Michelle Lipperd

Michelle Lipperd

Michelle Lipperd is a career public defender who has served our community for nearly two decades, defending adults and children accused of crimes or facing involuntary commitment who could not afford to hire an attorney. When the Public Defender’s Office opened its doors in 2022, Michelle joined the Leadership Team as the Collateral Consequences and Reentry Unit Supervisor, and under Michelle's leadership, this unit has served hundreds of clients with courage, compassion, and in a true spirit of community.In 2023, Michelle's team filed over 900 motions for record clearance relief in our Clean Slate Program, which removes barriers to success by clearing up criminal records. Michelle also leads the TRUTH Project, which advises clients regarding the true consequences of criminal convictions, including immigration consequences and impacts on housing, professional licenses, and benefits. Last year alone, Michelle and her team helped hundreds of clients make informed decisions regarding their options, enhancing the defense teams' ability to provide client-centered representation and ensuring our clients get individualized, expert advocacy. Michelle also leads Project R.I.S.E (Reentry, Integration, Support & Education), a growing program designed to help clients transition back into their communities after incarceration. In addition, Michelle leads two workshops a month to assist clients with record clearance, one in Santa Cruz and one in Watsonville, and Michelle and her team regularly staff resource fairs at local farms to make sure working people know how her team can help them remove obstacles to advancement. Michelle is respected by everyone in the legal community, including defenders, judges, prosecutors, and, most significantly, her clients, and she truly embodies what it means to be a public servant.

Probation Incentive Based Case Management Team

Probation Supervisor Samuel Palomares and Probation Officers Denise Sanchez, Kevin Berns, and Matthew Diaz

Left to right: Matthew Diaz, Kevin Berns, Samuel Palomares and Denise Sanchez

In 2018, Arnold Ventures, a philanthropic organization focused on tackling the most pressing problems in America, announced a major initiative seeking to transform probation, and among its efforts was the launch of the Reducing Revocations Challenge (RRC) which the Santa Cruz County Probation Department (SCCPD) was chosen to participate in.

Drug testing is one of the main reasons clients with substance use issues do not show up to meetings with their Probation Officers because they fear being placed in jail if they test positive, which results in bench warrants, subsequent jail, and litigation over probation violations.

To address this issue, SCCPD initiated the Incentive Based Case Management Pilot for Individuals with Substance Use Terms that focuses on reducing formal violations for this population and promoting positive outcomes, such as increased reporting and engagement in treatment services. In this pilot program, regular drug testing for clients is not mandatory, and the program functions as an extension of a harm reduction model with an understanding of substance use rehabilitation as an ongoing process, not penalizing relapse while incentivizing progress and engagement with probation. Probation Officers co-develop individualized success plans with clients in the pilot that include individualized 3, 6, 12, and 18-month milestones for which clients receive an agreed-upon incentive upon achievement, and as of November 2023, 48 people have enrolled in the pilot. Removing mandatory drug testing and incentivizing engagement, even when clients are struggling with relapse, has removed their fear of probation, and allowed clients to develop trust with their Probation Officer, which has resulted in pilot participants reporting to probation even when they are struggling with substance use or to achieve goals identified in their success plan.

Sheriff’s Office Active Shooter Training Team

Lieutenant Nicholas Baldrige, Lieutenant Dee Baldwin, Sergeant Nicholas Solano, Sergeant Randall Hop, Sergeant Kyle Matson, Detective Stephen Patzke, Sheriff’s Office Administrative Manager, Kathy Samms, Senior Departmental Administrative Analyst Monica Rocha, Senior Account Technician Marisela Robles

Back row: Randall Hop, Stephen Patzke, Kyle Matson, Dee Baldwin, Nicholas Solano
Front row: Marisela Robles, Nicholas Baldrige, Monica Rocha, Kathy Samms

In the current intricate and ever-changing landscape of our society, the importance of active shooter training cannot be overstated. Previously, the University of California Law Enforcement branch led the local active shooter training program, but retirements led to its dissolution, and recognizing the need for this specialized training, Sheriff Jim Hart volunteered the Sheriff’s Office to undertake the demanding task of organizing this crucial training.

Assigned to this task, Lieutenant Nicholas Baldrige reviewed the County's existing active shooter response protocols and developed a new curriculum to bolster preparedness and coordination during active shooter incidents which involves realistic scenarios, allowing responders to refine their skills in a controlled environment mirroring real-life challenges. Lt. Baldrige identified a more standardized protocol that strengthens partnerships with local schools and ensures seamless coordination during crises. Alongside the implementation of the new standardized training, Lt. Baldrige facilitated the Standard Command Response for schools, a significant advancement in our collective ability to respond to active shooter instances. The success of this training program was made possible through the collaboration of the entire Active Shooter Training Team staff, as well as the Sheriff’s Office Community Policing Team, Central Fire Assistant Chief Chad Akin, and over sixty volunteers. This comprehensive training underscores the Sheriff’s Office’s commitment to proactive measures, continuous improvement, and collaborative efforts to ensure a secure learning environment for all.