Board proclaims July 2026 Probation Services Week; residents and clients thank staff

The Lake County Board of Supervisors on July 14 adopted a proclamation naming July 2026 Probation Services Week, highlighting the probation department’s role in rehabilitation and community safety.

The proclamation, read into the record by the chair, noted local probation officers’ training, their work connecting people to behavioral-health and reentry services, and the department’s role in juvenile justice and community partnerships. After the proclamation, several people with lived experience and family members described how probation programs had supported recovery and employment.

James Cook, identified himself at the meeting as someone who has been helped by his probation officer, thanked staff and described the relationship as part of his successful return to work: “I just wanted to come and say my, my piece and say thank you to my officer Yen,” he said, adding that officers “have been a big help and big support” (James Cook). Tammy Cook, his mother, said probation helped her son complete treatment and find employment.

Supervisor comments acknowledged both accountability and rehabilitation in the department’s work. “Your empathy, your care, your respect — and holding the line for accountability — is the best combination,” one supervisor said in remarks thanking probation staff for the role they play in both individual recovery and public safety.

The board’s proclamation says probation officers receive extensive training in trauma‑informed care and cognitive‑behavioral approaches and recognized the department’s work as “a safe and effective alternative to incarceration.” The proclamation was adopted without objection.

The department did not present new budget requests at the meeting; supervisors and public praise centered on services and community partnerships. The board took a picture with probation staff and invited the department to continue outreach and public engagement events throughout the designated week.