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.   

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.