BLUE LAKES — The first transition celebration for people in the Lake County Day Reporting Center (DRC) program, operated by BI Inc., took place Wednesday evening.
Dozens of family, friends, Lake County Probation Department representatives and BI staff attended the ceremony at The Lodge at Blue Lakes to recognize the graduates.
The event honored 12 clients for completing the first three phases of the program and transitioning from a criminal lifestyle to a more positive life, program manager Johnny Xiong said.
The goal of the DRC is to “protect the public by providing offenders a combination of maximum supervision, immediate reporting and intensive treatment and behavior change services at one location,” according to BI.
“I have been impressed with BI and their operation of the DRC. I have attended their programs and classes and believe this kind of intensive daily supervision, support, education and counseling is a valuable tool for reducing recidivism,” Chief Probation Officer Rob Howe said Thursday.
The DRC began operating last November in the wake of public safety realignment taking effect. The county contracts with BI for the services.
The Probation Department can refer people on probation or post release community supervision (PRCS) — those who would have been on state parole prior to realignment — to BI and/or have the program be a condition of their probation or PRCS, Howe said.
“Typically, those that are determined to be ”moderate” risks to re-offend are the most suitable and tend to have the most success in programs like the DRC,” he added.
The DRC operates out of Lakeport with a satellite office in Clearlake. Currently, 39 people are in the program, Xiong said.
“The success of those that complete these types of evidence-based programs will, to a large extent, determine the success of public safety realignment,” Howe said.
“I have seen clients that, quite frankly, I did not believe were amenable to rehabilitation make great strides. I am confident we will help many become productive, law-abiding members of our society,” he added.
The graduates gave brief speeches after receiving their certificates Wednesday night.
Cynthia Downing thanked her husband and daughter and credited BI staff for helping her improve her job preparedness and address her substance abuse issues.
“Before the program, I was pretty much hopeless and here I am, a success story,” she said.
Joining Downing in attendance Wednesday were graduates Christopher Caruso, Reyes Cimina, Katara Crilly, David Green, Michael Latona, Johnny Mahoney, James Oyler, Richard Silveria and Jeremy Sims.
David Peters and Isaac Sanchez were absent.
