SACRAMENTO—Today, Assemblymember Juan Alanis announced that his first bill of the 2025-26 legislative cycle passed the Assembly Floor on a unanimous vote of 67-0.
AB 387 would exempt probation officers from the jury selection process, also known as voir dire, for criminal cases.
“The success of individuals on probation is directly tied to the effectiveness of probation officers,” said Assemblyman Alanis. “Pulling them away from their duties impacts their ability to effectively manage critical services for probationers.”
Probation officers serve as direct ”arms of the court.” They are uniquely involved in the judicial process, working closely with the courts to fulfill court orders and ensure those on probation meet their requirements; in addition to ensuring compliance with court orders, probation officers’ duties include supervising individuals, conducting pre-sentence investigations, testifying in court, and providing counseling and post-trial rehabilitation.
“If any member of our law enforcement community should be exempt, it should be probation officers,” added Alanis. “I appreciate my colleagues who showed up today and cast a unanimous bipartisan vote in support of this commonsense proposal.”
AB 387 is supported by law enforcement groups and criminal justice reform organizations. It was previously voted out of the Assembly Judiciary Committee on a bipartisan vote. The bill has now been moved to the State Senate, pending a referral to a Senate committee.
Assemblymember Juan Alanis represents the 22nd Assembly District, which includes the communities of Modesto, Turlock, Ceres, Denair, Patterson, Gustine, Newman, Hilmar, Ballico, Snelling, Keyes, Grayson, Crows Landing, Diablo Grande, Stevinson, & Empire.
