FAQ

Yamhill County Department of Community Justice

Frequently Asked Questions

I was just sentenced to formal probation, what should I do next?   

Please report in person and immediately to Yamhill County Department of Community Justice:  615 NE 6^th St., McMinnville, OR 97128.  When you report, you will be given an appointment to attend intake.   At intake, the following will take place:  review of conditions of supervision, review/signing of state and county-required forms such as weapons restrictions notice and assignment to your PO.

What is the best way to contact my PO?

Probation Officers work with many people and wear many hats. They may not always be immediately available to you.  You should first call your Probation Officer at the telephone number they provide you.  If they are unavailable, you should leave ONE voice mail message outlining your request.   If you have an emergency, you may contact the YCDCJ front desk at (503) 434-7513 and request to speak to the Officer of the Day.  This option should be used only in the instance that you have an emergency that cannot wait until your scheduled appointment, or your Probation Officer has not returned your call within a few days.  Please note, if you drop in to the office without an appointment, you may not be seen as there may be other clients with scheduled appointments being seen.

What happens if I miss a scheduled appointment with my PO?

Contact your Probation Officer immediately.  Communication with your assigned Probation Officer is the best way to avoid and/or remedy any issues.  

How do I set up a payment plan for court ordered financial obligations and/or restitution? 

All financial obligations ordered by the court are payable to the court. Clients convicted in Yamhill County are encouraged to set up a payment plan by phone or in person with the Yamhill County Trial Court Clerk’s Office.  To reach the Yamhill County Courthouse, please call (503) 434-7530 x4263/4265. To set up a payment plan in person, please report to the Yamhill County Trial Court Clerk’s Office located at 535 NE 5^th St, McMinnville, OR 97128. If you were convicted in a county outside of Yamhill County, please contact that courthouse for payment plan information. 

What is bench probation vs. formal probation?

Formal probation is community supervision and means you are assigned a Probation Officer for the duration of your sentence.  You will be required to report to your Probation Officer regularly.  They will review your specific court-ordered requirements with you, offer resources, and guidance toward successful completion of your supervision.  

Bench probation, also called "court probation" is an unsupervised probation. This means you do not have to report to a Parole/Probation Officer. When you are on bench probation, all special conditions, including the payment of court fees, need to be completed no later than 90 days prior to the end of the probation period.

 I'm a Parole & Probation client, and I have a trip coming up and need to leave the State of Oregon. Can I do that? 

You will be required to secure a Travel Permit when traveling out of the State of Oregon. Please submit your Travel Permit request at least two weeks in advance of your travel plans. Travel Permits are available in the Parole & Probation office and are also available on our website at https://www.yamhillcounty.gov/458/Community-Justice.  Travel Permit requests will be reviewed by your Parole & Probation Officer. Once approved, you will be notified and provided with a copy of the approved Travel Permit. An electronic or paper copy of the approved Travel Permit must remain with you for the duration of your trip and be easily accessible. 

How and when do I need to register as a sex offender?

Sex offender registration is generally a lifetime requirement for certain offenses, but relief or reclassification may be possible for some individuals after a period of time. Initial registration must occur within 10 days of release from custody, or upon commencement of parole, probation, or conditional release. Subsequent registrations are required within 10 days of a change of address, legal name change, or birthday, and also upon starting or changing employment or enrollment at an institution of higher education.  For more information about sex offender registration, please visit the Oregon State Police website:  https://www.oregon.gov/osp/programs/SOR/Pages/default.aspx

How do I transfer supervision to another county outside of Yamhill County if I want to move?  How about to another state?

You are required to obtain permission from your Probation Officer PRIOR to moving inside or outside of Yamhill County.  If requesting to move out-of-County, you may be required to transfer supervision to that County.  To transfer supervision to another County, there is an investigatory process required wherein the receiving County must approve of your transfer plan.  Your Probation Officer can detail this process upon request.  

Federal law requires out-of-state moves to follow a detailed process wherein you may not leave the State of Oregon until a transfer is approved by both your Oregon Probation Officer and the receiving state.  Your Probation Officer can detail this process upon request and additional questions about out-of-state transfers may be found at the Interstate Compact website:  https://interstatecompact.org/.

What does a “no contact” condition mean?

When this condition is imposed, it means you cannot have any contact whatsoever with the listed person. That means no person-to-person contact, no telephone contact which includes leaving messages, no texting, e-mailing or letter writing. You are also not allowed to contact the person through a third-party, such as a friend or relative. The no-contact condition is strictly enforced. If there are any questions regarding this condition, please talk it over with your Probation Officer.

What are home visits?

Home visits are conducted by Parole and Probation Officers and consist of showing up announced and unannounced at your reported residence to conduct a walk through and verify your living situation. Home visits can be as frequent as weekly and as minimal as a couple times per year. A search of your residence is different than a routine home visit. Most contacts with your Probation Officer will take place in the Community Justice office.

Will I always go to jail if I violate a supervision condition?

There are a wide range of sanctions (consequences) if you violate your supervision. Those range from a simple verbal reprimand all the way to jail. There is also work crew, electronic monitoring, homework assignments, increased reporting and other creative incentives to help deter poor choices. We focus on the behavior and why you violated in order to try and prevent it from happening again. It is our job to hold you accountable and jail is an option however jail is not always the best option.

What do I do if I have an issue with my Probation Officer?

You should make every effort to resolve any questions, concerns, issues directly with your Probation Officer.  If you feel you are unable to do so, you may contact the main telephone line at (503) 434-7513 and request to speak with your Probation Officer’s supervisor.   You may also request a grievance form at the front desk of the Community Corrections office.  There is a grievance process/policy in place to ensure appropriate response to any concern or complaint.

How do I find housing resources?

Yamhill County partners with various treatment facilities and has access to temporary housing options as well as other community resources. When a client is interested in engaging in treatment or exploring housing in Yamhill County, we encourage you to contact your Parole & Probation Officer to review your needs and options. If the need is immediate, you can find resources by visiting the Yamhill County website:  https://www.yamhillcounty.gov/513/Housing-Resources or 211:  https://www.211info.org/.

How do I find employment resources?

Yamhill County offers several resources for job seekers and employers. WorkSource Oregon, a part of the Oregon Employment Department, provides services like career planning, job search assistance, and training opportunities. YVCareers, part of the Workforce Integrated Network (WIN), focuses on workforce development in the Yamhill Valley. Additionally, Express Employment Professionals connects job seekers with employers.  For more resources, please speak with your Probation Officer and you may also visit 211:  https://www.211info.org/

How do I find treatment services (substance use, behavioral health, sex offender, domestic violence, etc.)?

Yamhill County partners with various treatment programs, including Yamhill County Health and Human Services (YCHHS).  HHS Substance Use Programs offer a wide array of treatment options and programs. Highly trained and experienced Certified Mental Health and Drug and Alcohol Counselors specialize in working with each client to develop a comprehensive, individualized plan of recovery.  For more information about HHS, please speak with your Probation Officer or visit the HHS website at:  https://www.yamhillcounty.gov/204/Health-Human-Services

For immediate needs, the crisis line is available at: 844-842-8200 and 211:  https://www.211info.org/

Some programs require a referral from your Probation Officer.   For sex offender or domestic violence program options, please inquire with your Probation Officer.

How do I get permission to have contact with my victim?

What is Casebank?

Clients who have been placed on Casebank (also known as Reduced Supervision) are monitored by the Parole & Probation Officer assigned to these cases. If new to supervision, clients can expect to receive reporting instructions at the time of probation intake.  If transferring from general supervision, clients can expect to review expectations with their Probation Officer at the time of case transfer to Casebank.  Clients who remain in compliance with their probation requirements and conditions are not expected to meet with the Parole & Probation Officer but are expected to report by mail.  Clients are welcome to report into the office Monday-Friday between 9:00am and 3:00pm (closed between 12:00am-1:00pm) to meet with the Parole & Probation officer, as needed. 

What is a ROI and why/when do I need one?

This stands for Release of Information.  This department requires that the person or company that is requesting information be listed on a ROI signed by the client allowing the information to released.  You may be asked to sign an ROI in order to be referred to a treatment and/or housing program, for example.

Public information that can be released without an ROI consists of name, SID #, general description, name of supervising officer, county of conviction, docket #, charges, expiration date, status of parole or probation.   No other information will be released without an ROI.

What is inactive vs. active supervision?

By order of the Oregon Board of Parole, a client can be placed on inactive supervision (after reaching a predetermined date, known as ASR) until their expiration date. The client still needs to abide by all conditions of supervision but does not have to report to this department and may reside at any location within the state of Oregon. The client does not have to submit a monthly report but remains responsible for any outstanding fees to Community Corrections. This department may, if it believes that it is in the best interest of the community, request that the Oregon Board of Parole remove the inactive status and place the client back on a supervised caseload.

What is Earned Discharge and how do I know if I qualify?

Earned discharge allows certain individuals on probation or post-prison supervision to potentially reduce the length of their supervision period. It's a mechanism to incentivize good behavior and compliance with supervision conditions. To qualify, individuals must demonstrate compliance with their supervision requirements, including payment of restitution, participation in recidivism reduction programs, and adherence to all rules. 

There are many, many, criteria one must meet in order to qualify for and receive Earned Discharge.  Information specific to your case will be reviewed at regular intervals with you, by your Probation Officer to determine if you qualify.