Probation Home | Lassen County

What Is Probation?

A Community Alternative to Incarceration. Probation is the supervision of criminal offenders in the community by probation officers. The decision to place an adult offender convicted of a misdemeanor or felony crime on probation is made by a trial court judge. A probation sentence is often given to a convicted offender in lieu of incarceration (such as in state prison), thus allowing the guilty offender to remain in the community under certain court–imposed conditions. In addition to community supervision, probation frequently includes a commitment to serve some time in jail, participation in treatment and rehabilitation programs, the payment of restitution to crime victims, and other conditions. Judges have significant discretion over when to sentence an offender to probation and generally make that determination based on various case factors, such as the nature of the offense and the offender’s criminal history.

Duties of the Probation Department

Role and responsibilities of the Probation Department are several and of statutory origin:

Investigates and makes recommendations to the courts relative to the sentencing of individuals convicted of crime;
Assumes responsibility for supervision of those persons who are placed on probation and returned to the community;
Interacts with the probationer for purposes of deterring the probationer from re-offending and encouraging, instead, his rehabilitation;
Keeps complete and accurate records of results of probationary supervision and reporting promptly and accurately to the court the results of supervision and any violation of court orders or the terms and conditions of probation;
Receives referrals from law enforcement pertaining to allegedly delinquent or beyond-control minors, evaluates and processes those referrals for purposes of either referring those cases for services or to the DA for filing a petition for intervention by the Juvenile Court, or in the case of beyond-control allegations files the petition itself; operates and manages the County's juvenile detention/residential treatment facilities and home supervision program.

MISSION STATEMENT

Our mission is:
To protect the community. To strive to prevent and reduce the frequency, severity,
and impact of criminal and delinquent behavior among adults and juveniles
who come within the jurisdiction of the Probation Department. To enforce court
orders. To promote responsible behavior in offenders. To provide information and
recommendations to the courts. To provide services to victims.

Helpful Links

Voting Rights for Californians with Criminal Convictions or Detained in Jail or Prison - View Elections & Voter Information

< >You can register to vote if you are:
- A citizen of the United States of America;
- A resident ofCalifornia;
- At least 18 years of age or older on or beforeelection day;
- Not currentlyin state or federal prison for the convictionof a felony;and
- Not currently found mentally incompetent to vote by a court (for more information,please see Voting Rights: Persons Subject to Conservatorship).
For more information please see Voting Rights for Californians with Criminal Convictions or Detained in Jail or Prison on the California Secretary of State's website.
Persons with a criminal history who can register to vote:

•In county jail:
serving a misdemeanor sentence (a misdemeanor never affects your right to vote)
Because jail time is a condition of probation (misdemeanor or felony)
Serving a felony jailsentence
On mandatorysupervision
On post-release communitysupervision
On federal supervisedrelease
A person with a juvenilewardshipadjudication
Persons with a criminal history who cannot register and vote:

Currently serving a state or federal prison term for the conviction of a felony in:
County jail or other correctional facility*
NOTE: Once you have finished serving your term, your right to vote is restored; however, you must register online at RegisterToVote.ca.gov or by filling out a paper voter registration card.