one of his probationers is 24- year-old ceasar rivera of modesto taking part here in a class on ambition. he was arrested for petty theft and sentenced to 150 days in jail. it was his second conviction. >> yeah, i stole something, you know, to pay for my rent. so i went ahead a did a crime that i actually should never have, but i did it for my family. >> reporter: rivera ended up getting into an alternative work program, he has a job and a wife and daughter, and he's on probation. >> right now, the jails are so packed, you know, so packed that they're letting these people that don't have a lot of time getting released on this program. so did you spend any time in jail? >> yeah, actually did a day in jail. >> reporter: just one day? >> just one day. >> reporter: but some felons, powers argues, aren't suited for probation. he and half a dozen of his probation officers go on daily operations to find felony probation violators; people who may be in possession of weapons, or hanging out with gangs, or using or selling drugs. >> see these are used baggies, empty baggies of meth, there's >> rep