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.   

What is a Probation Officer and what do they do?

A Probation Officer is someone who supervises a person who has been placed on probation, conditional discharge or court supervision and deemed appropriate for community supervision. Effingham County currently has six Probation Officers on staff. Some of the officer's job duties include:

" Monitoring compliance with court orders " Assisting offenders in obtaining needed services " Overseeing the rehabilitation of the offenders " Conducting offender work and home visits " Administering drug tests " Providing support, other services, and help to victims in securing restitution.

Probation officers must become competent in addressing the following issues: drug and alcohol abuse, sexual deviancy, child abuse, domestic violence, and mental illness.

The officers work hand in hand with community groups and social service agencies to provide offenders and victims with the support and services they need. Probation officers maintain partnerships with law enforcement and other justice agencies so the agencies can benefit from the expertise of each other and share information on criminal activity.

Who is on Probation? 

Offenders that are deemed appropriate for community supervision. At the end of 2001, there were over 3.9 million adult men and women on probation in the United States. At the end of 1999, the National Center for Juvenile Justice, there were over 600,000 juveniles under some form of community supervision. At the end of September, 2005, there were 1,212 adults and 122 juvenile offenders under the supervision of the Effingham County Probation Department.

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 Testing: Effingham County Probation Department collects urine specimens to detect the use of amphetamines, cocaine, marijuana, methamphetamine and morphine. ($15.00 testing fee) 

Alcohol Testing: Effingham County Probation department collects urine specimens and obtains immediate on-site results for the use of alcohol. 

Electronic Home Confinement: Effingham County Probation Department monitors the presence of the probationer in his/her home. By installing a field Monitoring Device (FMD) to the probationers home phone line and securing an ankle bracelet on the probationer, the probation officer is notified immediately by pager of any scheduling violations. ($10.00 per day fee)

Moral Reconation Therapy: Also known as MRT, it is an objective, systematic treatment system designed to enhance ego, social, moral and positive behavioral growth in a progressive, step by step fashion. Duration of the program should average four (4) to eight (8) months, depending on individual progress. These groups are facilitated by Effingham County Probation Officers who have received over forty (40) hours of training.  

Adult MRT is held every Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. (There is no fee)

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)  

Community Restoration

Global Positioning Monitoring

Polygraph

Youth Justice (Teen Court Program)

Youth Diversion

Compliance Monitoring for Court Supervision and Conditional Discharge Cases

Pre-sentence Investigations

Social History Investigations