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What We Do:

Effingham County Probation Department Mission Statement

The mission of the Effingham County Probation Department is to serve the Citizens of Effingham County and the Court by providing cost-effective and proven alternatives to incarceration, while holding offenders accountable through heightened supervision, sanctions, and accurate assessments. The Department also works towards developing offender competency through balanced and restorative practices. 

The Effingham County Probation Department has developed partnerships with community agencies to implement meaningful and effective intervention/ supervision strategies when dealing with offender population, while acting as a liaison for offenders and community service providers. 

As professionals, we will continue to develop our skills through further education and training and commit ourselves to upholding the highest ethical standards in the performance of our professional duties.

Probation: What is it?

Probation is a court ordered sanction that allows a person to remain in the community under the supervision of a probation officer. The conditions of this community-based supervision can vary. It could include jail time, fines, restitution, community service, or other sanctions. Probation can also require a predetermined amount of offender reporting to their probation officer. If the person does not follow the rules of their probation, they could go back before the judge and be sent to jail or prison.

The mission of probation is to ensure public safety. Every citizen has the right to be free from fear of harm to their person and property.   

Contact:

Cheryl A. Meyers
Chief Managing Officer
120 W Jefferson Av
Suite 102
Effingham, IL 62401
Phone No: (217) 347-7931
Fax No: (217) 347-2001
Email Address: cmeyers@co.effingham.il.us
Services Offered By Effingham County Probation Department:

Effingham Area Drug Court (Adult):  Drug Courts are the most effective justice intervention for treating drug-addicted people. Drug Courts reduce drug use. Drug Courts reduce crime. Drug Courts save money. Drug Courts restore lives. Drug Courts save children and reunite families.  Eligible drug-addicted persons may be sent to Drug Court in lieu of traditional justice system case processing. Drug Courts keep individuals in treatment long enough for it to work, while supervising them closely. Participants are:  provided with intensive treatment and other services they require to get and stay clean and sober; held accountable by the Drug Court judge for meeting their obligations to the court, society, themselves and their families; regularly and randomly tested for drug use; required to appear in court frequently so that the judge may review their progress; and rewarded for doing well or sanctioned when they do not live up to their obligations.

Effingham Community Educational and Safety Panel (ECESP) (juvenile):  In an effort to enhance the coordination and utilization of programs already in place for “at risk” youth, the Effingham Community Educational and Safety Panel (ECESP) was created.  This panel is designed to increase communication among police, the probation office, school leaders, county prosecutors, child welfare workers, and the county’s substance abuse and mental health agency as they try to help Effingham County youth navigate the challenges of growing up and stave off sinister forces.  This increase in communication is designed to help these agencies identify causes of disruptive behavior that has been brought to the attention of school officials or law enforcement authorities and to make a determination as to what services and actions are necessary to redirect the focus of the child and eliminate the disruptive behavior.   This initiative is designed to increase access and enhance delivery of community based services while decreasing non-compliance with school rules, family service plans and/or court orders.  This initiative will target those youth identified by the ECESP as in need of intensified services. 

Juvenile Redeploy Illinois :  The Juvenile Redeploy Illinois Program will increase access to community based services while at the same time decrease the number of Department of Juvenile Justice admissions.  Redeploy will target those youth in the juvenile justice system who are nonviolent offenders, thirteen to seventeen years of age, and punishable by a Department of Juvenile Justice commitment. 

Public Service Work: The Effingham County Public Service Work Program has been in effect since 1988. Under the public service work program, offenders make restitution to the community while having an opportunity to demonstrate ability, develop skills and improve work habits which might aid them in experiencing a more productive life style.

Drug/Alcohol Testing (adult and juvenile):  The Probation caseload of drug abusive offenders continues to increase throughout our counties. Information received through intakes, probationer meetings with their officers and collateral contacts indicate that drug abuse is also a contributing factor to various criminal behaviors. Therefore, the use of in-house drug testing will increase the effectiveness of our supervision as a means for identification, intervention, deterrence and resource referral.

Electronic Home Confinement/GPS (adult and juvenile):  The Effingham County Probation Department shall ensure the timely availability of electronic monitoring/GPS services as a sentencing alternative for public safety and the well-being of the defendant.

Relate for Teens  (juvenile): The purpose of the Relate for Teens Program is to provide the minor the opportunity to learn how to respond to life's challenges or explore topics related to the type of offense they have committed in an effort to better understand the cause and effect, the consequences, feelings, and reactions to such experiences
Administrative Sanctions (adult and juvenile) :  In response to Public Act 89-198, the Fourth Judicial Circuit Probation and Court Services Departments have developed an Administrative Sanctions Program to ensure swift, certain and equitable sanctions for technical violations of adult and juvenile offenders sentenced to probation.  The purpose of the program is to respond to all identified technical violations of probation in a consistent manner that considers the risk and needs of the offenders, is proportional to the risk to the community and utilizes the least restrictive response to achieve long-term positive behavioral change.
THINKING FOR A CHANGE (T4C) (adult and juvenile):  Thinking for a Change is an 18 week program that uses as its core, problem solving program embellished by both cognitive restructuring and social skills interventions. Referrals for this program are made by probation staff after an extensive assessment has been completed and the need for such programming has been identified.
MORAL RECONATION THERAPY (MRT) (adult):  MRT is an objective, systematic treatment system designed to enhance ego, social, moral and positive behavioral growth in a progressive, step by step fashion.  MRT attempts to change how a probationer makes decisions and judgments by raising moral reasoning.  Duration of the program should average four to eight months, depending on the individual progress.  These groups are facilitated by Effingham County Probation Officers who have received over forty hours of training. Referrals for this program are made by probation staff after an extensive assessment has been completed and the need for such programming has been identified.  
Victim Impact Panel: A one (1) hour program held every other month from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the Effingham County Courthouse. The Probation Department arranges for three (3) speakers to share their experiences with losing a family member or loved one from a drunk or drugged driving crash. ($10.00 fee)  
PRE-EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM (adult and juvenile) A 14 hour course offered in the Probation Department to enhance their ability of obtaining or maintaining employment.  Topics covered include:  Identifying Resources and Barriers to Gaining and Maintaining Employment; Application Process; Resume Writing; Interviewing Techniques; Mock Interviewing; Follow up Procedures; Maintaining Employment.  Program is open to any person identified by the Court in need of job skills training
CROSSROADS:  A 10 hour curriculum designed for educating adult offenders who have been charged with his/her first Illegal Consumption/Transportation of Alcohol offense. This curriculum is designed to help educate offenders on the dangers of under age drinking and teach offenders to take responsibility for their actions and to make real changes in their thinking, beliefs and behaviors.
ALTERNATIVE ROUTES:  A 10 hour alcohol diversion program curriculum which focuses on youth who are experiencing a problem with alcohol to the extent that has brought them to the attention of the juvenile justice system for the first time.  It is designed to facilitate positive, meaningful, and focused dialogue between an adult facilitator and youth required to attend a diversion program as a result of an alcohol-related incident.
SOMETHING FOR NOTHING:  A cognitive behavioral, 4 hour intervention between a trained facilitator and an offender who has been charged with the offense of retail theft.     The curriculum covers making choices and accepting rules but most importantly examines in detail “Who Gets Hurt by Shoplifting”.  This program incorporates Victim Offender Mediation which is a face-to-face meeting, between the victim of a crime and the person who committed that crime.  In the meeting the offender and the victim talk to each other about what happened, the effects of the crime on their lives, and their feelings about it.

YOUTH DIVERSION:  The purpose of this program is to provide first time youth offenders a positive alternative to juvenile court.  Young offenders facing criminal charges will have the opportunity to participate in the program which aims to improve attitudes about the legal system, self image, teaching better methods of communication, conflict resolution and preventing a future decision to break the law.

Members of the Probation Team:

Chief Managing Officer: – Cheryl A. Meyers
Probation Officer – Shelby R. Overbeck
Probation Officer – Ryan C. Winters
Probation Officer – Sandy L. Croft
Probation Officer –  Darren E. Tabbert
Drug Court Officer – Christine A. Winters
Substance Abuse Therapist – Jack N. Ullrich
Public Service Work Coordinator – Jill M. Kreke
DUI Court Supervision Monitor – Daniel B. Baker
Group Reporting Facilitator – Jenee Westjohn
Americorp Vista Volunteer – Lexie Vogt
Compact Specialist – Mona L. Durbin
Clerical – Susan A. Haarmann
Clerical – Sherry L. Shamhart
Clerical – Jill G. Buhnerkempe
 
Links to Related Pages:

National Youth Court Center
http://www.youthcourt.net/
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