Merced County Probation

Please join us in congratulating our newest team members who were officially sworn in this morning as part of the Merced County Probation Department team.

Ksh*tij "KT" Tamang – Deputy Probation Officer
Mike Ruiz – Deputy Probation Officer
Agibail Romero – Juvenile Institutions Officer
Cole Martin – Deputy Probation Officer

We are excited to welcome them to the department and look forward to the positive impact they will make in their new roles. Please help us give them a warm welcome as they embark on this important chapter in their careers👏

In observance of Memorial Day, all Merced County Probation offices will be closed on Monday, May 25, 2026. Normal business operations will resume on Tuesday, May 26, 2026. We honor and remember the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country. Thank you.

This week, Breaking Barriers is proud to celebrate 7 individuals who successfully completed and graduated from the ACE Overcomers Recidivism Program! 🎉👏

Throughout the 12-week program, participants gained valuable knowledge and skills surrounding Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), the impact childhood trauma can have on adulthood, and how those experiences can influence the choices we make.

Most importantly, they learned healthy ways to overcome trauma, break generational cycles, build stronger family dynamics, and live healthier, more positive lives.

We are tremendously proud of each and every one of you for your hard work, dedication, and growth. Your journey is inspiring, and this is only the beginning! 💙

If you or someone you know is interested in participating in our next ACE Overcomers Recidivism class, please feel free to stop by our office or give us a call to register.

📍 445 I Street, Building A, Los Banos, CA
📞 209-710-6044

Did someone say CHOCOLATE!!

Today, our youth at Iris Garrett Juvenile Justice Correctional Complex had the opportunity to participate in National Devil’s Food Cake Day! 🍰

To celebrate, the youth enjoyed an oversized homemade chocolate cupcake topped with rich chocolate fudge frosting, making the day both memorable and delicious.

Activities like these may seem simple, but they provide meaningful opportunities for connection, positive engagement, and creating a sense of normalcy and community within our facility. The youth enjoyed celebrating together while sharing some delicious treats and a positive moment.

Our department remains committed to providing programs and activities that encourage growth, support well-being, and promote positive experiences for the youth in our care.

Yesterday our furry friend came to visit with the youth at our Iris Garrett Juvenile Justice Correctional Complex — Genesis the Therapy Dog 🐾

Animal-assisted interactions like this create powerful moments of connection and calm. Spending time with a therapy dog can help reduce stress and anxiety, encourage positive social interaction, and provide comfort to youth who may be going through difficult transitions. Even a few minutes of petting or playing with a therapy dog can help lower heart rate, improve mood, and promote a sense of trust and emotional safety.

Genesis brought plenty of smiles, tail wags, and positive energy to our facility today. Visits like these remind our youth that support, kindness, and healing can come in many forms — sometimes with four legs and a wagging tail.

Thank you to Genesis and her handlers for taking the time to brighten our youths’ day and help support their emotional well-being. 🐶💙

Today, our Probation team proudly participated in the 2026 Special Olympics Torch Run — “Guardians of the Flame.” Alongside our law enforcement and community partners, we helped carry the Flame of Hope in support of the incredible athletes of Special Olympics.

We were honored to stand beside representatives from University of California, Merced, Merced County Sheriff's Office, Merced Police Department, California Highway Patrol, Merced County District Attorney's Office, and Atwater Police Department in showing our continued commitment to inclusion, unity, and community spirit.

A special appearance was also made by the Rise to Higher Grounds Coffee Cart, helping keep participants energized and adding to the positive spirit of the event.

Thank you to everyone who participated and supported this meaningful event. Together, we continue to be Guardians of the Flame and champions for Special Olympics athletes everywhere. 🔥🏃‍♂️💙

The youth here at our Iris Garrett Juvenile Justice Correctional Complex are gaining more than just skills—they’re building futures. 🔧✨

Through the welding program we've brought here to the facility, youth are learning a valuable trade that opens doors to positive, meaningful employment after release. Hands-on training like the class they had today helps them develop discipline, confidence, and a strong work ethic while preparing them for real-world careers. By investing in education and trade skills, we’re giving our youth the tools they need to succeed and make positive contributions to their communities. 🛠️👨‍🏭👩‍🏭

Last night, we had the honor of celebrating the 2026 Officers of the Year alongside law enforcement agencies from across Merced County at this annual recognition event.

Please join us in congratulating Supervising Juvenile Institutions Officer E.Saldana and Deputy Probation Officer S.Olivas, who proudly represented our Department as this year’s Merced County Probation recipients. Their passion for serving our community, commitment to youth and public safety, and dedication to excellence make them truly deserving of this recognition. We are proud to have both of them representing our department and thank them for the outstanding work they do each and every day.

Our Officer of the Year awards were extremely meaningful this year thanks to the youth in-custody at Fresno County Juvenile Hall, who made these awards through their welding program. A huge thank you to the instructors, youth, and staff involved who dedicated their time and talent to creating these special keepsakes for our recipients.

Also we extend a special thank you to the Merced Elks, , and all the Explorers for organizing and hosting this wonderful annual event honoring law enforcement professionals throughout Merced County.

Each Wednesday we hold an Honor Room where youth at our Iris Garrett Juvenile Justice Correctional Complex have the opportunity to relax, have fun, and build important life skills such as budgeting, meal planning, shopping, and cooking. Youth work together to create a shopping list, which program staff does the shopping for, then program staff will work with the youth to teach and assist with the cooking of the youth’s meal of their choice.

The weather has been beautiful so this month, we added a special twist to make Honor Room an even greater incentive. We hosted our first Outdoor BBQ Honor Room for the youth. Some staff members volunteered to contribute food items based on the menu designed by the youth. During the event, youth enjoyed playing football, listening to music, spending time outdoors, and grilling baby back ribs and carne asada together. The weather and breeze were perfect and brought back happy memories for the youth of being out at the park or lake enjoying life.

The goal of creating this positive outdoor environment is to encourage youth to continue demonstrating positive behavior and teamwork. Due to the success of the event and the positive engagement from the youth, the Outdoor BBQ Honor Room will now become a monthly reward (weather conditions permitting) for youth who demonstrate the best behavior.

🎓 Breaking barriers, building futures! 🎓

Last Thursday, we celebrated the incredible achievement of 4 youth currently at our Iris Garrett Juvenile Justice Correctional Complex who have earned their high school diplomas. Their resilience, determination, and hard work prove that education is a path to new opportunities. Additionally, all 4 youth are either already enrolled in college or have already started classes in college. Let's uplift and recognize their journey as they step forward into brighter tomorrows.

Join us in congratulating these graduates on their success! 👏