Santa Barbara County Probation

Today we came together at the Peace Officers Memorial Ceremony to honor and remember the law enforcement officers who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. The County of Santa Barbara Probation stands in solidarity with agencies and families across the state as we pay tribute to their courage, service, and dedication. We are grateful for the officers who continue to protect and serve our communities every day.

On May 6th, the Santa Maria Probation office celebrated the swearing-in of new hires Deputy Probation Officers Annalise Leon and Irving Velazquez; Juvenile Institutions Officers Alec Brown, Naomy Carrera Garcia, Jennifer Casey, Jorge Cruz Alejandre, Kevin Lopez, and Fernando Rodriguez, and Pretrial Services Specialist Leticia Leon. The event also recognized promotions and swearing-in ceremonies for SPO Shane Lariba, Jose Macedo, and Bonnie O’Neill; DPO Sr. Flory Aldana and Marissa Rosales, led by Chief Probation Officer Holly Benton.

Congratulations to all staff honored for their new roles and continued dedication to service!

On April 13, 2026, David Ruiz joined the County of Santa Barbara Probation Department as Deputy Chief overseeing the Juvenile Division & Juvenile Facilities.

David brings 31 years of experience with the Fresno County Probation Department, where he served in a variety of leadership roles across both juvenile and adult services. Most recently, he served as Deputy Chief at the Juvenile Justice Campus, overseeing detention, ranch camp commitment programs, and Secure Youth Track facilities.

On May 6, 2026, David was officially sworn in by Chief Probation Officer Holly Benton in Santa Maria.

Congratulations and welcome to the County of Santa Barbara Probation Department David!

Know your voting rights. Get the facts, vote with confidence, your voice matters. https://www.countyofsb.org/5050/Voting-Rights
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Sus derechos al votar. Infórmese, vote con confianza, su voz importa. https://www.countyofsb.org/5050/Voting-Rights

Santa Barbara County Department of Social Services

Shout-out to the County of Santa Barbara Probation Department’s Juvenile Justice Center (JJC) Staff of the Quarter!

We’re proud to recognize Juvenile Institution Officer Jorge Soto, honored last quarter, and Utility Worker Monica Cowger, our current JJC Staff of the Quarter. Their hard work, dedication, and commitment to excellence make a meaningful difference every day.
Thank you both for representing the JJC with professionalism and pride—keep up the outstanding work!

The County of Santa Barbara Probation Department was proud to join fellow law enforcement agencies at the 37th Annual Strawberry Festival in Santa Maria this past weekend!

Officers spend time walking the fairgrounds, engaging with the community, and helping ensure a safe and enjoyable event for everyone in attendance. We appreciate the opportunity to connect with the public and work alongside our partners to keep our community safe. Thank you to everyone who came out and made it such a great event!

Santa Barbara will host a free legal Clean Slate Clinic for Santa Barbara County residents for criminal record expungement, felony reduction, and arrest record sealing.

¡Ayuda a dar forma a la Estrategia de Desvío de Justicia para Adultos del Condado de Santa Barbara!
💻 Sesion Virtual
Feb. 19 • 4 PM
Escanea el código QR para enlaces e información adicional https://content.civicplus.com/api/assets/b2ea33a4-ca00-40fa-afb9-af1df72f2620?scope=all

Help shape Santa Barbara County’s Adult Justice Diversion Strategy!
💻 Virtual Session
Feb. 19 • 4 PM
Scan the QR Code or check out this link for additional information: https://content.civicplus.com/api/assets/b2ea33a4-ca00-40fa-afb9-af1df72f2620?scope=all