Probation office opens in Chico to
help offenders
By Almendra Carpizo
acarpizo@chicoer.com @AlmendraCarpizo on Twitter
POSTED: 03/25/2014 05:30:59 PM PDT
Chico >> With no car and no money to pay for frequent bus passes, offenders living in
north Butte County find it difficult to get to the Butte County Probation office in Oroville.
On Feb. 3, that changed when probation opened the door to its new north Chico location at
1370 Ridgewood Drive.
Planning for the facility, which includes a computer lab, four interviewing rooms, a drug
testing area that averages 175-200 tests per week, and a conference room, began a little less
than a year ago, said Chief Probation Officer Steve Bordin during an open house Tuesday.
There are about 2,700 people Butte County Probation supervises and there was a need to
have a better access point for them. It became necessary to open a location in Chico.
Bordin expects the new location will help the department increase the success rate of
offenders by reducing recidivism, helping offenders re-enter society and make them
successful. And he said, feedback on the new office has been positive across the board.
The Probation and Community Service office in Chico will serve various offenders, including
those on probation, on mandatory supervision and county parole, according to officials.
Services that offenders would have had to travel to Oroville for will be available for those
who live in north Butte County, said Greg Lynch, chief deputy probation officer.
Transportation has always been a major problem with offenders, Lynch said. There are
people who don't have vehicles or the money for bus tickets, and hopefully this will alleviate
that problem.
By adding this office, it will eliminate barriers, Bordin said. Offenders can more easily get to
the center and participate in all and more of the services Butte County Probation offers.
"Right now, the Chico office has more to offer," he said.
Among the programs available in Chico, is a computer literacy course that is scheduled to
start April 1.
Pastor Edward Hall with Wynn Memorial Church in Oroville will be teaching an eight-week
course intended to teach offenders skills for entry-level computer support positions.
Hall became involved because he saw a need in the community, he said. The goal is to help
offenders obtain skill sets that give them a chance at life and leads to employment.
Other evidence-based programs led by probation officers are also regularly held at the Chico
office. Butte County Probation is also working to expand the clothing closet at the Chico site
to provide clothing to offenders and their families. In April, the Department of Employment
and Social Services will be working in Chico two days a week to assist defendants sentences
to formal probation, mandatory supervision and Post Release Community Supervision.
Butte County Probation is trying to individualize programs for each offender because
everyone's needs are different, Lynch said.
"We're really proud of it (the Chico office)," Lynch said. "We believe it will bring a sense of
pride to offenders, and it's our goal that offenders will realize the criminal justice system is
moving toward trying to assist them ... give them resources."