Findings from Designing and Implementing a Mobile Probation Unit in Palm Beach County, Florida

• In Event: Issues and Challenges in Reducing Jail Populations: Lessons Learned from the Safety and Justice Challenge

Abstract

About 3 million people are on probation on any given day, and Black people are 2.6 times more likely to be on probation than white people. Probation supervision can often lead to incarceration, and one of the most common violations is failing to report to probation appointments. Under the Safety and Justice Challenge, Palm Beach County launched the Mobile Probation Unit (MPU) to reduce probation violations, enhance community engagement, and address racial disparities by bringing the county’s probation office “on wheels” to different neighborhoods so people can more easily report. The MPU is equipped with all services offered at a traditional probation office, including completing required check-ins with a probation officer, undergoing drug testing, and accessing employment resources. This paper presents findings on the MPU, including initial design and implementation processes, successes and challenges, programmatic data on clients served, and recommendations for improvement. Findings are based on qualitative interviews with key SJC strategy and MPU program stakeholders, analysis of jail population trends data, a review of program and SJC strategy documents, and MPU program data. This paper provides takeaways on this innovative strategy for other jurisdictions looking to improve community engagement and reduce racial disparities in probation and jail populations.

Authors

• Mary Hayford, Urban Institute

• Evelyn F. McCoy, Urban Institute