It’s high time for the county to come clean about the recent
leadership changes at the San Benito County Probation
Department.
It’s high time for the county to come clean about the recent leadership changes at the San Benito County Probation Department.
By keeping residents in the dark about the investigation into the Probation Department, it is doing the citizenry a disservice. The county’s silence breeds mistrust.
The county has refused to answer questions about turmoil within the department even after four employees were placed on administrative leave last month, including the department’s top two officials, Chief Probation Officer Deborah Botts and Juvenile Hall Superintendent Tim Pierleoni. The county, citing employment and personnel issues, has repeatedly told the Free Lance that it cannot comment on the reasons behind the swift leadership overhaul within the Probation Department.
To be sure, we are not advocating that the county trample the privacy and employment rights of government workers. But, at the very least, the county owes the taxpayers an explanation for what’s going on. Four employees have been placed on administrative leave. At least one is on paid administrative leave. That means the county is paying two people to do one job. That’s our money. As taxpayers we have a right to know how and why our hard-earned dollars are being spent.
When Botts and Pierleoni were placed on administrative leave last month, the county did nothing. It didn’t issue a statement. It didn’t inform the taxpayers. And the whole matter would have likely been swept under the rug if not for reporters pursuing credible leads.
The Probation Department provides vital services for county taxpayers, with 35 full-time employees and a $1.9 million operating budget. The public has a right to know how that money is being spent. After all, the county, its employees and officials work for the taxpayers. As taxpayers we expect our money to be spent wisely. And when four employees, including a department head, are fired from a public agency, the taxpayers have a right to know why.
Perhaps more importantly, the public needs to have confidence in this important department, something that is virtually impossible when nobody stands up and tells the truth. The Probation Department performs a vital role in our criminal justice system, making sentencing recommendations to judges and monitoring the activities and whereabouts of local probationers. The public must have complete confidence that the system is operating above board and expeditiously. Conversely, the public also must also know when something goes wrong and what steps the county is taking to correct the problem.
We trust the Probation Department to seek out justice in the sentencing of criminals and to keep track of those placed on probation. A transparent government is vital to the future of San Benito County.
