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May 17, 2010 Dear Friend: 27,000 criminals… 5,000 high risk offenders…. are currently on probation in Sacramento County for crimes ranging from domestic violence, arson and drug possession to burglary, manslaughter and sexual assault. Imagine it: that number would fill Arco Arena and leave thousands standing outside. Now imagine these same 27,000 convicted criminals walking the streets of the county unsupervised by the probation officers that are charged with keeping them out of trouble and on the road to rehabilitation… that is what will happen if County Supervisors approve cuts to this year’s Probation Department budget. Probation officers are law enforcement personnel charged with supervising criminals sentenced to probation for a wide range of misdemeanors and felonies. They work with other law enforcement agencies, education and community organizations to ensure probationers are meeting the terms of their probation, to provide rehabilitation services, and to inform victims of the legal process and their rights. Budget cuts hit the Probation Department hard last year – we lost more than 100 sworn officers, leaving only 3,000 probationers with any supervision. This year, the County is proposing even more cuts to the department’s budget, taking it back to 1990 staffing levels and making Sacramento the only County in California with virtually no officers on the street to supervise criminals sentenced to probation. The proposed cuts will virtually eliminate the Probation Department: Reduced Monitoring of Sex Offenders: Over 84% of registered sex offenders would not be monitored. Violates Marsy’s Law, Victim’s Bill of Rights, California Constitution: Even the County’s own budget recommendations acknowledge they would violate 21 state codes that could potentially leave taxpayers on the hook for millions in litigation costs. Violations include Marsy’s Law, Victim’s Bill of Rights, California Penal Code, Family Code, California Code of Regulations, Welfare and Institutions Code, and the California Constitution. Eliminates Field Supervision: More than 85% of the County’s juvenile probationers and more than 99% of adult probationers would go unsupervised if the cuts are enacted. Slashes Victim’s Programs: Victim restitution services, including the collection of restitution, victim impact statements, and informing victims of the legal process, would no longer be conducted by the department. To read more about how the County’s proposed budget will impact our communities and public safety, go to www.keepsacsafe.com. We hope we can count on your support to help protect our neighborhoods and keep Sacramento County safe. Please join us - help protect our neighborhoods and keep Sacramento County safe. Sincerely, Greg Stuber President, Sacramento County Probation Association |