ADULT FIELD SERVICES

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Probation Officers investigate and evaluate offenders referred by the Courts. Investigators provide reports that assist the Courts in making appropriate sentencing dispositions. The reports address public safety, the nature of the offense, victim loss, and the defendant's social and criminal history.

Pretrial Services allows for the assessment and monitoring of individuals pending trial and resolution of their criminal case. Pretrial Assessment Officers conduct assessments of individuals using a validated risk assessment tool, the VPRAI-R, and bail reviews to provide recommendations to the Court regarding the individual’s risk of failing to appear for court dates or committing a new offense in the community through the trial process. Pretrial Monitoring Officers provide supervision of individuals consistent with the court-ordered terms of their release to the Pretrial Program.

SB 36 requires each pretrial services agency that uses a pretrial risk assessment tool to validate the risk assessment tool used by the agency by July 1, 2021, and on a regular basis thereafter, and to make specified information regarding the tool, including validation studies, publicly available. AB 74 provided funding to the Judicial Council “for costs associated with implementing and evaluating the Pretrial Pilot Program, including, but not limited to “….(e) Assisting the pilot courts in validating their risk assessment tools.” This report, in accordance with AB 74 and SB 36, provides information on the validation of the VPRAI-R pretrial risk assessment tool used by Alameda County. Additional information on the Pretrial Pilot is available HERE and additional information on the VPRAI-R tool is HERE.

Court officers appear in court, as scheduled, to represent the Department on probation matters. Court Officers screen and calendar petitions; present probation reports and recommendations; provide input to the courts for clarification; record court orders, instructions and/or comments from the court; and act as liaisons between the Department and the courts.

The level of offender services provided is determined by the Adult Services classification system. To provide an opportunity for rehabilitation while ensuring public safety, traditional supervision services are offered in conjunction with specialized programs.

On April 4, 2011, the Public Safety Realignment Act (AB 109) was signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown. The policy changes in the Act focus on alleviating overcrowding in the California State prisons and reducing the state corrections budget. This is achieved largely through transferring responsibility for incarceration and supervision of many low level inmates and parolees from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) to the county level. AB 109 went into effect October 1, 2011.

The Alameda County Probation Department supports legislation intended to allow our clientele to get their records expunged. A defendant can apply to be Released from Penalties, pursuant to Penal Code 1203.4.  The California Penal Code allows some defendants that meet certain requirements to file a petition for dismissal/expungement.

Expungement could include getting a qualified felony reduced to a misdemeanor, pursuant to Penal Code 17b.  The court, upon application, may reduce certain felony convictions to a misdemeanor. 

There is no cost to apply for Reduction to a Misdemeanor, Penal Code 17b and Released from Penalties, Penal Code 1203.4.  Information on how to get started is listed below. 

Clean Slate services for Alameda County can be found at:

Alameda County Public Defender (510) 268-7400; cleanslate@acgov.org

East Bay Community Law Center (510) 548-4040; info@ebclc.org     

Joint Alameda County Clean State Clinic with Public Defender & EBCLC:

North County – Oakland Public Defender’s Office (Thursdays 9am – 11am)

545 4th Street, Oakland, CA

510-268-7400

East County – Dublin Public Defender’s Office (Wednesdays 9am – 11am)5149 Gleason Dr., #C155, Dublin, CA 94568

925-551-6863

Domestic Violence

Deputies work with the Courts, police, victim advocates and other community resources to provide services to domestic violence cases and to comply with the California Penal Code Section 1203.097. 

Our goal is to reduce incidents of domestic violence by providing a variety of special services. 

To meet our goals of batterer accountability, victim safety and compliance with legal mandates, the Department:

• Has dedicated domestic and family violence caseloads and designated staff
• Classifies all domestic violence cases or cases with domestic violence conditions for maximum level of supervision
• Provides extensive training for staff supervising domestic violence caseloads
• Provides resource information and collects court-ordered restitution for victims
• Works in collaboration with community-based organizations and actively participates on the Alameda County Family Violence Council
• Approves and monitors batterers' intervention programs, pursuant to Penal Code 1203.097 and 1203.098, to serve the culturally diverse population of the County

Sex Offender

 Sex offenders are required to register annually within 5 days of his/her birthday, or more frequently if transient or homeless. Pursuant to provisions of Section 290 of the Penal Code, the duty to register is a lifetime requirement. 

Whenever a registrant moves, they must notify both the jurisdiction into which they move and the jurisdiction in which they last registered. 

In an effort to improve service delivery to Sex Offender clients and for the protection of the community, the Probation Department provides intensive supervision and utilizes community resources to reduce illegal behaviors of sexual offenders. 

All persons on probation for sex offenses receive the highest level of supervision.

Pre-convicted young adults who are charged with possession of small amounts of illegal drugs for sale without violence or weapons being involved, and who have lived essentially crime-free lives, have an opportunity to be offered an alternative to felony prosecution. Since 1991, eligible pre-convicted felons are provided special programming and supervision which includes having volunteer mentors assigned to them.

Collaboration with other law enforcement agencies includes:

• Alameda County Narcotics Task Force
  ACNTF is composed of members of criminal justice agencies organized to interdict and disrupt the flow and distribution of drugs into Alameda County; target, investigate and prosecute responsible individuals who drug traffic and money-launder; and seize assets derived from such activity. The assigned deputy assists in the investigation, surveillance, identification and apprehension of such individuals while supervising a caseload of offenders involved in drug trafficking. 
• Sexual Assault Felony Enforcement Task Force
  SAFE focuses on predatory sex offenders to reduce sexual assault crimes. The assigned Deputy is dedicated to full-time task force activities which include collaboration with municipal, county, state and federal law enforcement agencies to monitor the registration and activities of known sexual offenders. 
• Alameda County Regional Auto Theft Task Force
  ACRATT addresses vehicle theft. The assigned deputy participates with other law enforcement members in gathering and disseminating information about illegal activities involving auto theft, including searches, victim identification and loss restoration. 
• Major Crimes Task Force
  Major Crimes Task Force is an organization devoted to investigation and prohibition of organized gang violence; disruption of major organized gang networks; targeting, investigation and prosecution of those who lead or engage in gang enterprises; and seizure of assets derived from gang activities. The assigned deputy assists in the investigation, surveillance, identification and apprehension of gang probation violators and supervises a caseload of such offenders.  
• Crime Reduction Task Force 
  PACT is comprised of members from Oakland Police Department, California Department of Corrections, and the Deputy assigned to represent the Probation Department. This task force identifies, monitors and closely supervises probationers, as well as persons on parole who have a high probability of relapsing into criminal behavior. Intervention and referrals, participation in searches, preparation of revocation petitions and apprehension of persons with outstanding warrants are among the activities of the Deputy.