County to Open Probation Office to Monitor Convicts in Mission Viejo

From the city of Mission Viejo:

The County of Orange wants to enter into a 10-year lease to open a probation office in Mission Viejo for adult and juvenile offenders.

According to county representatives, the 7,793-square-foot operation at 26030 Acero in the Highpark business area will average nine visitors per hour or between 375-383 clients throughout the week. On average, the county says five arrests per week could be made at the new County Probation South County Field Office.

The city of Mission Viejo notified the county and asked it to obtain a City Conditional Use Permit before moving forward. However, county officials say they can open a probation office without any city approval by invoking “sovereign immunity” – meaning Mission Viejo ordinances are not enforceable on county or state land.

The South County field office is currently located in Laguna Hills, but the county’s lease is up and won’t be renewed. The Mission Viejo office would operate from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. The office would house 23 staff members including two supervising probation officers; 17 deputy probation officers; two financial officers; and two clerks. A Sheriff’s special officer will work at the site most days of the week.

The County Board of Supervisors was originally scheduled to consider the lease agreement for the site on August 19, but the city asked the board to continue the item until September 9, so the city could alert the public and give residents and business owners the chance to weigh in. The county agreed and will make a presentation – with an opportunity for people to speak on the matter – during the City Council’s Sept. 2 meeting at 6 p.m. and the Planning and Transportation Commission’s Sept. 8 meeting at 6:30 p.m.

Both meetings take place in the Council Chamber at City Hall, 200 Civic Center. To submit written comments or for more information, contact the Mission Viejo Community Development Department at 949-470-3053 or by email at cd@cityofmissionviejo.org.