County

Private County Probation On The Way Out

An insider provided the GUARDIAN with a revealing exchange of e-mail messages in which the owner of Ada County’s misdemeanor for-profit probation department sings her “swan song” and expresses her desire to get a government job as director of what will be a county-run agency.

She was apparently notified by Ada Commish chairman Rick Yzaguirre her contract would not be renewed after the next 12 months. Besides the failure to launch a real investigation into the probation agency, the GUARDIAN is concerned about the reference to Chairman Rick Yzaguirre notifying Cladis she would not get a contract renewal beyond the coming year, despite the fact the Commishes haven’t publicly voted on the issue.

It’s a cumbersome read. We left the messages in the order they were presented to us, but the tale is pretty clear. Note the dates and times on the messages and draw your own conclusions.

From: Nancy Cladis
Sent: Wednesday, September 28, 2011 1:52 AM
To: ACMPS
Subject: FW: Misdemeanor Probation

Hello to all of you,

The first thing I want to say is how much I appreciate each and every one of you. I know I don’t say it often enough but I am proud of the hard work, dedication, respect and loyalty you bring with you to your job. Hard decisions had to be made at times and you all hung in there.

Start at the bottom of this e-mail and read up to get the full picture of what is happening and my responses. Please do not panic about your jobs as I feel VERY CONFIDENT all of you will have a job with the county and I have asked for a response to this. I might not be part of the package but I have asked. Please know I will continue to fight for your jobs even if I do not have one. If you desire to work elsewhere, you all deserve a letter of recommendation.

Please keep your spirits up and continue to do the great work we do at probation. Please come in and talk with me at anytime. I will keep you all updated.

You are free to respond to others if you desire .

Love you all and so sorry this happened.

Nancy

From: Nancy Cladis
Sent: Wednesday, September 28, 2011 1:08 AM
To: JUDGES AND PROSECUTORS (editor deleted addresses for privacy)
Subject: FW: Misdemeanor Probation

Whatever happens, I consider myself VERY lucky to have worked with each and every one of you. Greg, that goes for all the Ada County Prosecutors and Cary, that goes for all Boise City Prosecutors. Only one judge ever gave me heartburn and he is not there anymore!!!!!!!! We will continue to serve you well while we still have our jobs.

Nancy

From: Nancy Cladis
Sent: Wednesday, September 28, 2011 12:40 AM
To: Rick Yzaguirre
Cc: Vern Bisterfeldt, Larry D. Reiner
Subject: FW: Misdemeanor Probation

Rick and Vern,

I am still a bit numb after the news today but I appreciate you letting me know in advance of the decision concerning probation.
I am forwarding you a copy of a letter to Larry and hope you will consider this proposal. Please take the opportunity to review the questionnaires of all probationers leaving probation. I think you will be surprised how well they did, their attitude towards probation, and what worked for them. I will send a packet to your office tomorrow. I will also send Larry a packet. If you want to see more, there are 15,000. I will let my employees know tomorrow and give them the opportunity to respond also if they desire.

Sincerely,

Nancy

From: Nancy Cladis
Sent: Wednesday, September 28, 2011 12:03 AM
To: ‘Larry D. Reiner’
Subject: Misdemeanor Probation

Larry,

Well, it’s been a challenging year! I want you to know how much I appreciate your support this last year as your kind words definitely lifted my spirits. I also want you to know the controversy going on the last several months has really been hard on me. False allegations have been made and I spend my time trying to explain them. I do not have the opportunity or knowledge to respond to some nor address the board.

Rick just called and told me my contract will only be awarded to me for one more year and then you will oversee probation. Even though I am upset and saddened my contract will come to an end, I am also relieved it will be you overseeing probation and not the Sheriff’s Office. I am proud of the work done at probation and it will be reassuring to place it in the right hands. The probationers and staff will also be relieved.

I am committed to assist you in any way I can to make this a smooth transition. I do not know what location you have in mind, but I can donate our office furniture and equipment if this will help. Some things we need to address as soon as we can.

After some current restructuring of our staff, we have excellent, qualified and dedicated employees on board. I have 5 officers that are now certified officers through Post. There are 4 others that are scheduled to attend in January and July. I am hoping the county intends to keep the current employees at probation, but if not, I need to know so I can cancel POST and give them the opportunity to plan their careers. I would also enjoy the opportunity to stay on with probation as director for the first year and then retire. I could then assist with working with the county budget to continue to run probation at no cost to the county or taxpayers under your direction. A salary is not the motivating factor here, it is the opportunity to be part of this transition and move on with my staff until a new director is appointed. I believe I can bring a wealth of experience and my work in DV Court and the State Misdemeanor Probation Planning Committee is important to me also . I submitted my proposal one year ago and was awarded a contract to run probation by the recommendations of judicial members trusting the good work we do at probation.

I guarantee you will be pleased with the work we will continue to do under the county if given this consideration. Rest assured I will still assist with the transition should there be different plans. Please let me know at your earliest convenience.

Sincerely,

Nancy

Comments & Discussion

Comments are closed for this post.

  1. Notice this email was never sent to Sharon I wonder why. Also I must add that, that has got to be the NICEST email her employees ever received from Nancy. In classic Nancy fashion she emails everyone her sob story. She hates Sheriff Rainey with a passion and everyone around her knows this. Thus the comment about them running probation instead of the sheriffs office.
    As for allowing her to be the director well she would then have to actually work 5 days a week I don’t think this has EVER been done.
    Guardian I so appreciate all you have done to expose her. Both the statesman and news stations are aware of your articles. Thanks.

  2. RU kidding me
    Oct 5, 2011, 9:07 am

    So after running ACMPS with no state certified training in being a probation officer herself, Nancy wants to be the Director over certified county employees. Her E-mail to Larry Reiner implies that she would just like for the county to hire all her employees and appoint her as Director. WOW. I can appreciated she was a very successful bail bondsman after she took the company over from her father. However, I think the facts clearly show that she needs to be as far away from the new county probation services as possible. I would hope the county looks for a fully trained and educated person in the field of corrections/probation. I find it appalling that she is personally writing two of the commissioners asking for a Directors position that will surely pay quite well. Especially when just a few days ago she said she was going to retire. Now, she wants the commissioners to hire HER! The politics that is going on here just stinks!!

  3. RU kidding me
    Oct 5, 2011, 9:18 am

    One more point! It is interesting that she did not include Sharon Ullman in her E-mail to Vern and Rick. It appears the relationship between these three is quite cozy.

  4. As a former employee I can truthfully say that Nancy’s email directed at her staff is completely uncharacteristic. In all my years of employment, never did out office receive supportive emails or any sort of morale building encouragement. Most emails consisted of threats, chastising and/or belittling, and I have several copies of emails in which we were continuously told how lucky we were to work for her and how easily that could be taken away. It’s ironic how losing your job will make your attitude so much more humble.

  5. Thing is we took in enough PROOF to warrant an investigation however they decided to just not let her renew her contract. What is that sayin? Hmmmmm PROOF!!

  6. chicago sam
    Oct 5, 2011, 10:11 am

    There are a lot of rugs in the valley that have become very lumpy.
    Hat’s off to the Boise and Caldwell Gaurdian for bringing out some of these important storys on what is going on behind the scenes

  7. Nancy just do us all a BIG favor for the sake of your staff,offenders and the community RETIRE!!!

  8. I think Nancy is confused. Larry Reiner, the Trial Court Adminstrator, has been providing administrative oversight for this contract at the request of the Board. The new agreement, covering the period from October 1, 2011 – September 30, 2012, removes the TCA from the equation and brings administrative oversight back to the Board.

    When the county is no longer contracting with a private provider for the provision of misdemeanor probation services, it is likely the Ada County Sheriff’s Office will manage the provision of these services through a separate division within county corrections.

  9. While it’s wonderful to hear that the contract will no longer belong to Nancy Cladis after next year, it is concerning to know that while the commissioners had enough info and evidence to take it away from her, they will allow it to continue for another year. That’s thousands of offenders still at the behest of her reign, and employees who are still being asked to cover criminal misconduct and unethical practices. I would love to hear from Vern and Rick to explain that, as it’s apparent Sharon Ullman is clearly on her own in this matter.

  10. Can this Rumor be Verified
    Oct 5, 2011, 1:43 pm

    Rumor has it that there has been some campaign contributions to at least one of the Ada County commisioners by Ms Cladis. is there anything illegal in this and/or is it a pure coincidence that Sharon Ullman stands alone in her quest?

  11. off probation now but.....
    Oct 5, 2011, 1:52 pm

    I was on supervised probation for a non alcohol non drug offense. I was placed on color code and told that if I missed a drug test I would be in violation of my probation. I am on SSI and only make less than $400 per month. The Judge granted me a public deffender because I could he found I was indigent. My public deffender told me that the probation department has the ability to waive fees for people that are on a fixed income the Judge also wrote it on my paper work that my fees would be waived. After my first probation meeting I was told by my probation officer that she checked with her director and it was denied because I smoke cigarettes and if I can afford those than I can afford to pay for probation and that I need to quit smoking to pay for my probation fees and UA’s. I was also placed into a “group” against my wishes. I was told that I will be in this group once a month and I will no longer have one on one meetings. So of course I had to go along with it what else can I do. The group was like a cattle call we all had to line up and hand in our $50,then proceed to talk about things I had no business talking about with others such as my medical diagnosis as well as others. My Dr put me on a antidepressant so I could at least make it through this and I was forced to talk about it with everyone in this group!!!! HOW DEGRADING!!!!I had to sit and listen to very private things that these other women also did not really want to share with everyone!! It is nice to hear that someone is doing something about this. Thank you for taking the time to read my story.

  12. These groups I believe are a HUGE liability issue. In fact MOST of the POs hate to do them but are forced to have them!Just one of the MANY things we brought to the commisioners attention.

  13. Thank you, Boise Guardian, for shining the light on a topic too controversial for the Boise Weekly or Idaho Statesman to cover. I appreciate Sharon Ullman’s input and will remember the good ole boys Yzaguirre and Bisterfeldt come election day.

  14. So when someone runs away you stop investigating? There seems to be too many people with complaints here for the oversight people to turn a blind eye to what has already taken place.

    What we really need to know now is why did it take public outcry to get this noticed? I’d like to think the people we elect look out for my rights and money. However, it would seem that most are just working on new ways to take them away.

  15. Rod in SE Boise
    Oct 6, 2011, 9:49 am

    Probation is a government function and should never have been oontracted-out. Same goes for prisons.

  16. The corruption tolerated in Boise is unbelievable. I too will remember Mr. Bisterfeld and Yaz come election day. Mr. Bisterfeld, you got your building monument when you said you would retire, why do you want to be remembered as a corrupt councilman in this community?

  17. A different opinion...
    Oct 6, 2011, 2:20 pm

    There are so many good things happening on a daily basis at ACMPS that FAR outweigh the things that any disgruntled ex-employees and/or probationers have to say. People are changing their lives and getting help for their addictions. They are gaining access to recovery resources that would have otherwise never been received. Maybe you all should stop focusing on Nancy Cladis and grow up.

  18. Vern used to be a law and order guy. I guess 2x at county commissioner and 1x at city council made him go over to the dark side of the law. Vern, you used to have my respect, but no more.. What ever happened to do the right thing?? OR are you just another politician?

  19. Overheard at the commish meeting.
    “OK Nancy, the heat is on because of that pain in the butt Guardian. So, the party is over. In exchange for you keeping your mouth shut, we will give you one more year to screw the probationers and their families, but it is over after that” “It is the best I can do”
    OK, maybe I didn’t really overhear that, but the circumstances justify it as much as any other theory.

  20. RE: a diff opinion
    Oct 6, 2011, 7:24 pm

    Question: when people are approved for access to recovery funds (which is a federally funded program, not something Nancy herself is responsible for) this means that they financially qualify due to low income guidelines, correct? So does this mean every person who qualifies for this funding also gets a break on their supervision fees? To approve for this funding would surely prove to your office that they are financially strapped. Is this where the “indigent fund” comes into play?

  21. Really? All of this is happening due to disgruntled employees and probationers? I don’t think so. A major investigation was done on Nancy a lot came out of it including this new law suit.I am curious as to what is going to happen with this lawsuit out now.

  22. Nancy gave bonuses to the PO who collected the most supervision fees each month, as incentive to get the clients to pay up. Not illegal by any means, just an example of her priority. It was a money game.

  23. Karma,

    Even though there was a POS machine for processing credit cards and debit cards at the front desk, my PO pressured me to always pay in CASH. Even though I like to use my plastic as a financial mgmt tool, and they had the ability to accept such payments, I knew that I didn’t want to upset my PO and always had to do everything possible to keep my PO happy. After all, I didn’t want a probation violation.

    It really is an atmosphere of intimidation, rather than support.

  24. Educated Woman
    Oct 12, 2011, 7:50 pm

    Does she still own a bail bonds company in Caldwell? I saw it on google

  25. Fee’s

    Were you trying to run it as a credit card? if so no wonder you wernt allowed. I was on probation for 18 months and was never once told I could not pay with a debit cardas a matter of fact I think I only paid cash once or twice and my PO, Nancy was never the one who took my payment it was always the receptionist

  26. You can pay with a credit or debit card but now they charge you an extra $2 to swipe the card! It costs companies to swipe cards so if they add on a fee they are covering this charge plus making extra $$$$$$.

  27. Is this a joke?
    Oct 18, 2011, 1:02 pm

    Did the contact get signed for another year??

    EDITOR NOTE–Due to the media attention and the lawsuit, commishes decided to table the motion, but October 18 they passed it.

  28. Is this a joke?
    Oct 18, 2011, 1:14 pm

    They tabled it last week but was it signed today

  29. Probation and Parole putting people on color code for non alcohol and drug violations is rediculous, also if it’s a violation of alcohol test for that not everything else 3x a week, the cost of being on Probation/Parole along with UA’s no wonder people get PV’d who could afford that? PP telling people they have to take a year long class at 20 a week when they’re probation ends in two months? Seriously? Nancy should be let go at the end of the contract and not be allowed to stay on for another year until retirement. When you tell your staff that unsupervised probation shouldn’t ever be an option, (because they don’t get the 50-60-) or whatever they are charging now a month and can’t color code someone… I’m tired of watching people on Probation fail, becuase the cost is way too much. Making someone be on a alcohol monitor at a cost of 400 month up front or you get a PV is absolutly unacceptable!!!!!! Revamp the whole system ….

  30. RICK, I could run it either as a debit card (cheaper, like $0.25) I was still HIGHLY encouraged, if you catch my drift, to pay in CASH. I only payed via plastic maybe once or twice. I was a model probationer except that I didn’t allow their Soviet/Nazi mind-control classes to work on me. I knew there was nothing wrong with me. I had 10’s of people tell me I was fine. It’s the SYSTEM that is broken, along with their crazy class administrators who want to mold you into their psychobabble philosophy.

    I will testify. I will take the stand. I have a lot of experience doing do so in civil matters and will not flinch.

    I’m expecting that this will be the end of ACMPS. Cladis will try and hide the money of the company as quickly and quietly as possible in order to guarantee herself a comfy retirement. Her legacy will live on, mind you.

    As I said in a different thread… With Ada County signing off on the extension of her contract in light of all of the legal challenges and evidence to the corruption at this office, I believe The County of Ada should now be a Defendant in the class action lawsuit. They do, after all, have deeper pockets and can’t file for BK as quickly as Cladis can and walk away rich.

  31. Pissed - current probationer
    Oct 19, 2011, 7:35 pm

    Instead of continuing to talk about it, we need to take action.
    These commishes dont expect us to do anything but talk about it.
    Lets do something real.

    I propose a full display of disapproval. Picketing at ACMPS and at city hall, and at the court house. The week of 10-23 – 10-29

    Comment if you agree and lets get organized. Everyone here is right and in agreement. What they are doing is ilegal. Lets hold them accountable.

  32. ex probationer
    Nov 12, 2011, 4:52 pm

    After some current restructuring of our staff, we have excellent, qualified and dedicated employees on board
    This is what Nancy wrote about her staff yet one is facing a felony charge

  33. hahahaha on what Nancy said on restructuring….one of the PO’s just got caught for stealing money….

    You have a great group of people…. hahahaha, UA’s come back with a trace of THC from being around it and not smoking it!!!, and your office put in a warrant (2) for 5000 bond each!!!
    Your office is REDICULOUS!!!!
    and MIP has cost over $5000.00 for a year of supervised probation…
    SHAMEFUL..
    I know people on FELONY probation who don’t even get UA’s as much as Misdemeanor Probation… ARE YOU KIDDING ME?????

    Nancy GO AWAY… You and your staff are awful!

  34. former employee
    Nov 27, 2011, 8:23 pm

    (Part of this comment was deleted as it makes allegations not proper for this site). That whole office is so corrupt that they will not hire new people and 4 have been let go since August and work is just divided and no increase in pay. Where is the money that those people were getting paid? I am so glad to be gone from there, too much corruption. Someone needs to put Nancy and Kim to work not just the other Staff.

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