Hello, my name is Luis Duran, and I have been with the San Joaquin County Probation Department for 5 years. During this time, I have worked in the Adult and Juvenile Divisions. I have covered Adult and Juvenile courts, managed a caseload, conducted home visits and compliance searches, and worked with other law enforcement agencies like local police departments and homeland security on special missions. 

• I decided to enter the field of Probation because: I felt it was a career where you get to do a little bit of everything within the different law enforcement careers out there. Probation is a unique career, where every day is different and you need to find a balance between Law Enforcement and Social work. For example, one day you could be working a mission with local police departments and the next day you are developing a plan with school officials, to improve a youth’s attendance that is on probation. I felt I needed a career that wouldn’t’ become the same daily routine, as I need 30+ years to reach retirement, and a career in Probation will never be the same routine.
• The most unusual job I ever had: I did not work too many jobs before my career, but I did work at a grocery store during high school, a few cherry seasons in the shipping office during college and coached soccer at a local high school. I was able to learn something from all these jobs and apply it to my career today.
• I felt it was important serve on this board: To help shed light and share a different perspective on Probation. As a college student, I knew little of Probation and one presentation in college from a Probation Officer sparked my interest in this field.
• Hardest thing I ever done: Make a decision as to what law enforcement field I wanted to join. I applied to different agencies before I graduated college and fortunately had a few job offers when I graduated. I had to put all the good and bad for each career on paper and ended up choosing Probation. A decision I am still happy about today.
• My favorite way to relax: Spending time with family, playing slow pitch softball and coaching soccer.
• Favorite meal: Carne asada tacos or burrito.
• One item from bucket list: I want to go to Brazil.
• Three people living or deceased I would invite to dinner: LeBron James, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Derek Jeter.
• You’d be surprise to learn that: Baseball is my favorite sport even though I played soccer all the way through college and I am still heavily involved in soccer as a local coach and ref.
• I am proud of most: My parents because they set me up to succeed I am where I am today thanks to them.
• My motto is: Once you know what failure is like, determination chases success.
• If there were one piece of advice to give anyone considering Probation as a career, it would be: inform yourself on this career, as best you can, as well as your other career options. Before you make your career decision, know yourself and what is important to you.