Probation Office Moving to Revitalized Downtown Building

TYLER — A ribbon cutting ceremony Friday afternoon marked the completion of renovations to the new Community Supervision & Corrections (Adult Probation) Department at 217 East Line Street in downtown Tyler. The building features more than 15,000 square feet of office space for the probation department employees and includes training classrooms and additional parking for probationers.

The Adult Probation Department is currently housed in the Smith County Office Building and employs 67 people. More than 5,000 people are currently on court-ordered probation from Smith County courts, and the department receives daily visits from the people who are supervised on probation. The Adult Probation Department will continue to operate from the Smith County Office Building during a transition period September 3 – 6. On Monday, September 10, the Community Supervision & Corrections Department at 217 East Line will open permanently. “We’re excited about this move and for what it means to our employees. The new facility will be a breath of fresh air for the men and women who serve our community,” County Judge Joel Baker said.

The building’s proximity to the Courthouse and Sheriff’s Office was an important consideration due to frequent interaction between probation officers, the courts, and law enforcement, officials say. Renovating this building — which formerly housed a variety of businesses, from a candy and vending company to a dance hall — was a collaborative effort. Architectural consultants, the Commissioners Court, the Adult Probation Department, and the local Council of Judges came together to repurpose the property. “We are very proud that the county has rehabilitated and revitalized yet another facility in the downtown area. It’s a win-win situation for everyone,” Commissioner JoAnn Hampton added.

According to a county news release, opening this facility will allow the County to fulfill the long-time objective of vacating the Smith County Office Building. That facility sits on the corner of Elm Street and Broadway Avenue at the former site of the 1950s-era Carlton Hotel.