Reassessing California’s approach to public safety and reentry

OPINION – Every day, crime reports shake communities across California, and recent high-profile incidents have heightened public concerns about safety and the policies guiding safety decisions in our state. It’s not just the high-profile cases causing alarm; it’s also the everyday incidents happening in our own neighborhoods.

Many are left wondering why there’s a surge in crime and what went wrong within our communities and public safety systems. The answer is both straightforward and complex. Probation officers, as on-the-ground experts in community safety and rehabilitation, have seen firsthand how the state’s top-down approach to public safety policies, often made without the input of local experts, is missing the mark.

One critical area often overlooked in policy discussions is reentry—the process of transitioning individuals from incarceration back into the community. Almost everyone who serves time in jail or prison will eventually return to society, making reentry a crucial element of public safety. Data shows that a small percentage of people commit a large majority of crimes, and many of these repeat offenses occur when individuals do not receive the necessary supervision, support, and resources during their reentry.

In California, most individuals released from jails and prisons come under the supervision of local probation departments. Probation officers are trained experts in facilitating successful reentry by balancing accountability with opportunities for rehabilitation. They provide evidence-based supervision and connect individuals to workforce training, mental health services, substance abuse treatment, and educational opportunities.

Recent state-level changes have sought to alter or repeal laws designed to hold individuals accountable for crimes, often without considering how all of the changes work together and their broader impact on the justice system. Ironically, these changes, meant to promote rehabilitation over incarceration, have sometimes had the opposite effect by removing tools that incentivize accountability and support rehabilitation.

For instance, the 2021 reduction in probation terms has unintentionally hindered rehabilitation efforts. Now, drug treatment programs often outlast probation terms, leading more individuals to decline treatment. This change was intended to help people move out of the justice system, but by removing critical rehabilitation tools, it often leaves individuals stuck in cycles of addiction and criminal behavior.

Without systemic reentry support and local input, unintended consequences will continue to impact public safety. As policymakers address public safety issues, it’s vital they prioritize reentry and work collaboratively with local experts, including probation. Probation is uniquely positioned and legally responsible for providing the support and supervision needed to prevent recidivism and promote successful reentry.

Despite efforts, barriers to successful reentry remain, as seen in persistently high recidivism rates. Now is the time to reassess and strengthen local reentry systems to ensure safe transitions from incarceration back into communities. Lawmakers must review and reform laws in ways that empower local authorities with the necessary tools to support individuals while keeping communities safe.

Reentry shouldn’t be about early release or avoiding consequences. It should focus on the hard work of supporting individuals as they learn to safely live within our communities, follow the law, and receive the support they need to overcome barriers.  Probation has a proven track record of guiding individuals toward positive reentry pathways. Effective reentry strategies should be informed by local experts, emphasize a balanced approach that incorporates multiple responses, rather than choosing one over the other, and be rooted in the needs of the communities where individuals are returning.

With the state’s reentry challenges growing, it is critical not only that we get this right but that further changes to the law don’t make it worse. We urge lawmakers to review current laws and reform them in a way that equips local authorities with the tools needed to both support individuals and keep communities safe.

Karen Pank is the Executive Director of the Chief Probation Officers of California