Submittal to the Board of Supervisors County of Riverside, State of California Submittal Date: April 17, 2001 From:*

The highest pay, including benefits, for a mid-level probation officer in Riverside County is $51,882.00. Pay for nearby counties of Orange, San Bernardino, and Los Angeles (all within commuting distance) averages $59,181.00. Riverside County is 14% lower. Competition with the surrounding counties pay and benefit packages makes it more difficult for the Probation Department to recruit new probation officers. Respondent disagrees partially with the finding. RESPONSE: When the entire compensation package (including safety retirement) is considered, the pay disparity is somewhat less than the 14% cited. Contract negotiations continue with the Riverside Sheriff's Association, and pay parity is one of the key issues under discussion. FINDING:

Senior probation clerical personnel are transferring to the court system and other agencies whose salaries are approximately $600.00 more per month. Respondent disagrees partially with the finding. RESPONSE: While Probation clerical staff view court clerical positions as equal to theirs, it appears there may be a classification differential which explains the difference in pay. It is understandable that clerical staff would seek promotion to a higher paying position in another system, but the department does regret losing valuable staff. Response to 2001 Grand Jury Report FINDING: The Probation Department's Investigative Unit prepares presentencing

reports, using their best judgment about public safety, and information regarding the offender's background, for the court's use in sentencing. Their case load is not a factor in preparing the presentencing report so they have no control over the total number of cases they are required to handle. Respondent agrees with the finding. FINDING: The court determines the length of probation. The minimum sentence

is three years and the maximum is five years. Requests for changes in the length of probation after sentencing requires that a new petition be filed with the court. This is rarely, if ever, done since the District Attorney normally opposes reductions to the length of the sentence. Respondent disagrees partially with the finding. RESPONSE: The Probation Department will continue to recommend early termination of supervision when it is appropriate and the probationer is not viewed as posing a threat to the safety of the community. In those cases that the District Attorney staff agrees with the recommendation, it is expected that they will join in the

Probation assigns a level of supervision to each case based upon public safety, the probationer's background, and the department's resources. As the caseloads increase, many offenders are assigned or downgraded to lower levels of supervision than the best interests and safety of our community requires. Consequently, many cases that are “banked” (not seen or rarely seen at all) in Level III often include those convicted of the following: battery with serious bodily injury, assault with a deadly weapon, child molestation, manufacturing drugs, selling and/or possessing deadly weapons, sexual battery, inflicting corporal injury on spouse, unlawful sex with a minor, lewd and lascivious act with a child, and rape by force and fear. Response to 2001 Grand Jury Report Respondent disagrees partially with the finding. RESPONSE: The level of supervision is based on a combination of factors including level of offense, threat posed to the community, likelihood of reoffense, and available staff. Probationers posing the greatest threat to the community are supervised. Exploration of innovative measures to expand and enhance supervision of adult probationers are encouraged. FINDING:

The department, with its current shortage of probation officers, constantly strives, but never quite achieves the ideal ratio of one probation officer for 50 offenders under Level I supervision, or one probation officer for 100 offenders under Level II supervision. In budgeting for Fiscal Year 2000-2001, management requested 10 additional probation officers to meet the increased number of probationers. This request was denied. Respondent agrees with the finding. FINDING:

The vast majority of adults on probation have been abusers of alcohol and drugs. The Adult Felon Drug court system in Riverside that incorporates drug/alcohol treatment has a success rate of 72%. These drug courts are currently at maximum capacity. Respondent agrees with the finding.