The BSCC Board
The Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) works in partnership with local corrections systems and assists efforts to achieve continued improvement in reducing recidivism through evidence- based decision making. Composition of the Board
Meet the Board Members
![]() Linda Penner, Chair of the Board of State and Community CorrectionsLinda Penner served as Chief Probation Officer for the County of Fresno from 2005 to 2012. Through her stewardship the department transitioned to Evidenced Based Practices for recidivism reduction that encompasses community safety. Ms. Penner championed for a culture that created integrity, and professionalism, fairness and equity to courts and offenders. Ms. Penner recognized that public safety services include rehabilitation services and through her leadership Fresno County Probation initiated policies, practices and services that promote fewer crime victims through an emphasis of assessment-based accountability and programs. |
![]() Kathleen Allison, Secretary, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR)Kathleen was appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom as Secretary of CDCR on October 1, 2020. In her over 30 years at CDCR, she ahs held several leadership roles, including most recently Undersecretary of Operations. Prior to that, she was Director of the Division of Adult Institutions from 2016 to 2018; Deputy Director of Facility Support from 2012 to 2016; and Associate Director for the Female Offender Programs and Services from 2011 to 2012. Ms. Allison also served in several positions at the California Substance Abuse Treatment Facility in Corcoran from 2002 to 2011, including Warden; Chief Deputy Administrator; Correctional Administrator; and Correctional Health Services Administrator II. She also held several positions at Avenal State Prison (ASP) from 1987 to 2002, including Community Resource Manager and Senior Medical Technical Assistant. Ms. Allison Began her career as a Medical Technical Assistant at ASP in 1987. She is a licensed Registered Nurse. |
![]() Guillermo Viera Rosa, Director, Division of Adult Parole Operations, CDCRGuillermo Viera Rosa was appointed to Director of Division of Adult Parole Operations (DAPO) at the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) in June 2020. Prior to this appointment, Mr. Viera Rosa served as the Undersecretary of Operations since November 2019. He was the Director of the Division of Correctional Policy Research and Internal Oversight from January 2018 through December 2019. Mr. Viera Rosa was formerly the Director of DAPO, where he served in several positions since 2000, including Regional Parole Administrator, Associate Director, Parole Administrator, Parole Agent Supervisor, and Parole Agent. Mr. Viera Rosa also served in several positions at the Board of Parole Hearings from 2004 to 2009, including Deputy Commissioner, Correctional Counselor Supervisor, and Parole Agent Specialist. He was an instructor at the Riverside County Office of Education, Deputy Probation Officer at the San Bernardino County Probation Department, and US Pretrial Officer with the US Central District Court prior to working at CDCR. |
![]() Dean Growdon, Sheriff of Lassen CountyDean Growdon is a 24-year veteran of the Lassen County Sheriff’s Office, and a life-long resident of California. He was born in Redding and raised in the small mountain town of Westwood in Lassen County. He began his law enforcement career with Lassen County in 1994 and held a wide range of assignments in both Custody and Operations Divisions before he was elected Lassen County Sheriff-Coroner in 2010. When away from work, Sheriff Growdon coaches high school basketball, participates in a number of service organizations, and spends time recreating in the outdoors with his family. Sheriff Growdon is an officer with the California State Sheriff’s Association, and he holds a Masters Degree in Criminal Justice Management from the University of Nevada, Reno. |
![]() Shannon D. Dicus, Sheriff, San Bernardino CountyShannon D. Dicus was appointed as the 36th Sheriff-Coroner for San Bernardino County on July 14, 2021. San Bernardino County has over 2 million residents and is the nation’s largest county geographically spanning more than 20,056 miles. The Department oversees the unincorporated county areas, operates the county jail systems, provides marshal services in the county courts and contracts law enforcement services to 14 of the 24 incorporated cities within the county. The Department consists of 2007 sworn personnel, 2073 professional employees and 1552 volunteers, with an annual budget of over $800 million dollars. |
![]() Cindy Chavez, Santa Clara County Supervisor Recently appointed by the Governor to the BSCC, Supervisor Cindy Chavez represents more than a half million people in East, Central and South San Jose. She serves as Chair of Bay Area Air Quality Management District and is a member of the CalTrain Board of Directors. As a commissioner she represents Santa Clara County on the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, and she serves on the Valley Transportation Authority Board of Directors. |
![]() Kirk Haynes, Chief Probation Officer of Fresno CountyChief Kirk Haynes, a 27-year veteran of the Fresno County Probation Department, is a graduate of the University of Oregon, and United States Marine Corps Reserve veteran. During his Probation career, Chief Haynes worked multiple assignments in the Adult, Juvenile, and Institutional Divisions. He led the department’s efforts in the design and implementation of the Community Corrections Performance Incentive Act of 2009 (SB 678), and the department’s AB 109 program established by the California Public Safety Realignment Act of 2011. |
![]() Kelly M. Vernon, Chief Probation Officer of Kings CountyKelly M. Vernon is the Chief Probation Officer of Kings County. She has been with the department for 28 years and has served in a myriad of line, supervisory and management assignments ranging from Juvenile Facilities, Field Supervision and Court Services. In January of 2015, Chief Vernon was sworn in as the eleventh Chief in Kings County. Chief Vernon received her bachelor’s degree from California State University, Fresno in Criminology/Corrections. Chief Vernon is an active member of the Chief Probation Officers of California (CPOC), serving on several committees and is currently the Central Region Chair. Chief Vernon is a member of several local committees and collaborative workgroups and strongly believes in community safety through rehabilitative efforts and accountability. Chief Vernon resides in Hanford with her two children Delaney and Greyson |
![]() Janet Gaard, Retired Judge, Yolo CountyJanet Gaard was appointed to the Yolo County Superior Court in 2008. She presided over criminal, juvenile, civil, and family law cases, and she served as the court's Presiding Judge and Assistant Presiding Judge. For many years, she presided over the court's collaborative courts, and, in 2019, she was awarded the Yolo Outstanding Mental Health Community Service Award from the local chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Gaard began her legal career in 1983 as a staff attorney for the Third District Court of Appeal. In 1984 she joined the California Office of the Attorney General, where she remained until her judicial appointment. She served as a Deputy Attorney General in the Criminal Division; Special Assistant Attorney General and Director of Legislative Affairs; and Chief Assistant Attorney General for the Division of Public Rights. |
![]() Andrew Mills, Chief of Police, City of Palm SpringsAndrew Mills was appointed the Chief of Police for the City of Palm Springs in November 2021. Prior to that he was Chief of Police for the City of Santa Cruz, With nearly four decades of law enforcement experience, he has strived to become a community-centric and effective crime fighter. He compassionately confronts some of society’s most challenging problems openly and transparently. |
![]() Scott Budnick, Founder of Anti-Recidivism CoalitionScott Budnick is the founder of the Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC), an organization of very high-achieving formerly incarcerated young adults who work to support one another, while stopping the flow of men and woman into the criminal justice system. |
![]() Miguel Garcia, Specialist, Office of Youth and Community RestorationMiguel A. Garcia is a Specialist with the Office of Youth and Community Restoration. He currently serves as the Senate’s appointee for the BSCC. Furthermore, the California Judicial Council selected him to serve on the Secure Youth Treatment Facility Classification Matrix Working Group. |
![]() Norma Cumpian, Women's and Non-Binary Services, Associate Director, Anti-Recidivism CoalitionNorma Cumpian, the Anti-Recidivism Coalition’s (ARC) Women and Non-Binary Services Manager, joined ARC in March 2016 as a Life Coach after nearly five years working in the criminal justice reform and nonprofit sector. As a formerly incarcerated woman, Norma has firsthand experience in the many challenges of reentry, making her a compassionate and effective guide for young people learning to navigate society after coming home from prison. |
Additional Helpful Links
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California Chief Probation Officers
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California Judicial Branch
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California Police Chief's Association
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California Probation, Parole and Correctional Association
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California State Association of Counties
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California State Sheriff’s Association
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Stanford Criminal Justice Center
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State Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR)
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The Partnership for Community Excellence Realignment Page