Kylie Koons hails from a law enforcement family. While earning her criminal justice degree, she worked for the Flagstaff Police Department as her 911 dispatcher. On one level, she’s always wanted to wear her uniform, but her expectations of the work she does behind her badge have changed a little over her time.

On a warm June morning, she approached her humble home in east Flagstaff. After knocking on her door several times, her resident greeted her. This woman once had a relapse to methamphetamine addiction that lasted nearly five years, but now she’s not just sober, she’s actively trying to build a better life for her family. She was a hard working woman. .

The woman’s name is Jessica and Koons is her probation officer.

Jessica greets Coon much more warmly than might be expected at first, especially given the nature of the probation officer-probation officer relationship.

A probation officer (PO) is a hard-nosed enforcer, someone who works to hold criminals accountable and catch criminals who violate the terms of their release from prison or jail. One thing is easy to imagine.

However, when Jessica describes Coon, she takes a tone of gratitude.

“I was depressed. I just kept chasing my tail. answered my prayers and threw me into prison,” she said. “I am grateful [probation officers] Please guide me in the right direction and keep me on track to make my life better. It was very helpful and I am grateful for the opportunity to put it together again. ”

The Koons bring a breathalyzer to meet Jessica and ask her about her life and happiness.

All probation officers comply with the law. They have to make sure their customers are complying with the law. This means that probationers are responsible for checking whether they are using drugs or doing anything that violates the terms of their probation.

Coons said police officers have to obey the law in Coconino County, but that’s the basics. In many ways, the Coconino County Adult Probation approach goes beyond accountability mechanisms. In some cases, they are fully part of the probationer’s support system.

“In terms of addiction, I don’t know how addicted people are, but I was a complete wreck myself. I almost killed myself several times. My heart stopped many times. Addiction. By, you exhaust people.Your family, your friends, your people push you away.Of course,” another probation officer said during Mr. Coons’ visit.

His name is Aaron and he’s been sober for 4 months now. He describes PO as an important part of the support system, not as a means of punishment.

“My view of the system is not the same. No more victimhood. This system has given me the opportunity to make my life better when everyone in my life has abandoned me.” said Aaron.

Koons said working on probation changed her view of the criminal justice system.

“Sometimes I think people get hung up on the fact that this person did this, but you don’t know the full story. You really don’t know,” Mr. Coons said. “It’s really hard for people who have been in prison or out of prison to really reintegrate, or even feel that there is some kind of support everywhere. can go to court and you can lose all your belongings, become homeless, lose everything, etc. How do you make it from there?So working on probation changed my perspective. .”

Caitlin Bednar is a Coconino County probation supervisor. She said she always sees her clients as more than offensive.

“You can learn a lot from people on probation. We have the most talented artists, the most talented woodworkers and craftsmen. A company, a business of its own.It just shows that they are normal people and their aggression is not what defines them,” she said. “I think it’s important not to look at them as criminals, just classify them as felons, but as people who are absolutely capable of changing their behavior.”

Last week, one of Koons’ probationers was about to make a big difference. He was preparing to pass the exam to become a Hope Lives Forensic Peer Support Specialist.

He already works at a local shelter and shares many of the resources he learned while on probation.

“When I graduate from peer support, I want to work in prison. “I made up my mind.”

The probationer’s name is Brian, and he said that in the process of recovering from his addiction, he also found motivation to give back.

“Sometimes I don’t know where I would be without Kylie. Her words have helped me so much,” he said. “They really care about their customers. Caring helps a lot, but there are also a lot of resources here in Flagstaff that I didn’t know about.”

At Bryan’s words, Koons’ face lit up with a real sense of hard-won success. Executives attribute their success in part to their philosophy.

“We have to recognize that we don’t know everyone’s story, but we have to assume everyone has a story to tell. No. Suppose we all go through some kind of trauma in our lives, we may just be unaware of it, but we treat everyone with that in mind. ‘, said Bednar.

Police officers may also support probationers by working to reduce the burden they would normally have to bear after a period of incarceration.

Criminals are often released from jail or prison to find that they have lost their jobs, housing, and even some of their ties to the community. On top of that, you have to pay probation fees and possibly fines, as well as the costs associated with complying with court orders.

“We give them these requirements to provide UA. [urine analysis] Or they have to get treatment, but we want them to be able to live with their families without paying thousands of dollars in rent. Imagine someone coming out of a prison or jail and saying, “I have to pay you at least $800 in rent, good luck.” Be sure to get here, be sure to get there. “We’re trying to fill those gaps,” Bednar said. “I don’t think I would have been able to afford that if I had been in that position. What they have to go through in this runaway game is insane. We will provide resources and new ways of probation over the next few years. would like to consider.”

Bednar said the Coconino County Adult Probation Service team doesn’t want to see probators go through unnecessary hoops. Instead, they want each person to achieve their goals and be permanently removed from the criminal justice system.

Probation officers like Kuhn make regular visits to clients’ sites, homes and workplaces, reducing the need to miss work, therapy and social activities to attend office visits.

Site visits also help officers understand the philosophy of assistance. Bednar said it’s not just convenient for customers to visit in a comfortable environment.

“As a PO, I think it is very important to have direct contact with someone in the field. It really shows them that you care about them and that you are really there to support them.” “Sometimes they think you’re just here to crush them, but you’re not,” Coons said.

She added that one of the hardest things about the job is knowing someone and seeing them back off. She said she is not happy about probationers losing progress.

Not everyone is ready for treatment or resources. That’s part of the job, too.

“We work with people who don’t want to change yet, and we work with people who want to change. It’s the diversity of why I started this career,” Bednar said. “I don’t think there is anything more rewarding than seeing someone completely change their life and never go back to the system. That’s our goal.”

Bednar said the ministry’s staffing constraints are making that goal increasingly difficult to achieve. She currently manages nine probation officers. In Coconino County, about 50 police officers oversee all convicted criminals.

“Our officers are limited in what they can do. They are one person. rice field. “Our work does not stop without officers. Wouldn’t it be ideal if more people were not getting it? That’s difficult with the current number of cases.”

Coons is currently overseen by 50 probation officers. Her colleague Hope Heath has 62, three fewer than Arizona’s legal limit.

Coconino County is the second largest county in the United States. This can make it difficult for all clients to visit the office or go to the lab for a urine analysis.

Heath has overseen people from Flagstaff to places like the Grand Canyon, Williams, Ashfork, and parts of Seligman.

“Sometimes I wish I had one more person,” she said.

In addition to communicating with clients on site, she often drives to Williams for office visits. She spends hours every week commuting in her car.

Heath said the $20 compulsory urine test could cost even more when driving time and probation absences are factored in. Probation officers’ legal obligations shouldn’t make them less likely to succeed in society, she says.

Field visits are very important for rural probationers, but Heath has limited time behind the wheel during the week.

The quality of the person-first, trauma-based care that police officers want to provide is always challenged by the sheer amount of work they have to do and the amount of time they can realistically work.

On paper, the department’s accomplishments reflect its efforts, said Sarah Dusit, the Coconino County Chief Probation Officer. What they don’t reflect is the turnover rate her department understands.

“If you look only on paper, you won’t see the constant turnover and effort that goes into recruiting,” she said, noting that the level of care that goes into influencing good officers is exhausting and often He added that it caused him to quit his job.

There are currently vacancies in at least five probation officer positions in Coconino County.

Dusit said the number could rise further as police officers battle the pressure of their jobs.

Career rewards should be the main focus for hard-working executives.

“Honestly, being on probation has been the most rewarding career. to reintegrate them into society and see the goals they want to achieve achieved,” Bednar said. You can see the reunion with the children. We can see temperance bear fruit. It is truly amazing to see people change their lives for the better and become productive members of society. ”