LaredoBuzz.Com

After many months of hard work, the satellite office of the Webb County Community Supervision & Corrections Department (CSCD) is now open. The department held an open house for elected officials and department heads of its newly-renovated satellite office located in south Laredo. Visitors were taken on a tour of the facility and were able to learn more about the many functions and life-changing work that CSCD does.

“We are truly thankful to the Commissioners Court and Board of Judges,” said CSCD Director Melinda Vidaurri, “Their support, coupled with the assistance of various county departments, have helped us reach this point. By having two locations available, we will be able to provide a convenient and comfortable setting for our clients.”

The facility is equipped with offices where clients can meet with their parole officers, a classroom for specially-held classes, drug testing lab, and offices for the department’s absconder apprehension unit.

Staffed with fifteen probation officers, the south satellite office handles over 1,200 cases focused primarily on felony charges and pretrial diversion. The pretrial diversion program provides some first-time offenders with the opportunity to circumvent having to go through the criminal court system and instead participate in this program. Participants report to the program officer as directed and are referred to local community resources that are stipulated in the terms of the program or intended to help them become law abiding citizens. Participants are referred to this program by the District Attorney’s Office or ordered to participate by a criminal court. The program length can be up to twenty-four months and participants must pay a program fee. Offenders are successfully discharged after complying with special terms of the program and paying the program fees.