Third Adult Day Reporting Center Program Class to Graduate

The third class from Sacramento County's Adult Day Reporting Center program will graduate Wednesday, with more than half being recently released from state prison.

Of the 32 graduates, 18 were supervised by Probation since being released from prison under AB 109 – the State Realignment Act of 2011, according to a news release from the

"We identify and focus on the highest risk offenders so we can devote our most intensive services to them," Chief Probation Officer Don Meyer said in the release. "The program gives participants the tools to make positive lifestyle and behavior changes and allows us to increase community protection."

Adult day reporting programs are part of a statewide trend that is changing the role of probation departments. Money from SB 678 funds the program using a formula to determine how many people the department is able to keep out of prison. "The premise is that prison costs taxpayers more than programs to keep probationers from reoffending," the release states.

One of the graduates, Daniel Marez, was released from state prison in late 2011 and enrolled in the intensive on-site and community supervision program for offenders identified as being high-risk to reoffend, the release states. 

"The program showed me how to deal with all types of situations I'm faced wit hand how to communicate with people," Marez said in the release. "Most importantly it taught me how to avoid confrontations and conflicts."

The program, broken up into four phases, lasts up to a year depending on the participants's assessed needs. The curriculum includes cognitive-behavioral treatment classes, family support services, pro-social activities, referrals to community-based organizations in their neighborhoods and participation in the Victim Restitution Work Crew, according to the release.

Another graduate, Franklin Jones, said he learned the power of making right decisions. "I now slow down and gather my thoughts when making choices, solving problems, dealing with situations and avoiding old habits," he stated in the release. "I'm in charge of my lifestyle choices."

The ceremony will take place at 10 a.m. at 9601 Kiefer Blvd. More than 80 participants have completed the program so far, which is a collborative program of the Probation Department, Sacramento County Mental Health, and Strategies for Change, a community-based organization that provides evidence-based cognitive behavioral curriculum along with individual and group counseling and support services.