T Y

S P E C I A L P O I N T S O F I N T E R E S T :

• A Probation

Counselor’s Personal Account

• A Message

from the Chief

• OAYRF

Programs

• Specialized

Adult Supervision

• Volunteers in

Probation

Where, Oh Where…

A. P. B. All Probation Bulletin

S U M M E R 2 0 0 7 V O L U M E 2 , I S S U E 1

Probation Counselors: John Donnell, Kim Holmes, Dion Ingram.

Probation Counselor Kiki Williams

“The Livestock

Program is truly

a community

effort”

P A G E 2

A . P . B . A L L P R O B A T I O N B U L L E T I N

program, participants built fences, cages and a shel-ter for Skyy, the horse. Our livestock have come to us in a variety of ways; some have been rescued and others donated. Two rescued goats were adopted out to suitable homes. The remaining animals are thriving. In the years since its inception, a llama named Cinnamon and eleven kid goats have been born at the facility. The livestock program participants assisted with the births and helped care for the new additions. This unique educational experience is thanks to many generous contributors. The Juvenile Hall Auxiliary helped finance the purchase of materials for the new corral, Bloomfield Hay donated alfalfa and the Discovery Bay Garden Club donated time and money to the program. Two neighboring families, the Plums and the Deborbas, offered their expertise and help with medical needs and horse feed. The Livestock Program is truly a community effort.

Above-left: Baby Cinnamon, Above-center: Boer Goat and babies, Above-right: Mama and baby

IT NEWS : B Y G R E G K U R L I N S K I The recent disturbance at 50 Douglas is due to new PC network wiring installation. Please excuse our dust while we put in over 6 miles of new cable. This will allow our network to be more than 10 times faster than it is now. This project should be completed by the end of August. Also, in an unrelated story, the 50 Douglas building now features a spiffy new cardkey access sys-tem on all public entry doors.

B Y D A N H O U V I N E N

T he Livestock Program at Orin Allen Youth Rehabilitation Facility (OAYRF) continues to grow in many ways. The

program was started in April 2004 with three Spanish goats. Today, over twenty animals call OAYRF home. Residents currently care for one horse, three llamas, eighteen Boer and Spanish goats, and several types of chickens and ducks. Probation Counselor Jerry Johnson has led the program since its inception. With the help of Counselor Kendra Ziller, participants are guided through the six-week livestock program. Wards that would like to participate, and have earned the trust of staff, are introduced to basic animal care, anatomy and health problems associated with livestock. There are currently thirteen wards enrolled in the class, four of whom are working on a housing structure. Previously, with the help of the woodshop

The OAYRF Livestock Program

• The Department has completed its first Strategic Plan. This plan is a guide that outlines goals for better effi-ciency in all areas of operations. I encourage all staff to look at the department’s strategic plan. The plan is for a three-year period; however, it is a working docu-ment. I want to thank all who participated in its devel-opment.

• Training is another area in which we look to improve. I have identified staff willing to provide training in areas such as motivational interviews, cognitive behavior, Disproportionate Minority Contact and cultural com-petency.

• To establish the best practices we will implement

a validated risk and need assessment for Adult and Juvenile offenders. Administration and Field Su-pervisors have reviewed this tool and we will soon introduce it to staff.

• Becky Williams, with the County Administrators

Office, has been working with staff in field opera-tions and at Juvenile Hall to develop a business report for a much-needed management informa-tion system. The report is produced to request funding to purchase/develop the system.

• We were able to receive grant funds to supervise

mentally ill juvenile and adult offenders. • We received a grant for a DUI supervision program. These are some of the programs and activities in which we were involved during the last fiscal year. If the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation proceeds with their re-form, there will be an impact on the workload of our de-partment. I will keep staff informed of any changes that will alter the way we do business.

B Y L I O N E L C H A T M A N

I n the fall of 2005, we published our first newsletter. Unfortunately, we only had one edition. Suzi Hibbard

and Robbyn-Nicole Livingston have gra-ciously agreed to take on the responsibil-ity as co-editors to resume the publica-tion of the All Probation Bulletin newslet-ter. I am grateful they are willing to continue the Department’s newsletter

and commend them on their commitment and dedication to a worthy project. As you are aware, for the last couple of years the county has struggled to balance its budget, resulting in little growth in personnel. Fortunately, we did not demote or lay off any employees during these periods. With con-tinuous retirements, we are able to maintain our current level of staff and service. Our staff has done a great job in their respective assignments, though the workload has increased. Each and every one of you is invaluable to this organization, and without your high level of professional-ism and dedication, we certainly could not provide such a high quality of service. The Department has been in constant transition, with recent retirements, staff transfers and the reorganization of administrative staff. I am hopeful that in the near fu-ture stability will settle in. We will continue to face many challenges and I am confident that as an organization we will strive to meet all challenges, regardless of their im-pact on this Department. I would like to take a moment to highlight some of the programs and activities that will enhance our ability to provide efficient service delivery to our many stake-holders.

V O L U M E 2 , I S S U E 1 P A G E 3

“Our Staff has

done a great Job

in their

respective

assignments,

though the

workload has

increased.”

Where, Oh Where... (cont.) At the old Juvenile Hall, with the ap-proval of a Building Supervisor, a disrup-tive resident would be removed to the Sierra holding room and unit activity could resume. In the new Juvenile Hall activities are cancelled and we are forced to listen to insults, rants and raves from every peeved minor. Even when this occurs, the offending resident stays on the unit.

Working as a Probation Counselor or is a difficult profession as we bare the brunt of the residents’ hardships, representing their commiseration, influence and authority. The emotional and physical burdens of the job remain with us long after our shift ends. Still, we return each day to keep the resi-dents and each other safe, one shift at a time.

Chatman’s Chat... a message from the Chief

“This Newsletter

focuses on the

human side of

Probation...”

B Y S U Z I H I B B A R D

W here did the time go since our last publication?

Here we are. Over a year since our first publi-cation and time has flown by. So many things have happened; new hires, retirements, parties, promotions and new programs. We have in-cluded many of the goings on as space permited, allowing us all to catch up on this past year. Our original goal for the newsletter remains. We aim to publish quarterly with articles writ-ten by Probation Department employees from around the county. We hope to share informa-tion between the facilities and programs and to provide a forum for discussing current events,

trends in probation and developing ideas for the future. This newsletter focuses on the human side of probation; the employees, not the poli-cies. Although we have a regular staff, this is YOUR newspaper. We encourage all of you to con-tribute ideas, articles, suggestions and pictures for future issues. We are simply here to help shape a newsworthy department publication that everyone can be proud of! Your Humble Co-Editor, Suzi Hibbard

The Basketball Challenge is a positive experience for the youth involved. It promotes teamwork, builds self-esteem and creates unity between residents. Juveniles must be classified as a Level I or II in their program to be eligible to compete in the Challenge. The boys must also have not sus-tained any room time, a school absence or suspension within a week of the Challenge. Being a

part of the Basketball Challenge is a positive reward for the youth. (Information provided by Andrew Smith and James Slay)

B Y M I N D Y J A R R E T T

T he Unit-on-Unit Bas-ketball Challenge was started in 2005 by

Probation Counselors, An-drew Smith and James Slay, just after the opening of the new Juvenile Hall. Units housing older youth form teams and compete in two, twenty-minute halves. The winner in each bracket holds on to the trophy until a loss is suffered. In the first competition, Trinity beat Donner: 27-26. The boys of the Trinity Unit will proudly display the trophy, provided by the Juvenile Hall Auxiliary and Nancy Miller, until next year’s rematch.

A Letter From the Editor

P A G E 4

A . P . B . A L L P R O B A T I O N B U L L E T I N

FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION: The topic of discussion for the next issue will be: Shift Patterns. We would like to hear your ideas, comments, suggestions, as well as the positive and negative aspects of having a flex schedule or a 9-80, 4-10, or 3-12 work week.

Please send any thoughts to Prob_Newsletter@prob.cccounty.us

Juvenile Hall Basketball Challenge

Residents of the Trinity hous-ing unit play the winning game

V O L U M E 2 , I S S U E 1 P A G E 5

• Office of Traffic Safety – DUI Court – funding for 2 deputy positions

• Mentally Ill Offender – Juvenile – funding for 3 dep-uty positions

• Mentally Ill Offender – Adult – funding for 1 deputy position

• DMC – Disproportionate Minority Contact Training

In anticipation of a stable financial climate for FY 07/08, the County Administrator asked us to submit a budget for what it would cost to maintain our services at their current level. We complied, and with some minor tweak-ing by the CAO, the Board of Supervisors adopted our request. As we move into the new fiscal year with ade-quate funding, we see things heating up on the horizon. The state is preparing to shift more responsibility, and money, toward the county probation departments. This time it’s for the care and custody of the lower level, non-violent juvenile offenders that they have been housing at their DJJ facilities (formerly CYA). Potentially this will call for new program designs, new living units, and more staff. Please keep an eye out for staff recruitment opportuni-ties.

B Y J I M M O R P H Y

F or four long fiscal years the chill of financial stagnation has taken it’s toll on service pro-grams across the entire County organization,

including the Probation Department. Chief Lionel Chatman has provided excellent leadership in preserv-ing fundamental probation services and conforming to the County’s budget policies, while simultaneously avoiding layoffs. However, a number of discretionary programs were discontinued or downsized during that critical time. The budget process for FY 06/07 was not as stormy for Probation as the previous three had been. Yes, there were some cuts, but nothing like the ones that were inflicted before. After adoption, we opened the actual fiscal year with a very tight budget. However, the new state budget included some revenue increases, which were not known at the time we completed our County budget. These included a restoration of STC training revenue of approximately $172,000, and an increase of about $376,000 in JJCPA funds. Along with the unanticipated state revenue, we suc-cessfully applied for additional funds through grants and partnerships with other departments:

Regarding the Money: Financial Ice Cap Begins to Thaw, Fiscal Warming Expands

“As we move

into the new

fiscal year with

adequate

funding, we see

things heating

up on the

horizon…”

Meet the Staff—Petrenya Boykins T he Training Department is proud to Welcome

Petrenya Boykins: Training and Volunteer in Probation (VIP) Coordinator.

Petrenya is celebrating 20 years of exemplary service to Contra Costa County as recognized by the Board of Supervisors on February 27, 2007. This officer identified her desire to help others during early childhood and set her goal of be-coming a Deputy Probation Officer in Junior High School. She dedicated 12 years of her career to serving as a Probation Counselor and was promoted to the posi-tion of Deputy Probation Officer in 1998 and worked in the Juvenile Division for the last eight years. While assigned to operate under contract with the Office of Education, she received an EPIE (Exceptional Partners in Education) award in 2004. Her move to the Training Officer Position has been viewed as a "natural progression" by Petrenya, as she has interpersonal skills and has the innate ability to

motivate and encourage others. She brings her inspira-tional influence, high energy and positive character to the Probation Department and all those around her.

Petrenya is her own best Volunteer. She has served ten years on the Juvenile Hall Auxiliary Board as their Public Relations Spokesperson, volunteering many hours to support this worthy organization. She was awarded "Peacemaker 1998" by the Center of Human Development/Conflict Resolu-tion Panel.

Petrenya's goals for the upcoming training year is to offer her co-workers training to both stimulate and provide knowledge that will assist in performing their duties more effectively. She is adamant about seeking training that promotes both professional and personal advance-ment and wellbeing. To become a VIP contact Petrenya at (925) 313-4187. The program offers an incredibly rewarding experience for Probation Officers, the volunteers and, most impor-tantly, the youth of Contra Costa County.

“She is adamant

about seeking

training that

promotes both

profession and

personal

advancement

and wellbeing...”

Probation Officer Craig Furlong

B Y M E L V I N R U S S E L L

A dult Deputy Probation Officers are expected to perform a range of duties while supervising adult felony offenders.

These responsibilities include: holding offenders accountable, restoring losses to victim’s of crimes, counseling clients, investigating cases, writing court reports and appearing in court, working with local police agencies to reduce crime and provide public safety, developing a network of services and referring probationers to the appropriate programs, participating with and utilizing the resources of local agencies, and providing courtesy supervision of cases trans-ferred from other counties and states.

Regional Anti-Drug Abuse Program-RADA

The Deputy Probation Officer assigned to the RADA program is a member of both the West and Central Contra Costa County Narcotics Enforcement Team, commonly referred to as WestNET and CNET. This officer provides intensive supervision and drug testing of adult drug offenders to detect and deter substance

abuse. In addition, they work with law enforce-ment to assist in surveillance, searches, and the identification and apprehension of those en-gaged in drug related activity. As is a require-ment of any grant position monthly and quar-terly statistics are provided to the grant to earn continued funding. Vehicle Theft Suppression Enforcement

Team

The Vehicle Theft Probation Officer supervises probationers throughout the entire county. This officer participates, twice a month, in the Vehi-cle Suppression Enforcement Team (VSET) operations. He serves a vital role in identifying suspects, stolen vehicles, performing searches, and following up with probation violations. Collaborative efforts and the sharing of informa-tion between probation and law enforcement allow for violations to be handled quickly and efficiently. Additionally, offenders in violation of probation are taken into custody to help keep communities safe.

Specialized Adult Supervision

P A G E 6

A . P . B . A L L P R O B A T I O N B U L L E T I N

B Y M I N D Y J A R R E T T

V olunteers with VIP have the opportunity to help with many wonderful programs that support our County’s youth, both in

and out of custody. Petrenya Boykins, who coordinates the volunteer program, is especially motivated in developing the mentorship pro-gram and hopes to one day provide mentors to assist entire families and not just the youth. This spring, Ms. Boykins honored the nearly 50 volunteers with a brunch themed, “Planting the Seeds of Kindness”. The event went off with-out a hitch due to the hard work of our volun-teer program coordinator, donations and help-ing hands. Volunteer opportunities are available at the County’s Boys and Girls' Programs, the Juvenile Hall and at Community Day Schools. Tutors are welcome at all locations to help kids with schoolwork and to develop reading and writing

skills. At the Chris Adams' Center volunteers work with residents to provide them with skills to navigate the Internet. The volunteers pro-vide the girls with the ability to find educational and job opportunities on the Internet. One of the more recent additions to the VIP program is the Juvenile Hall Library. The program operates with an approved reading list and the books are brought to the units for the youth to check out. If you are interested in contributing to the Juve-nile Hall Library please contact the librarian, Alison McKee, at Juvenile Hall. Volunteers also staff a reading program. They visit the housing units at Juvenile Hall in the evening and read books to the youth. Volunteering is a rewarding way to spend time, especially when you support and positively influ-ence the troubled youth of this county.

Volunteers Betty Maloney and Essie

Jackson

Making a Difference

V O L U M E 2 , I S S U E 1 P A G E 7

items for low to no cost. It is located on the grounds of the Juvenile Hall complex and is open on Mondays and Tuesdays 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM and the first Sat-urday of each month from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. We would like to thank the following groups and indi-viduals who donated their time, energy, talent and expertise: The Martinez Soroptomists, County Super-visors Susan Bonilla and Mary Piepho, Anita O'Shea, Tenaya McDonald, Lynn Mackey, Heidi Jones, Darcie and Haley, Petrenya Boykins, the Chris Adams' Girls' Center staff and of course, Shannon Grosenheider and the staff at the Hall Closet. We are all looking forward to the Chris Adams' Girls' Center 2008 Fashion Show!

B Y D O R T H Y C A R T E R

O n June 9, 2007, Chris Adams' Girls' Center held their annual fashion show featuring clothes and accessories from the Juvenile Hall

Auxiliary Hall Closet. This yearly event allows the young women to participate in an event equivalent to a prom. The participants, parents, staff and volunteers were all thrilled with the success of the event. It was a wonderful surprise to see such a variety of sizes, colors and styles proudly worn by the partici-pants. The young ladies looked confident and exquisite dressed in casual, business and eveningwear. The high-light of the fashion show was when the young women modeled outfits they had personally selected. Thanks to the generosity of the Hall Closet, the models got to keep the outfits. The Hall Closet provides clothes of all sizes, accesso-ries, toys, music, baby items and just about anything one may need. The store opened its doors to provide necessities to less fortunate families and offer these

High Fashion and Fun at Chris Adams

B Y M I N D Y J A R R E T T

T he occurrence of recidivism increases with every DUI conviction a driver receives. There is a 25% chance of recidivism with first time

offenders, 31% with second time offenders and nearly 40% of third time offenders are arrested a forth time. Motivated by this shocking statistic grant writer Proba-tion Manager Carol Nixon influenced the California Office of Traffic Safety to grant our department $624,000 to closely monitor DUI offenders with multiple prior DUI convictions. Con-tra Costa County is one of over 20 probation depart-ments in the state to have similar programs. The DUI unit is staffed by two probation officers who each supervise approximately 40 probationers. To prepare the deputies to supervise such a specific caseload and to help establish parameters for this entirely new unit,

Intensive Supervision for DUI Offenders they recently attended a three-day training seminar in San Diego. Probation Officer John Canty believes that one key to making this program a success lies in devel-oping a strong line of communication with the Califor-nia Highway Patrol and the community based pro-

grams. Similarly to other special-ized adult caseloads, this grant also strives to keep our community safe by taking swift action of proba-tion violations. To help prevent recidivism, those eligible for this program are required to complete an 18 to 30-month Post Convic-tion Drunk Driver Program (PCDDP) and submit to regular alcohol testing. The PCDD Program includes a combination of drug and alcohol education, group

counseling, community service and monitoring by pro-gram staff through regular interviews.

Probation Officer John Canty

All Donations

are

Appreciated

and Tax

Deductible

“Participants are

presented Certificates

of Completion at the

end of each class...”

This two-hour class is presented twice a month by CHP Officers Trenton Cross and Jason Cramblett in the conference room at the San Pablo Probation Office. Participants are pre-sented certificates of completion at the end of each class. Some teenage drivers may be eligi-ble for insurance discounts with completion of this program. So far, this program has been a huge success. Feedback from students and parents alike has been wonderful and class participation is great! Some parents have brought other children in the home and a couple of students have asked to take the class twice. San Pablo staff are notified of upcoming classes via email. Sign up outside Lori Militar’s office or contact her at 510-374-3041.

P A G E 8

A . P . B . A L L P R O B A T I O N B U L L E T I N

Congratulations to Officers Trenton Cross and Jason Cramblett who were recently honored by Judge Haight, Chief Probation Officer Lionel Chatman and the Juvenile Justice Commission for their great work.

B Y S H A N N O N G R O S E N H E I D E R

T he Juvenile Hall Auxiliary hosted its 6th Annual Golf Tournament on May 21, 2007 at the Delta

View Golf course in Pittsburg. Fifty-three golfers, including probation offi-cers and outside teams, participated. The tournament is a very social event and was a big draw for retired Proba-tion Deputies. Fun continued into the

evening with an awards dinner. Awards were presented for categories including lowest score, best team score and longest drive. Two teams tied for first place with a score of 61. These teams played the "most difficult hole" again to break the tie and a team from Longs Drugs emerged as the winner. The top two

teams were each awarded a trophy and a free round of golf. This year golfers raised an astonishing $5,000! This money is earmarked for sporting equip-ment and a rain awning to cover the walkway between the living units and the gym at Juvenile Hall. The gymnasium was built in 1975, also thanks to fundraisers spearheaded by the Juve-nile Hall Auxiliary. Our thanks, to all who participated in this ex-traordinary day. Helping to keep our Juvenile Hall youth active and healthy is a worthy cause.

Baby Miguel gets ready for next

years tour-nament

B Y L O R I M I L I T A R

M otor vehicle collisions nationwide are the leading cause of teenage deaths. The State of California has the sec-

ond highest fatality rate involving drivers age 15 through 20. A recent statistical analysis re-vealed California's teenage drivers are involved in fatal collisions at a higher rate than drivers in other age groups. Additionally, teenage drivers are at fault in 66% of all collisions that they are involved in, even though they only represent 4% of the State's licensed drivers. Last year, the San Pablo Probation Office wel-comed the California Highway Patrol Start Smart class as a resource for probationers and their parents and a resolution for out-of-custody citations. The California Highway Pa-trol, the Department of Motor Vehicles and the Office of Traffic Safety developed the Start Smart program. The program is aimed at help-ing new and future teenage drivers understand the critical responsibility of driving and educate young drivers on safe driving techniques. The Start Smart curriculum consists of collision causes and avoidance techniques, driver respon-sibility, local traffic collision trends and testimo-nials from parents who have lost children in collisions.

Golf Tournament: Building Dreams

and how he changed his life for the better. Thanks to school staff Lynnette Martelle and OAYRF Cook Enrico Doakes, the wards enjoyed many authen-tic Latino dishes, including taquitos, tostones and pu-pusas. More familiar favorites such as nachos and fajitas were also served, while different genres of Latino music were played. Following lunch, many wards participated in the third annual "Grito" competition. The "Grito" is a traditional and famous chant used by many Mexican musicians. Residents of all ethnic backgrounds participated in and enjoyed this contest. The last guest of the day traveled from San Jose. Nico-las Godinez is a cast member of the Mexican theater company "Teatro Vision.” He discussed his personal experiences growing up as a first generation Mexican-American in South Texas. Mr. Godinez is also an ac-complished musician who played a variety of traditional songs on his accordion, conga drum and indigenous flute. He closed the conference by reciting several poems that discussed Latino struggles of the past. Orin Allen Youth Rehabilitation Facility residents, staff and guests are grateful to all who contributed to this wonderful day.

O n May 26, 2007, the fourth annual Latino Lead-ership Conference was held at the Orin Allen Youth Rehabilitation Facility (OAYRF). Ap-

proximately 65 wards participated in this year's festivi-ties. The Conference was open to all facility residents at OAYRF, and offered a cultural experience provided by four guests who shared their personal experience and knowledge. Institutional Supervisor Art Fernandez and Probation Counselor Israel Carrero organized the Latino Leader-ship Conference four years ago, while Art was a Proba-tion Counselor at OAYRF. Mr. Fernandez participates in the conference every year. This year he spoke on what it means to be a leader and the importance of being a positive role model. Thomas Perez Jewell, a therapist at Juvenile Hall and the Chris Adams' Girl Center, concentrated his discus-sion on the importance and power of forgiving and encouraged each audience member to find his "Peaceful Warrior Within." Johnny Rodriguez runs the One Day At A Time pro-gram out of Brentwood, which works with at-risk youth. Mr. Rodriguez encourages gang members them to quit living the gang lifestyle. His presentation was centered on his experience as a former gang member

V O L U M E 2 , I S S U E 1 P A G E 9

I have always envisioned myself working with underprivileged and delinquent youth and en-

tered college and subsequently ex-posed to a number of opportunities. However, having to face a number of personal family trials and hardships, I started with baby steps to reach my destiny. I started working with Probation in 2001 as an intern for Alameda County’s Juvenile Community Probation, where I discovered that being understanding, commu-nicative, patient, caring, reliable, steadfast, opinionated, strong willed, a team player and funny, were charac-teristics that would assist me with changing the lives of others.

Meet the Staff—Shanette Richardson In 2003, I was hired as a temporary Juve-nile Hall Probation Counselor for Contra Costa County; when the new Juvenile Hall opened I accepted a permanent position and was assigned to the Aspen Living Unit. Three years after my proba-tion career began in this county I was deputized as a Probation Officer and am working in Juvenile Investigations.

It is the beginning of a long journey ahead, but with experience gained in the time I have worked for this department, I am better equipped to face the many, many probation reports ahead.

B Y D A N H O U V I N E N A N D I S R A E L C A R R E R O

Latino Leadership Day

THE GIV ING SEASON: The Probation department will again be collecting donations to support the Solano and Contra Costa County food banks during the Holiday Season. To make a cash donation, contact Genny Maloney or Chris Frederick.

N E W F A C E S :

LaRhonda Birden, Rosita Jaime, Latonya Whatley, Jerry "Max" Diaz, Melissa Kirby, Kristie Schultz, Tanaka Cato, Atalya Harris, Latasha Jones, Clarice Laurant, Tina Martinez, Lourdes Mercado, Brandee Robinson, Manuel Salamanca, Chanthal Lasso Stewart M O V I N G U P :

Probation Officers: Joe Battle, Nancy Perry, Dorothy Carter, Ed Broussard, Robbyn-Nicole Livingston, Donny Davis, Artis Wiseman, Michelle Keith, Shanette Richardson, Pat Gallagher, Malkia Crowder, William "Joe" Jones, Edward J. Randle, Tina Martinez, Damien Figueroa Supervisor: Roy Lansburgh, Warrick Liang, Kimberly Martell, Gail Schiffman, James "Rick" Waggener Probation Manager: Ed Benton, Dave Ellis, Yvette McCollumn Superintendent of Juvenile Hall: Bruce Pelle Superintendent of OAYRF: Michael Pitts Chief Deputy Probation Officer of Institutions: Paula Hernandez Chief Deputy Probation Officer of Field Services: Nancy Valencia C H A N G E S :

Manager Todd Billeci - Pittsburg to Juvenile Hall Manager Sharon Cabading - 50 Douglas to Juvenile Hall Manager Karla Williams - Juvenile Hall to Pittsburg Manager Carol Nixon - Adult Field Services to Juvenile Field Services M O V I N G O N :

2007: Cynthia Haven, Nancy Miller, Scott Williams, Mary Wierenga, Stew Neal, Peggy Rochelle, Ron Olson, Lori Belfor-Moyer, Marilyn Hogg, Chuck Clement, Ron Afdal, Patricia Tobey, James Edwards, Jackie Mann 2006: Shelia Anderson, Mary Anonuevo, Richard Birss, Samantha Blanton, Sheryl Brown, Mike Burnell, Loraine Darmetko, Fahim Fahimi, Bill Flaggs, Jim Heiser, Virginia Mouw, Diana Richardson, Dan Riordon U N I O N S A N D N O T A B L E E V E N T S :

Probation Counselor Zanete Law and Jesse Clark were married June 23, 2007 Probation Officer Ehukai Sako and Robert Alidon were married June 30, 2007 I N M E M O R Y :

Amin Denny: Institutional Supervisor at Juvenile Hall Julie Bulger: Deputy Probation Officer (Retired), Adult Roman Burgess: Probation Counselor at Juvenile Hall Mike Law: Contra Costa County Sheriffs Deputy, bailiff in Department 55

Milestones...

P A G E 1 0

A . P . B . A L L P R O B A T I O N B U L L E T I N

V O L U M E 2 , I S S U E 1 P A G E 1 1

… And Memories

“He digitally

alters and

enhances

images on his

computer,

giving them a

magnificent

appearance of

paintings...”

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A . P . B . A L L P R O B A T I O N B U L L E T I N

B Y S U Z I H I B B A R D

A lex Cortlund, worked in the Felony Investigation Unit from March of 1998 through April of 2004, after a 27 year

career with the Alameda County Probation Department. Alex is enjoying retirement with his wife Kathleen, who is also a retired Proba-tion Officer. One of his passions, which he de-veloped while working with our department, is photography and graphic art. During his time with Contra Costa County Alex produced over 200 graphic art projects for the department, county and co-workers including posters, flyers, photo-restorations and Power-Point Presentations. He now produces fine art images from photo-graphs taken locally and during trips across the United States and Europe. He digitally alters and enhances images on his computer, giving them a magnificent appearance of paintings. Alex has developed several unique techniques. One involves intensifying the line, shadow and colors of the images; this method he calls “Grand Pop Art”. A favorite practice involves taking photographs from a moving vehicle. He

attributes much of the development of his craft to the support and generosity and of our de-partment and great sense of humor of the staff. Alex has turned is passion for photography and graphic design into a business called “The Image Within.” His work is for sale and he is available on a limited basis for special projects. He has sold several pieces, and displays his work at home and in homes of friends. If you would like more information, Alex can be reached via email at grandah3@hotmail.com. You can also view images on the flickr.com web-site, under tag line GCTItaly32007 or momentof-truce.

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The Mothball Fleet Mt Diablo

Where Are They Now?

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ADJUDICATION APPEARANCE APPELLATE ARREST ATTORNEY BAIL CASE LAW CASE PLAN CHARGES CHIEF CITATION CLERK CODE SECTION COMMITMENT COMMUNITY COMPLAINT

CONDITION CONDUCT CONVICTED COUNTS COURT CRIME CRIMINAL CUSTODY DEFENDANT DEPUTY DISMISSAL DIVERSION DOCKET DRUGS EVIDENCE FEES

FELONY FINE FORTHWITH GRANT GUILTY ILLICIT INCARCERATION INDICTMENT INNOCENT JAIL JUDGE JURY JUVENILES MISDEMEANOR MODIFY MOTION

MUNICIPAL NARCOTIC OFFENDER PARAPHERNALIA PENAL CODE PETITION PETITIONER PLEA PLEA BARGAIN POLICE PREVETION PRIORS PROBATION OFFICER PUBLIC DEFENDER RECIDIVISM REFERRAL

REINSTATE REPORTS RETROACTIVE REVOCABLE REVOKE RIGHTS RISK-NEEDS SAFETY SEARCHABLE SECURITY SEIZURE SENTENCING SHERIFF SUBSTANCE ABUSE SUPERIOR SUPERVISION

SUSPENSION TERM TERMINATION TREATMENT TRIAL VERDICT VICTIM VIOLATION WAIVER

C R E A T E D B Y R O Y L A N S B U R G H Probation Word Search

Reporters:

Dan Houvinen, OAYRF

Kiki Williams, Juvenile Hall

Pam Collinshill, San Pablo

Petrenya Boykins, Martinez

Shannon Grosenhieder, Juvenile Hall Auxiliary

Special Thanks To: Connie Untalan, Roy Lansburgh, Drew Smith, James Slay, Melvin Russell, Lori Militar, and Dorothy Carter for your contributions.

Please submit all ideas, articles, pictures (As a JPEG file and attach to email), Discussions and Topics to:

Prob_Newsletter@prob.cccounty.us

Co-Editors:

Suzi Hibbard

Robbyn-Nicole Livingston

Assistant Editor and Page Designer:

Mindy Jarrett

Photographer:

Shanette Richardson

Technical Support:

Greg Kurlinski

Feature Writers:

Lionel Chatman, County Probation Officer

Jim Morphy, Administrative Services Officer

Brought to you by...

Contra Costa County Probation Department

“To Serve and Support the Courts, Victims and Community”

The mission of the Contra Costa County Probation Department, as an integral part of the criminal justice system, is to reduce crime and provide for the public’s safety by

providing prevention, investigation supervision services and safe custodial care for ju-veniles. The Department is committed to restoring losses the victims of crime, holding offenders accountable and developing opportunities for offenders through innovative

programs and supervision

Main Office 50 Douglas Drive, Suite 200

Martinez, CA 94553 925-313-4000

West County Office 2555 El Portal Drive San Pablo, CA 94805

510-374-3041

East County Office 355 East Leland Road Pittsburg, CA 94565

925-427-8361 Juvenile Hall

202 Glacier Drive Martinez, CA 94553

925-957-2700

OARYF 4491 Bixler Road Byron, CA 94514 925-427-8660

www.co.contra-costa.ca.us/depart/probation