The Los Angeles County Probation Department has been recognized with three prestigious awards from the National Association of Counties honoring innovative, effective government programs that strengthen services for county residents.

NACo recognized the Probation Department’s UPS/East Los Angeles College Logistics job training program at Probation’s Camp Joseph Paige for its innovative educational program that provides training, education and job opportunities for youth in the booming logistics industry.

NACo also honored the Department’s role in the Violence Reduction Network which has led to a significant decrease in crime, confiscated weapons and drugs and built relationships between the community and law enforcement within the City of Compton.

Additionally, NACo recognized the Pawsitive Steps Academy, a collaborative program with the L.A. County Animal Care and Control Department that teaches young women in Probation’s residential treatment facility at Camp Joseph Scott about careers in veterinary medicine while providing life-saving care and support to newborn kittens.

NACo President Roy Charles Brooks said, “Counties seize opportunities to deliver services more efficiently and build stronger communities every day. Achievement Award-winning programs are examples for counties that are determined to enhance services for our residents.”

“I could not be more proud of the men and women who contributed to these innovative and successful programs that each have had an impact on the people in our care and on the safety and wellness of the communities we serve,” said Chief Probation Officer Terri L. McDonald.

UPS Logistics Program
One of the greatest challenges to youth who have been placed in a residential facility is finding meaningful work once they are released that can help them rebuild their lives. The L.A. County Probation Department’s Logistics Education and Career program provides youth at Camp Paige an opportunity to explore a career in logistics, allows them to earn a certificate in the field, and connects them to real-world job opportunities. The program includes both online and in-person classes that require roughly five to ten hours of class work per week for ten weeks.

Upon completion of the coursework, youth receive a Leadership and Global Logistics certificate. This coveted certificate provides a competitive advantage for youth selected for a job interview with UPS as it demonstrates that the “job applicant” has been verified for possessing the skills and training necessary for employment at UPS. This new program has already had great success with eight youth being hired directly from camp.

Probation Department Director Frank Adams and Supervising Deputy Probation Officer Arthur Mayfield (front row, second and third from the left) participated in a 2018 press conference at Compton City Hall with then-Sheriff Jim McDonnell.

Violence Reduction Network
Probation’s second NACo award-winning program, is the Violence Reduction Network (VRN), a grant-funded program that ran from 2015 to 2018 offering technical resources, training, and the ability for the Department of Justice and local agencies to work together to address twelve key areas of focus, including gang violence and prevention, human trafficking, mental illness and homelessness, at-risk youth, and trust-building with the City of Compton.

The VRN focused its resources on the City of Compton for three-years, making a significant difference in the community by reducing crime and improving the safety of local communities that had previously struggled with gang and drug-related violence.

Since the inception of the VRN, the Probation Department has played a major role in engaging with communities and increasing the awareness of the services the Department provides.

Probation staff have been active participants on the Commission for a Better Compton, a local grass-roots collaboration of civic leaders, residents, business leaders, and law enforcement who pool their resources to increase healthy communication between law enforcement and the communities they serve.

“Probation staff have participated in a variety of activities that includes food drives, community resource fairs, neighborhood BBQs and school events,” Supervising Deputy Probation Officer Arthur Mayfield said. “The VRN is a strong collaboration of law enforcement that includes Compton Sheriff’s station, the FBI, the DA’s office, U.S Marshalls, and Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearm officers who assist us in the apprehension of absconded probation clients.”

Pawsitive Steps Academy
The third program honored by NACo is the Pawsitive Steps Academy, an eight-week program that pairs kittens with girls at Camp Scott.

The essence of the program is the healing power of the human-animal bond and the impact that empowerment and compassion can make.

The Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control provided newborn kittens to be raised and nurtured by female probation youth residing at Camp Scott and provided training and exposure to the principles of and careers in veterinary medicine.

The girls follow a regime for several weeks nursing the kittens to a healthy enough weight and age appropriate for adoption. Upon completion of the program, and the kittens are ready for adoption, the girls and kittens participate in an academy graduation where the felines are presented to their new adoptive “furever” family.

“The girls are taught a variety of positive attributes such as selflessness, patience, and reliability that will bode well for them upon their exit from juvenile camp,” said Chief Deputy for Juvenile Services Sheila Mitchell. “The kittens, receive personal attention, nurturing and ultimately a loving home. The program is a win-win for all involved.”