Fernando Giraldo, an 18-year employee with the Santa Cruz County Probation Department, has been appointed Chief Probation Officer for the County by the Superior Court in collaboration with the County Board of Supervisors. Mr. Giraldo’s appointment will be effective in late December upon the retirement of Scott MacDonald, the current Chief of Probation.
Presiding Judge, John Salazar, said, “The work of the Probation Department is nationally recognized and we look forward to having Fernando maintain the high standard of service and safety we have come to expect for the Court and the community.”
Juvenile Court Presiding Judge, Denine Guy, stated, “Mr. Giraldo was unanimously selected following an extensive national search and a rigorous selection process that included interviews with subject matter experts, community members, judges from the Superior Court and members of the Board of Supervisors as well as executive management. We are delighted to welcome him to his new position.”
Supervisor, John Leopold, stated, “I feel fortunate that we will be able to pass the reins of leadership for the Probation Department to Fernando. His work has been well regarded in the community and he has the full support of the County management team.”
With a Bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Santa Cruz in Political Science and Latin American Studies and a Masters of Social Work from San Jose State University, Mr. Giraldo has worked in the Santa Cruz County Probation Department since 1995. Beginning as a Deputy Probation Officer, he has also worked as the Assistant Probation Division Director in Felton and Watsonville, the Assistant Superintendent of Juvenile Hall, the Juvenile Division Director and the Assistant Chief Probation Officer.
Mr. Giraldo has been instrumental in the development of a wide variety of innovative probation services for both adults and juveniles, including geographically based probation services in three locations in Santa Cruz County and the development of the evening center alternatives to detention for juveniles. In addition, he has worked tirelessly to find alternative funding sources to maintain important programs, such as the Azteca Probation Youth Soccer Team, and has focused extensively during the economic downturn on bringing outside revenue into the County to support the community partners who assist in the delivery of services for the Probation Department.
Since the implementation of criminal justice reform through Assembly Bill 109, Mr. Giraldo has assisted the management team in developing critical data strategies to monitor the functioning of the countywide system at every level. With the use of data, the Probation Department is able to focus on practices based in evidence and provide programs that offer greater rates of success for offenders transitioning back into the community.
“The Santa Cruz Superior Court and County government officials worked collaboratively to engage a broad spectrum of community leaders in the selection of the next Chief Probation Officer. It is no surprise to me that Fernando Giraldo rose to the top of this exhaustive process. Fernando is a hard working, dedicated and nationally recognized leader who will continue to serve this county well as Chief Probation Officer. I could not be more pleased,” stated current Chief Probation Officer, Scott MacDonald.