Adult Division

Adult Investigations

The Adult Investigation units of the Probation Department serve the Court by providing pre-sentence information based on an analysis of the defendant’s social and criminal history, the crime, the impact on victims (if applicable), and the sentencing laws as they apply to the specific charges pled and proven. Officers are assigned to investigate and determine eligibility for individuals who may benefit from out of custody or counseling programs.

Deputy Probation Officers are expected to be able to present and justify their reports and recommendations to the Court based on factual content and knowledge of sentencing law. They also review and make recommendations about bail and “own recognizance” releases.

Adult Supervision

Deputy Probation Officers supervise adults granted formal probation by Superior Court. The largest concentration of probationers are those on probation for felony drug-related offenses. Offenders who are considered to be of high risk to the community (sex offenders, gang members, violent offenders, etc.) are assigned to the High-Risk Offender Unit where they are more closely monitored to verify compliance with Court imposed terms and conditions of probation. The High-Risk Offender Unit was created to provide intensive supervision for public safety as well as offenders' rehabilitation.

Probation Officers initiate Court action if terms of probation are violated but of equal importance is assisting probationers in becoming law-abiding, productive members of the community by means other than incarceration.

AB109

AB 109, the Public Safety Realignment Act of 2011, was signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown on April 4, 2011. Effective October 1, 2011, this Act, along with numerous trailer bills, has made major changes to the criminal justice system in California. A large shift of responsibilities has been passed from the State to the Counties. In order to prepare for this shift, PC 1230.1 created an Executive Committee of the previously established Community Corrections Partnership (CCP), found under PC 1230 which stipulates the local CCP shall be comprised of the following:

Community Corrections Partnership
Member List and Authority

Executive Committee

Chairperson TR Merickel – Chief Probation Officer
Tamarah Harber-Pickens – Court Executive Officer (Designee for Judge Judith K. Dulcich)
Cynthia Zimmer – District Attorney
Pam Singh – Public Defender
Donny Youngblood – Sheriff
Greg Terry – Chief of Police (Bakersfield Police Department)
Stacy Kuwahara – Director of Behavioral Health & Recovery Services

Full Committee
(Includes Executive Committee)

Leticia Perez (District 5 Supervisor) – County Supervisor or CAO
Dena Murphy – Director of Human Services
Teresa Hitchcock – Assistant County Administrative Officer / Employers’ Training Resource
Ana Olvera – BH System Administrator of the Substance Use Disorder Division
Mary C. Barlow – Superintendent of Schools
Tom Corson (Network for Children) – CBO Representative
Linda Finnerty (Victim Services Coordinator) – Victim’s Interest Representative

This Executive Committee was tasked with creating and presenting an implementation plan to the County Board of Supervisors. The Executive Committee met frequently over several months leading up to implementation and received input from the entire CCP and the public developing a Kern County AB 109 Public Safety Realignment Act Implementation Plan for FY 11/12. The Executive Committee continues to develop and approve an AB 109 implementation plan each year which is presented to and approved by the Kern County Board of Supervisors.

For upcoming meetings, please refer to the link here