Congresswoman Matsui Announces $400,000 to Retain Probation Officers for Sacramento

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, August 31, 2010

CONTACT: MARA LEE
(202) 225-7163

CA Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-Sacramento) announced that Sacramento County Probation has been awarded $412,815 through the Justice Department's Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program to retain three of its full-time deputy probation officers for the Sacramento County Probation Department's Juvenile Court Services Division. The deputy probation officers will be responsible for investigations, case plan development, restitution and recommendations for caseloads involving violent offenders.

As Sacramento County's budget continues to be reduced, federal support for critical law enforcement programs like probation is extremely important in protecting our community and preventing and prosecuting crimes, said Congresswoman Matsui. This funding is especially critical as it will be used to retain specialized juvenile probation officers who act as counselors, and law enforcement and crime prevention officers for violent youth offenders.

The Justice Department's Edward Byrne Memorial JAG Program is the primary provider of federal criminal justice funding to state and local jurisdictions. JAG funds support all components of the criminal justice system, from multi-jurisdictional drug and gang task forces to crime prevention and courts and corrections programs.