Probation officer advocates for expanded office space to meet demands

Holt County Supervisors learned the district probation office needs more space. Tara Sprigler Price, district probation officer, addressed supervisors, Jan. 31, when the board met in O'Neill.

If the veterans' office moves to the former O'Neill school administration building, Price would like to expand to the current veterans' office in the annex."I have a new officer I've hired who's currently in training and I don't physically have an office for him to go to here," Price said.

The new officer resides in Creighton.

"I also have an officer who is in half an office," Price said.

At times, other probation officers work out of the O'Neill office and there isn't space for those officers to meet with clients.

"We do a lot of cases with Health and Human Services. It's also very easy to remain in the building to go up and down the hall to meet with them as well," she said.

Rod Smith, who serves as the county's public defender, has worked with the probation office for approximately 40 years, handling juvenile and criminal work in the county.

Smith said there are distinctions that need addressed when considering the probation office's request for additional room and even when considering additional staffing needs.

DHHS has changed roles over the years, according to Smith.

"They're referred to as case managers now and that's accurate. Most work the department does with kids and families is farmed out to a private agency, " Smith said.

The probation office operates differently.

"They are hands on in the juvenile cases and adult cases for supervising people. Supervision is the key to success with probation or problem-solving court, which falls under probation as well."

Smith said the half office Price referred to used to be his office.

"I can tell you from experience, I can only have one person in my office at a time. It's that small," Smith said.

Case loads are increasing. Smith noted that DHHS has had difficulty maintaining employees. In the past five years, there have been several times a caseworker has been unavailable in Holt County.

"Right now, I have cases being supervised out of Kearney, Grand Island and Broken Bow. That can work with the Department of Health and Human Services. It can't work with probation. They have to be here to supervise adults and kids," Smith said.

Case loads have increased dramatically.

Smith said, "My criminal case load is 10 times what it was when I started as public defender here 25 years ago."

Another concern is housing for juveniles who are unable to return home.

Smith said he currently has five juveniles, between Holt and Knox County cases, who are being detained in juvenile detention centers.

"If we don't have those, the only alternative we have is placement in a foster home or a family home and we have a hard time doing that if we don't have adequate supervision," Smith said.

Maintaining probation personnel is essential and a lack of space contributes to officers who choose to leave.

The district probation office encompasses the area from Valentine to Broken Bow to St. Paul to O'Neill.

"I think we have an excellent probation office," Smith said. "I would encourage the board to support adequate space for the probation office."

According to Price, the state of Nebraska covers salaries and travel expenses.

Price currently has five officers.

"We're to the point where we need more space," she said.

Supervisors did not discuss Price's request at this time.

In other business, supervisors:

• Listened to a presentation about the EPIC option. Steve Jessen, of Norfolk, addressed the board about the proposal which would eliminate property, income and corporate taxes.

• Spoke with Willowdale Township officials about a portion of roadway the township has "outgrown capacity to maintain properly." Following discussion, potential solutions were presented, including paying the county to maintain the road or adding to the levy via ballot initiative.

• Approved county depositories.