06/11/2026
This month we are excited to highlight Deputy Probation Officer III, Amanda Wagner. Miss Wagner started her career as a JCO within the juvenile detention center in 2012. She then promoted to a Probation Officer working in the juvenile division for 3 years prior to transferring to the Mono County Probation Department. Miss Wagner returned home to the Inyo County Probation Department 3.5 years later and has been a Deputy Probation Officer in the adult division. She currently supervises the Collaborative Court caseloads along with a Mental Health caseload.
Miss Wagner was asked a series of questions highlighting her professional insight, her personal side, some reflection and quick hits.
🏛️ Professional Insight:
1. What inspired you to pursue a career in probation or community corrections? While I was in college, I couldn’t decide if I wanted to be a therapist or a law enforcement officer. Probation allows me to practice a little bit of both!
2. What do you enjoy most about your job? Watching the people I work with discover unknown strengths and resiliency and getting to watch them settle into a life they are proud of, free from shame.
3. What’s one accomplishment or case of success you’re especially proud of? I feel deep pride in every individual that I work with who honestly admits they need to make a change and isn’t afraid to do the hard and meaningful work to make it happen.
4. What do you think people often misunderstand about probation work? The job really is beyond definition- I didn’t know what Probation was until I got into it! Some days you’re writing sentencing recommendations and handling check-ins, and an hour later you’re out in the field conducting a compliance search and hightailing it to the jail. It’s fast-paced and unpredictable- and I love it!
5. What’s one skill or quality that helps you succeed in your role? I am deeply empathetic. It helps me connect with people, understand their challenges, and meet them where they are while still holding them accountable.
đź’¬ Personal Side:
6. Where are you originally from, and what brought you to Inyo County? Born and raised!
7. What do you enjoy doing when you’re not at work? Being in the sunshine. I am a devoted fiction reader, a dedicated nap enthusiast, and I’m currently training for my first bodybuilding competition- I spend a lot of time lifting heavy things and counting macros haha!
đź’ Reflection & Motivation:
8. What does “making a difference” mean to you in your role? Helping people recognize they are capable of more than they believe. This job gives me the opportunity to hold people accountable while supporting them through change. It’s watching someone who once struggled begin to build a healthier, more stable life for themselves and their family
9. Who has been a mentor or positive influence in your career? Jake Morgan is the reason I am in probation work. He saw the potential in me before I even knew it existed. Jake taught me so much in the time I got to work with him. I seen him working the fair when I was a child and thought “whatever that guy is doing looks cool!” Turns out, it’s pretty cool 🙂
10. What advice would you give to someone starting their career in probation? Expect to be completely overwhelmed the first year, even two, maybe even sometimes in year thirteen haha! Expect to question the decisions you make, and replay scenarios in your head. Learn boundaries- FAST. Your head needs time to rest at home.
📸 Quick Hits:
11. Favorite snack or coffee order: I could eat my body weight in peanut butter and honey.
12. Something that always makes you smile: My pets.
13. Three words that describe you: Resilient, compassionate, and driven.
14. Best part of being part of the Inyo County Probation team: The people I work with and work for genuinely care about me. Not just as an officer, but as a human. The kindness this team has shown me is something I am grateful for every single day.
