1. Preferred Name, Title, and How Many Years You’ve Worked with CIYJ
Marlon Yarber, Chief Probation Officer, Sacramento Probation Department, 10 years with CIYJ
2. What is the most challenging aspect of your role? What aspect is the most rewarding?
The most challenging part of my role is balancing the many competing priorities of the work. I am chief of a large department in a big county – which also happens to be the capital of California, which comes with extra attention. Though my focus is often external to the department (e.g. relationships, legislation, budget and stakeholders), our people (officers, employees and clients) are most important. Consistently balancing these priorities is a constant challenge. As many know, the job is a series of events in which you are constantly working to thread the needle and land decisions that work for the greater good.
The most rewarding part of my role is seeing the change in our clients’ behavior. Our mission is focused on supporting positive change for the justice-involved population. We engage with individuals who may be at their lowest point and attempt to support and guide them back to healthy and positive lifestyles while still holding them accountable. As the Chief Probation Officer and “chief story-teller” I have the privilege of sharing with a wide audience, the challenges and evolution of our work, as well as the great lengths we go to support behavior change – a key portion of our public safety strategy.
3. Looking back over the past two decades, what do you consider to be CIYJ’s most impactful contributions to the youth justice space?
I think the CIYJ model is greatly beneficial to the field. It is a balance of technical assistance, support, transparency and accountability – all aimed at improving outcomes for youth in the system. By focusing on data and trends, jurisdictions can better understand their operations and set realistic (or aspirational) goals to support youth and improve public safety. When CIYJ highlights the progress of a particular jurisdiction or program – healthy competition ensues and that has worked to improve our field.
4. Can you share a particularly poignant success story, milestone, or impactful moment that CIYJ has achieved during your tenure with us?
The attention my jurisdiction has received over time (3-time Barbara Allen-Hagen Awardee) has helped change the narrative about services and support at detention, contributed to goodwill across our community, supported our requests for resources, instilled a sense of pride among our elected officials and aided in our recruitment of new staff.
5. What message would you like to convey to our supporters, partners, and advocates as CIYJ celebrates this significant anniversary?
CIYJ has given so much to our field – congratulations on 20 years. I will urge you all to make the next 20 just as impactful!
6. What inspired you to pursue a career dedicated to youth justice?
My early motivations to join the community corrections field were born out of questions and concerns regarding obvious disparities. I have always been told that it’s easy to complain about a situation but it’s much harder and more noble to actually immerse yourself in a problem or situation and effect the change you want to see.
There is no better opportunity to “give back to your community” than to work in our field. If you care about your community and want to do something about – come work with us!