Del Norte County

The Del Norte County Probation Department serves the Court and the community of Del Norte County in a variety of ways.

Probation officers are considered officers of the court and are mandated to file reports recommending sentences and outcomes in criminal cases for both adults and juveniles in this capacity. Officers also attend court hearings on a regular basis, offering their expertise and opinions to the Judge and other parties involved.

A second statutory (ordered by law) role that the Department fills is to run and maintain Juvenile Hall, as much as possible providing a home-like environment to juveniles who are arrested and incarcerated for any length of time.

In addition to these statutory roles that the Department fills, probation officers are law enforcement officers in California, enforcing laws in the course of their duties supervising offenders and wards. These offenders come in all types, from juvenile wards to adult offenders, from probationers who have been given a opportunity to change their behavior instead of being sentenced to prison to PRCS offenders who have already served a prison sentence and are on a supervision "tail." Probation officers work in a unique niche between social workers and street cops, identifying needs and facilitating change while at the same time holding offenders accountable to the requirements of the Court and the Law.

Finally, the Department operates the Bar-O Boys Ranch which offers juvenile, male wards a unique opportunity to participate in a variety of programs while incarcerated. These wards come from all over the state to take advantage of this unique program.