Realignment Services (AB 109/Pretrial)
2171 N. Fine Ave
Fresno CA 93727 (map)
Hours: 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.
Phone: (559) 600-7399
The Fresno County Probation Department implemented Assembly Bill (AB)109, the Public Safety Realignment Act, with a balanced approach of re-entry support services, accountability, and community safety. AB 109 legislation transferred the supervision responsibility of state prisoners, upon their release, from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), the state prison system, to local county probation departments. As of June 2012, the County of Fresno Probation Department AB 109 units have been operating at the Winery and Fine Ave. office locations.
With the passage, signing and funding of AB 109, this legislation sets into motion a number of fundamental changes related to the incarceration, supervision, and treatment of a designated group of offenders who previously would have been under the custody and control of CDCR.
AB 109
Changes in Sentencing Law: Felony Probation
Effective October 1, 2011, AB 109 eliminated prison as a sentence option for various felonies and authorize courts to impose terms of over one year in county jail for certain felonies committed by specified offenders. There is no limit to the amount of time that may be served in county jail if the conviction is for an offense punishable by imprisonment in county jail. Offenders who serve their sentences in county jail pursuant to this change in the law are not subject to parole or post-release community supervision (PRCS). However, when denying probation, the court can impose a sentence that includes a period of county jail time and a period of Mandatory Supervision (MS) not to exceed the maximum possible sentence. This population will be supervised by the county probation department. (Penal Code section 1170(h), reference).
PRCS
Post Release Community Supervision (PRCS)
Effective October 1, 2011, a transfer of offenders who in the past were released from CDCR under the supervision of state parole, are now under local County of Fresno Probation Department supervision. On the effective date, persons released from state prison after serving a prison term for a felony that is not a serious felony, a crime where the person is classified as a High Risk Sex Offender, or a crime where the person is required as a condition of PRCS to undergo treatment by the California Department of Mental Health, will be supervised by the Probation Department. This post release category is typically referred to as the non-violent, non-serious, and non-sex offender population for probation supervision and services. Persons released from the state who do not meet the criteria described above for PRCS will continue to be subject to the jurisdiction of and parole supervision by the CDCR.
The AB 109 Unit has built into the system the delivery of evidence-based practices including assessment of every offender, with a goal of supervision ratios of 1 Deputy Probation Officers for every 50 offenders for the realigned population and secondary goal of supervision ratios for higher risk individuals of 1 Deputy Probation Officer for every 35 higher risk offenders.
Community Services
Along with Risk Assessment and responsivity to criminogenic needs, several no cost community-based and contracted services are available to offenders including:
- Day Reporting Center - Life skills and coping mechanisms needed to successfully reintegrate into their communities and reduce the likelihood of returning to the criminal justice system.
- Global Position Monitoring (GPS)
- Substance Use Disorder / Co-Occurring Mental Health Services – Assessment, Outpatient, detox, and In-patient treatment
- Transitional Housing Services for homeless offenders
- Building Trade and certification cohorts for offender job skill enhancement and job placement
- Re-entry employment reediness and Job Placement Services for offenders
- Parenting program, 14-session parenting education program that provides tools and skills for parents to learn how to nurture their children.
- Full-Service Partnership (FSP) for offenders with mental health issues including, therapy, medication facilitation, and housing
- Life Transition Program (LTP) that encompasses anger management, individual counseling, parenting classes, and victim counseling.
- Incentive supervision for offenders who complete treatment services
- Thinking for a Change (T4C) cognitive behavior change classes
Management
Case management, monitoring, and supervision are the core responsibilities of the Probation Department for the AB 109 population. Custody, including flash incarceration, is also part of the strategies utilized. A balanced professional evidence-based approach including accountability supervision services to each and every offender we receive is utilized. Public safety includes rehabilitation, our success in providing the opportunity for evidenced based services we hope has a positive effect on both the offender population while maintaining public safety.
The Realignment Division officers are continually training in effective communications, trauma related needs both for victims and offenders, as well as cultural awareness and implicit biases. Officers regularly participate in community engagement events such as career fairs, red-ribbon weeks at schools, and community organized blood drives to support not only their fellow officers, but also to demonstrate their investment into the communities they serve