Dozens Arrested in in Probation and Parole Sweep

Dozens of alleged parole and probation violators were back behind bars today following a widespread sweep in the North County.

More than 200 law enforcement officers from 15 different agencies scoured the streets of Oceanside and Vista throughout the day and into the night Wednesday to check on about 160 parolees and probationers, according to KGTV 10 News.

Roughly 30 people were arrested in the first four hours of Operation Tip the Scale and dozens more were taken into custody by nightfall, the station reported.

Since 2009, authorities have conducted 12 so-called Operation Tip the Scale sweeps. The majority of those targeted served time for drug-related offenses and will be offered drug counseling services.

"We encourage them, as soon as they get out of jail, to call and to go to a meeting and begin the recovery process," Linda Bridgeman Smith of the county's Health and Human Services Department told San Diego 6 News.

Assistant Sheriff's Patricia Duke told the news station her agency can't just lock everybody up.

"We have to provide them a path to get on track, get back to work and to being productive citizens," she said.

—City News Service

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