Not only does this office provide supervision for those on probation, but it also handles Intake Diversion Services for Family Court.
What is Probation?
Probation is an alternative to incarceration that permits offenders to live and work in the community, support their families to receive rehabilitative services and make restitution to the victims of their crimes. It also addresses juvenile crime with early intervention for youth at risk.
The single most used criminal punishment in the U.S. today is a judicial function governed by the courts that sentenced defendants. When carefully administered and applied only to those who can safely be monitored in the community, probation can provide rehabilitation and reintegration of the offender into society, ultimately helping to prevent crime.
The department of Probation and Community Corrections provides public safety through treatment, planning, and prevention. Seneca County probation officers are peace officers with dual responsibilities, safety, and rehabilitation. Their ultimate goal is to stop the cycle of crime and prevent offenders from becoming serious and violent criminals.
Why do we need Probation?
The unprecedented growth in the nation’s prison population has placed a heavy economic burden on taxpayers in terms of the cost to build, maintain, and operate prisons.
According to the United States Justice Department, over two million Americans are behind bars. This represents nearly six times as many inmates as we had in 1970.
Society must incarcerate those serious and violent offenders who endanger the community. For non-violent offenders, however, probation is a cost-effective alternative that holds them accountable for their crimes.
Probation is a cost-effective Sanction
Probation offers maximum benefits to the public that it serves. The cost of probation supervision in Seneca County is approximately $3.00 per day, as compared to $100.00 per day to house a prisoner.