Sacramento Probation Department to Launch 3-Day Drug Offender Operation

Anyone on probation might want to take notice. The Sacramento County Probation Department is scheduled to launch a three-day operation Tuesday that targets unsupervised, high-risk adult offenders  

Officers will be doing 200 or more home visit/compliance checks of unsupervised probationers, who are initially assessed as high risk to commit crimes related to illegal drugs, property theft and violence commonly associated with drug use.

As these offenders have been unsupervised the department anticipates finding numerous  illegal drugs, weapons and possibly stolen property, according to a press release.

The officers plan to administer urine tests to establish a baseline for treatment needs. 

Assistant Probation Division Chief Alan Seeber wrote in an e-mail: "There are over 20,000 adults on felony probation in Sacramento County. We are only able to supervise approximately 5 percent of them. A shortage of officers due to budget reductions beginning in 2008 is a large contributor. Historically there hasn't been much funding geared toward the supervision and treatment of adult offenders. Recent funding from the state derived through legislation such as SB 678 and AB 109 have restored some levels of service. Of course AB 109 funding came with thousands more realigned offenders from State Prison and Parole that have been added on top of the existing probationer population."

Offenders will be assigned to four new caseloads to ensure ongoing supervision in the community. Updated risk/needs assessments will be completed.

Th department plans to refer or enroll in treatment many of the probationers they come in contact with during the operation. Others will be held accountable through incarceration and/or other sanctions to enhance public safety.

The unit’s goals include reducing drug use among offenders and the associated drug, property and violent crimes they commit.

"During this year's County budget process we were  fortunate to receive approximately $1 million in funding for which we thank the Board of Supervisors and the County Executive," the release stated, "$500,000 was used to fund four new officer positions; $500,000 is earmarked for services in the community that will address the needs of this population.