DATE:
September 30, 2025
18
TO:
Board of Supervisors
SUBJECT
Title
RECEIVE THE PROBATION WORKLOAD STUDY FINAL REPORT (DISTRICTS: ALL)
Body
OVERVIEW
In recent years, the San Diego County Probation Department (Probation) has experienced a combination of operational and workforce challenges, including difficulty recruiting and retaining qualified staff, evolving workload demands, and increased reliance on overtime to maintain service levels. These factors, along with the high-stress nature of probation work, have raised concerns about the long-term sustainability of staffing models and the potential impact on staff wellness and service delivery.
On February 27, 2024 (16), the Board of Supervisors (Board) directed the San Diego County Probation Department (Probation) to conduct an impartial departmental review of staff workloads by an independent consultant with no previous working relationship with Probation, and to collaborate with key managers, line personnel, and labor leaders as a part of this process. Upon completion of the study, the Board requested that Probation return with the final Workload Study Report and share any key findings. On August 23, 2024, Probation provided the Board with a 180-day report back on the progress of this initiative. This update outlined the study's initial activities and stakeholder engagement efforts. Additionally, on February 13, 2025, Probation provided another update to the Board highlighting ongoing data analysis, preliminary observations, and next steps toward the final report, as well as Department efforts regarding wellness.
Since the initiation of this study, Probation has made significant strides in recruitment, launching innovative campaigns and expanding incentives to attract qualified candidates. Following the launch of a multimedia hiring campaign, along with the consolidation of two classifications into a single, higher classification, and close collaboration with labor partners, Probation reduced i...
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