Probation Specialized Units

The Assessment Unit consists of four officers. These officers complete a thorough interview called the Adult Risk Assessment (ARA) on clients within sixty days after sentencing date. All officers receive extensive ARA training. The ARA interview takes approximately 1.5 hours and asks questions related to Criminal History, Family, Education and Employment, Peer Associations, Neighborhood, and Criminal Attitudes and Behaviors. The purpose of the assessment is to determine risk level regarding recidivism, identify barriers to success and identify criminogenic needs.

This unit consists of seven officers. These officers cover cases primarily sentenced in the County’s Domestic Violence Court and provide specialized supervision focusing on victim safety and increased offender accountability. These officers participate in the Domestic Violence Coordinated Council, participate in committees and attend meetings focused on ending domestic violence in our community.

This unit consists of three officers. Drug court officers provide intensive supervision to defendants who meet eligibility criteria for substance use disorder. Officers work within the Drug Court team, setting that necessitates ongoing communication of progress, obstacles, goals and coordination of services through weekly staff meetings, routine court status and informal email exchanges. Team members include a dedicated problem-solving court judge, attorneys, an assessor, recovery coaches and treatment providers. The specialized focus of drug court is to assist probationers with achieving abstinence from substance abuse, establishing a recovery program and building support for recovery.

The General Unit consists of ten Probation Officers responsible for supervising approximately 1300 Active cases. Each officer is assigned to supervise a caseload specific to a probationer’s classified risk level, i.e. Low Risk/Low-Moderate Risk, Moderate Risk, and High Risk/Very High Risk, including an Intense Level of supervision for the most violent offenders supervised through the Focused Deterrence Initiative Project. Officer are responsible for making sure each case receives individualized supervision and case planning based on risk/needs assessment and court-ordered conditions. Officers are responsible for making referrals and connecting offenders to appropriate services. Officers are also responsible for assisting offenders through crisis intervention to assure offenders obtain the proper level of care. Probation officers assist the courts with Status Reports that provide an overview of offenders’ progress and challenges, as well as recommendations for case resolution.

This unit consists of three officers. Officers in this unit either provide services necessary to coordinate transfer of probation supervision to or from another county or state or provide direct supervision to probationers who have transferred the supervision of their probation from another county or state to Winnebago County, Illinois. The coordinator insures that applications for transfer and relevant documents are sent or received, verifies residence for incoming out-of-state transfers and works with transfer applicants to coordinate initial reporting requirements. The direct supervision transfer officers monitor compliance with court orders from sending counties or states and maintains regular communication with the officers from the sentencing location regarding compliance and violations.

This unit consists of two officers. These officers complete an Adult Risk Assessment (ARA) interview and a thorough investigation process on the history of a defendant to create a detailed report for the Court. The purpose of this report is to assist the Court in determining if there are extenuating circumstances that could improve the sentence or a history of criminal behavior that could increase the harshness of the sentence. Adult Probation files the report with the clerk’s office; and the sentencing judge and attorneys receives report at least three to seven days prior to sentencing date.

This unit consists of two officers. Any probationers who have a current sex offense or any history of sex offenses is assigned to the sex offender unit. These officers are familiar with sex offender registration requirements, sex offender supplemental order conditions and associated residence restrictions. Their cooperative effort with sex offender therapists may include their observation of sex offender therapy groups and assisting with developing individualized questions of polygraph testing. Officers also coordinate court-ordered medical testing.

This unit consists of one officer. The Specialized Supervision Unit oversees clients who are on court supervision or conditional discharge. These are non-reporting forms of supervision. The client does not attend regular scheduled office visits, but may be required to attend an orientation group. The officer of this unit facilitates the orientation group for reviewing court-ordered conditions, providing information regarding available community services and identifying what information is needed for probation to verify compliance with court-ordered conditions. This officer also monitors compliance with special court-ordered conditions (e.g. No contact, substance abuse evaluation/treatment, mental health evaluation/treatment, PAIP, parenting classes, DNA testing, Theft Awareness Program, anger management counseling).

This unit consists of two officers. TIP Court officers provide intensive supervision to probationers who meet eligibility criteria for mental health illness. The specialized focus of TIP Court is to assist probationers with accessing services and support that will help them to stabilize and manage their symptoms. Officers work within a team setting that necessitates ongoing communication of progress, obstacles, symptoms, goals and coordination of therapeutic services through weekly staff meetings, routine court status and informal email exchanges. Team members include a dedicated Problem-Solving Court judge, attorneys, an assessor, support staff, a nurse and therapists. These officers also provide intensive supervision to probationers in Veterans Court. Besides being a veteran, these probationers have other issues (e.g. PTSD, TBI, substance abuse, other mental health) that warrant assistance. Team members include a dedicated Veterans Court judge and attorneys, a VA therapist and a Veterans Justice Outreach Coordinator.

This unit is involved with minors at the pre-court/pre-adjudicatory level. There are three officers that oversee the Assessment Center, which conducts the booking and processing of arrested youth including completing detention screenings and other assessments to help connect families in crisis to community supports. Our officers conduct diversionary assessments for youth and their families in effort to divert them from Juvenile Justice attention with special emphasis on Restorative Justice Practices, such as public service work and restitution to victims. Additionally, this unit houses a dedicated officer to serve as a Court Pending/Social History Writer who works with youth as they navigate the juvenile delinquency court process prior to adjudication. When court ordered, this officer conducts as a thorough investigation on the history of a minor to create a detailed report for the Court. The purpose of this report is to assist the Court in determining if there are extenuating circumstances that could improve the sentence outcomes for the youth.

The Field Unit consists of nine Probation Officers responsible for supervising approximately 300 Active cases. Each officer supervises a caseload specific to a probationer’s classified risk level, i.e. Low Risk, Moderate Risk, and High Risk. Officers are responsible for making sure each client receives individualized supervision and case planning based on risk/needs assessment and court-ordered conditions. Officers are responsible for making referrals and connecting offenders to appropriate services. Officers are also responsible for assisting offenders through crisis intervention to assure offenders obtain the proper level of care. Probation officers assist the courts with Status Reports that provide an overview of offenders’ progress and challenges, as well as recommendations for case resolution.

This unit consists of a dedicated officer focused on the coordination all youth ordered to complete Public Service Work and manages the complex responsibilities of transferring supervision cases both into and out of Winnebago County jurisdiction. The officer insures that applications for transfer and relevant documents are sent or received, verifies residence for incoming out-of-state transfers and works with transfer applicants to coordinate initial reporting requirements. This supervision also monitors compliance with court orders from sending counties or states and maintains regular communication with the officers from the sentencing location regarding compliance and violations. Additionally, this officer organizes, manages and facilitates the completion of public service work ordered as a condition of supervision or as a diversion from the juvenile justice system. Such work ranges from youth serving in local food pantries, community clean up events, and farming community gardens.

A problem-solving court designed for youth who have a serious mental illness and co-occurring disorders that receive comprehensive and therapeutic judicial intervention. We have a dedicated officer as part of the YRC Court Team, which also includes a dedicated Juvenile Judge, Assistant State’s Attorney, Assistant Public Defender, Therapist and Case Manager. The team staff cases weekly prior to formal court and assist youth and families with wrap around services. The population they supervise is "moderate to high risk" youth, 10-17 years of age, charged with non-violent offenses who suffer from severe emotional illness with an interest in co-occurring disorders.

A special unit with two designated Officers, focused on working with Moderate to High risk youth on Probation with a felony adjudication. These Officers work closely with the minor’s Youth Services Network (YSN) caseworker providing the youth and family with wrap-around services. This program aims to assist the youth and family with issues inside the home, teach pro-social thinking skills, provide Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and school advocacy.

We provide a certified facilitator to host a variety of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy modalities to youth on juvenile probation and for those incarcerated in our Juvenile Detention Center. This officer facilitates groups focused on the unique needs of the juvenile population, ranging from correcting thinking errors to learning positive pro-social ways to manage life in the community.