Press Release
Scott MacDonald Appointed as Chief Probation Officer

Date: June 23, 2008
Release: Immediately
Contact: Dinah Phillips
Santa Cruz County Public Information Officer

Scott MacDonald, a 24 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 Chief Administrative Office of the County. Mr. MacDonald’s appointment will be effective July 5th upon the retirement of Judith a. Cox, the current Chief of Probation.

Mr. MacDonald, 49, has a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and a Master’s Degree in Administration of Justice. He has worked in the Santa Cruz County Probation Department since 1985. He has worked as an officer, supervisor, and manager in both the juvenile and adult programs of the department and has worked in both Santa Cruz and Watsonville. During that time he was worked with the Courts and other justice system partners on the development of a wide variety of innovative probation services for both adults and juveniles, including Neighborhood Accountability Boards, the UCSC internship courses, Evening Centers, and intensive services to probationers with children.

For the past three years he has worked to expand community programs and probation supervision programs in the adult probation system. He has been a principle architect for a number of existing programs based on the best available research on effective practices juvenile and criminal justice and has been responsible for the submission of numerous proposals that have resulted in millions of dollars in grant awards to the county justice system. He was awarded Community Hero in 2007 and County Employee of the Year on three separate occasions for his contributions to the justice field.

Judy Cox, the retiring Chief Probation Officer said, "I feel fortunate to pass the reigns to Scott. He is supported by this community, has the full support of the management team, and Santa Cruz County is fortunate to have a national leader in the justice field working in their own back yard."

Presiding Judge Robert Atack said, "I look forward to working with Scott and the Probation Department and am confident that he will provide the Court and community with the high standard of service and safety the we are accustomed to".

Mr. MacDonald said, "Chief Judy Cox has provided excellent leadership and her legacy will live on through the excellent staff that she leaves behind. I am honored to become Chief of a department so committed to serving this community, so committed to collaboration, and whose accomplishments are respected locally and nationally."