San Mateo County Board of Supervisors designates July 20–26 as a week to recognize community corrections heroes
San Mateo County, California – San Mateo County is giving a well-deserved attention to the hard-working people who frequently work silently behind the scenes to make neighborhoods safer. The County Board of Supervisors recently passed a resolution that declared July 20–26, 2025, as Pretrial, Probation, and Parole Supervision Week. This week aims to recognize the important work that probation professionals do both in the county and across the country.
The national topic for this year’s commemoration is “Heroes Behind the Mission: Transforming Lives, Enhancing Public Safety.” This subject speaks directly to the quiet strength and compassion of the more than 90,000 community corrections personnel in the U.S. That includes the 215 full-time employees of the San Mateo County Probation Department, whose work affects thousands of people every year.
“The County’s Probation staff are truly heroes behind the mission,” said Supervisor Noelia Corzo, who sponsored the proclamation. “Through their commitment to rehabilitation and community engagement, they support our justice system and transform lives every day.”
The Board’s decision noted that the department was in charge of more than 3,100 adults and 360 juveniles, as well as more than 1,140 people who were going through the pretrial system. But there are creative programs behind those numbers that are meant to meet people where they are, both literally and figuratively.
Prob2Go is one of these efforts. It’s a mobile probation services van that goes to places like East Palo Alto, Half Moon Bay, and South San Francisco that don’t have enough of them. It lets customers, especially those who are homeless, check in with authorities and get help without having to travel. The agency has also put payment kiosks in important places to make it easier for clients to pay back what they owe. This makes sure that they are held accountable without adding extra steps.
The department started a new relationship with Cognisen AI last year to make writing and supervising court reports easier. This new way of doing things makes things go more efficiently, keeps officers safe, and makes things better for clients. At the same time, a new Institutions Services module is helping staff better assist adolescents in custody by keeping track of their development and making programs more personalized.
On May 28, eight young people graduated from the Youth Services Center, which was one of the most powerful moments of the year. They marched over the stage in purple gowns, not just as probationers, but as achievers. Three of them got college degrees through Project Change’s Rising Scholars Program. Two of those grads received cum laude honors and are currently going to San Francisco State University.
“The men and women of the San Mateo County Probation Department deeply believe in the work of enhancing community safety and people’s capacity to change,” said Chief Probation Officer John Keene. “Probation is more than supervision. It’s a bridge to redemption. By guiding individuals toward change and accountability, it strengthens communities and builds a safer, more hopeful future for all.”
Read also: New Medi-Cal rules ease pressure on San Mateo County jails by covering more inmate medical expenses
During a week meant to honor the unsung, San Mateo County is making sure these everyday heroes get the recognition they deserve—not just for their work as supervisors, but also for changing lives.
