Budget committee backs $507,500 grant for mobile probation centers and renews domestic-violence grants

On Sept. 27 the Budget and Finance Committee recommended that the Board of Supervisors approve three Department of Adult Probation grant resolutions: two renewals of domestic-violence specialized supervision grants (about $100,000 each, federally funded through the Violence Against Women Act and administered through the state) and a new Board of State and Community Corrections grant of about $507,500 to establish Mobile Probation Service Centers.

Deputy Director for Finance and Administration Taris Madison described the mobile service centers as two vans equipped with laptops, telecommunications and supplies to create neighborhood-based probation offices. "Basically, what we would do in the office, we're bringing it out to the community," Madison said. The mobile centers are intended to assist probationers who are unhoused or who have trouble meeting probation requirements by providing technology and staff access in the field.

Madison said the domestic-violence grants cover a portion of a deputy probation officer's salary (about 30%). Supervisor Connie Chien described the mobile program as an opportunity to use telecommunication tools to reach clients where they are.

A public commenter again called for conflict-of-interest disclosures. The committee voted to forward the three items to the full board with a positive recommendation (three ayes).