From State to Local Control: Managing Youth Reentry Programming in California

Go Back

Appointed in 2022 as Chief Probation Officer, Chief Gibbs brings more than two decades of experience in community corrections, distinguished by her leadership in systems integration, innovation in data infrastructure, and advocacy for youth and families. Today she oversees more than 125 staff. Chief Gibbs spearheaded the development of Napa County’s case management systems and introduced modern data tools that enhance accountability and outcomes. She is especially passionate about protecting the special education rights of justice-involved youth and ensuring equitable access to rehabilitative services. She was honored as the 2013 Bay Region Employee of the Year by the Chief Probation Officers of California, and in 2014 she co-accepted the American Probation and Parole Association President’s Award on behalf of her department. She is a graduate of several prestigious leadership programs, including the Napa County Senior Leadership Academy, APPA Leadership Institute, and the CPOC Command College.

Amanda Lightfoote has almost two decades of experience in reentry. She currently supports GEO Reentry’s non-residential facilities and programs by developing program designs, ensuring program adherence to evidence-based practices, analyzing program outcomes, and overseeing program design innovations that align with evolving agency needs. Amanda is passionate about operationalizing evidence-based practices and has worked with youth and adults both in the community and in custody. As a result, she is highly familiar and experienced in working with diverse populations and criminal justice agencies. Amanda holds a master’s degree in criminal justice administration and a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and sociology.

Michael Reyes has worked with GEO Reentry Services for more than 10 years, supporting reentry programs for probation department agencies in Merced, Los Banos and Tuolumne County. He also managed a day reporting center for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation for parolees in Fairfield, Calif. Michael currently oversees five reentry programs Merced County, including two adult day reporting centers; an adult jail reentry program; a youth in-custody reentry program; and a reentry program for pretrial service defendants. He is certified as a Substance Abuse Counselor and Motivational Interviewing Skillset facilitator. As manager of more than 20 individuals, he is focused on effective, high-performing teams and the consistent implementation of evidence-based practices across all programs. He is a graduate of the California Association of Addiction Recovery Resources Institute.

Deputy Chief Probation Officer Ben Rodriguez began his career with Merced County Probation in 2007 as a Juvenile Institutions Officer. He was promoted to Juvenile Institutions Officer III in 2010, and then to Supervising Juvenile Institutions Officer in 2014. As a Supervising Juvenile Institutions Officer, he was assigned to the Bear Creek Academy Program. Ben has been a Supervising Probation Officer since 2018. During his tenure as a Supervising Probation Officer, Ben was assigned to the Juvenile Division overseeing Juvenile Supervision. In 2022, Ben was promoted to Division Manager and was assigned to the Iris Garrett Juvenile Justice Correctional Complex and had oversight of the Juvenile Hall. In 2023, Ben was promoted to Deputy Chief Probation Officer and Superintendent of the Juvenile Hall.

Myrinda Schweitzer Smith received her Ph.D. from the University of Cincinnati School of Criminal Justice and is the Executive Director of the University of Cincinnati Corrections Institute. Dr. Schweitzer Smith has co-authored publications, presented nationally and internationally on effective interventions, and served as a project director for over 300 projects involving program evaluation, the development and implementation of cognitive-behavioral programs for delinquency, criminality, substance abuse, employment, and sexual offending, and effective practices for community supervision and support. She serves and participates on a multitude of advisory boards and professional organizations supporting the health and wellbeing of those working in and those impacted by the justice system. Most recently, she is actively engaged in several projects that aim to transform juvenile justice and reentry practices to positively shape lives and create safer communities.