Los Angeles County Probation Department

Community Outreach

Mission

To foster community awareness and support the probation department's mission and goals; collaborate with community based organizations, agencies and citizens in organizing, developing, and promoting delinquency prevention, intervention and suppression services targeted for at risk youth and probationers; improve the departments public image through positive and proactive media relations; and facilitate the effective dissemination of information important to staff and the community.

Purpose and Overview

The Probation Department's Community Outreach Office supports the department's mission by fostering community partnerships and resources, operating volunteer programs and promoting internal and external communication.

Components of the Community Outreach Office

Community Outreach Office

The Community Outreach Office (CO) participates in a number of community programs, and serves as a clearing house of information for department staff and community representatives. CO effort include:

Volunteers In Service To Others (VISTO)

The Probation Department’s Volunteers In Service to Others (VISTO) Program exists to assist and support the regular Probation staff to achieve the Department’s Mission. The program was developed to coordinate services of volunteers and to ensure appropriate measures for background checks and orientation.

Volunteers are members of the community who are assigned to assist and support Probation staff to achieve the Department’s Mission. They typically report to, and are supervised by, a non-supervisor probation staff member.

Volunteers will be properly oriented and provided appropriate training as needed to assist the Probation staff members in various areas, which may include direct involvement with Juvenile and Adult probationers.

Volunteers are highly motivated, skilled and caring people who want to serve their community and the Los Angeles County Probation Department. Through VISTO, program participants are provided with opportunities for exposure and experience. Additionally, the efforts of volunteers positively impacts the Department by Increasing the quality and range of available services and enhancing available community resources.

Volunteers are never to be considered or used as a replacement for, or an alternative to, paid staff. Rather, they serve as a complement, enhancement and augmentation to existing paid staffing resources. VISTO Volunteers can work on weekdays, weekends, or evenings, with no minimum or maximum number of service hours required. VISTO Volunteers can be assigned to any Field Office, Camp, Hall, or other location that provides services to individuals under the jurisdiction of the Los Angeles County Probation Department.

Reserve Deputy Probation Officer Program

The Reserve Deputy Probation Officer is a deputized volunteer who reports to, and is supervised by, non-supervisor probation staff member. He or she has received special training in order to assist the probation staff member in a wide range of responsibilities, which may include direct involvement with juvenile and adult probationers. He or she is a highly motivated, skilled and caring person who wants to serve their community as a part of the Los Angeles County Probation Department.

The Reserve Deputy Probation Officer is not a replacement for, or an alternative to, paid staff, but serves as a force multiplier that enhances existing resources. A Reserve Deputy can work on weekdays, weekends, or evenings, serving a minimum of 16 hours per month.

Reserve Deputies work under direct supervision of Deputized Probation staff in the supervision and investigation of adults and juveniles. They assist in Field Offices, Juvenile Halls, Camps, and some support service areas of the Probation Department.

The Probation Department is currently accepting applications for the position of Reserve Deputy Probation Officer. A full description of the position can be obtained here. The Reserve Deputy Probation Officer application can be obtained online here.

For more information about the Reserve Deputy Probation Officer Program, call the RDPO Coordinator at (626) 579 8545.

Community Partnership Programs

Community Resource Directory

Probation Community Literacy Programs

Corporate and Business Outreach

SPEAKER'S BUREAU

The Los Angeles County Probation Department provides speakers on a variety of topics for community organizations, business groups and other agencies. The department has specialized deputies representing vast experience in probation operations and social issues.

You have an opportunity to hear firsthand from a Probation Officer, representing the nation's largest and leading Probation Department, about innovative youth programs, available services and community partnerships.

The Department's speakers can help you learn more about:
Gang philosophy and identification (prevention, intervention and surveillance), Juvenile and Adult Probation Services, Drug treatment boot camps, Youth programs (self-esteem workshops, parenting classes) Alternative criminal sanctions for the future. If you are interested in having a Probation Officer speak to your organization, please call the Communications Office at (562) 940-2853. (Two weeks advance notice needed.)