Probation Supervision - Adults & Juveniles
Date posted: 07/01/2009
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Probation Supervision in the Eighth Judicial District, 1999-2008
Adult and juvenile offenders who are sentenced to probation supervision are assigned varying levels of supervision depending on their individual risk and needs. The length of supervision depends on the Court's sentence. The range of client contact varies from a monthly written or phone-in contact to intensive daily face-to-face contact with a probation officer. Data on this page represent the Eighth Judicial District, which consists of Larimer and Jackson Counties. The number of Jackson County cases however, is very small. All data are based on a point-in-time annual count (June 30) of adult or juvenile probationers.
What this chart shows: Rate of Adults & Juveniles on Probation Supervision in the Eighth Judicial District, 1999-2008*
*Probationers are counted on June 30 of each year. Age group population is estimated for July 1.
Data Sources:
- Eighth Judicial District (Larimer & Jackson Counties), Department of Probation Services
- Colorado Department of Local Affairs, State Demography Office
What this chart shows: Adults on Probation Supervision in the Eighth Judicial District, 1999-2008*
*Probationers are counted on June 30 of each year.
Data Source: Eighth Judicial District (Larimer & Jackson Counties), Department of Probation Services
*Probationers are counted on June 30 of each year.
Data Source: 8th Judicial District (Larimer & Jackson Counties), Department of Probation Services.
What these data tell us:
Adults - Between 1999 and 2008, the number of adult probationers doubled from 2,209 cases in 1999 to 4,403 cases in 2008. During this same time period, the adult population increased by 23%. As a result, the probation rate (per 1,000 population) rose to a high of 19.0 in 2008.
Eighth Judicial District probation staff indicate that the continued increase in adult rates and actual case numbers have several possible causes:
- Domestic violence cases continue to play a significant role in the workload of the department.
- A legislative change in 1998 mandated that certain felony sexual offenses, committed after November 1, 1998, carry longer sentences (ten or twenty years to life) than previously permitted. Thus, sex offenders sentenced to probation continue under supervision for longer periods of time.
- Since June 2000, the Eighth Judicial District Probation Department has contracted with a private provider to supervise low risk offenders, with higher risk offenders continuing to be supervised by the Probation Department. According to probation staff, the increased access to probation supervision has resulted in greater numbers of probation sentences for misdemeanor offenders.
- In March 2008, a change in policy allowed some cases, which would have been added to the monitoring system, to be placed under probation supervision instead.
Juveniles - From 1999 to 2008, juveniles on probation varied from a high of 519 in 1999, to a low of 273 in 2004. The number of juveniles on probation has increased 37% since the low in 2004. The Eighth Judicial District probation staff cited several potential reasons for the changes in juvenile caseloads:
- The statutes regarding juvenile probation allowed the Court to designate agencies, in addition to the Probation Department, to provide probation supervision; therefore, the numbers provided do not reflect all juveniles who are ordered to serve a period of probation by the Court. This data reflects only those who are ordered to serve probation under the supervision of the Probation Department.
- There continues to be a strong emphasis from the District Attorney's office on providing appropriate diversion programming for many juveniles who are arrested for a criminal offense. Larimer County has many diversion type services available that provide alternatives to Court intervention for lower risk juveniles.
- In 2006, through collaboration with the Larimer County Department of Human Services, an additional juvenile Drug Court process was initiated to address addiction issues in lower risk juveniles who were involved in diversion programming, but continued to use substances. This 'Level 1' Juvenile Drug Court includes youth who remain as diversion cases and lower-risk youth whose cases are filed in Court following failure on diversion programming.
- In the late 1990s, many criminal justice agencies increased efforts to implement restorative justice practices, which often lead to alternative means of working with juvenile offenders. For example, rather than serving probation sentences, offenders might participate in conferencing with the victim, or work with a local merchant board to rectify a shoplifting crime.
- During the sentencing phase, probation staff continue to request diversion sentences for youth with lower risk factors who have committed less serious offenses.
Probation staff report that youth who are being sentenced to Probation Department supervision continue to have more serious risk factors and are committing more serious crimes than those participating in diversion programs or being supervised by other agencies. The degree of risk is defined using a standardized assessment instrument.
Additional Information:
On Compass -
- Adult Abuse
- Adult Arrests
- Alternative Sentencing Unit
- Charges Filed by the District Attorney's Office
- Child Abuse
- Detention Center Population & Capacity
- Domestic Violence
- Juvenile Arrests
- Population Size & Growth
- Population by Age
Outside Compass -
- American Probation & Parole Association - information on publications, grants, and best practices in the field.
- Colorado Bureau of Investigation - Crime in Colorado Report
- Colorado Judicial Branch, Eighth Judicial District - Court & Department of Probation information.
- United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics - discusses nature of work, employment outlook, earnings, etc. for Probation Officers.
Industry Standards or Targets:
N/AData Tables:
Adults on Probation in the Eighth Judicial District (Larimer & Jackson Counties)*
|
Year |
Larimer County Adults (18-90+) |
Jackson County Adults (18-90+) |
Total Adults |
Adults on Probation |
Rate per 1000 Adults (18-90+) |
|
1999 |
187,376 |
1,176 |
188,552 |
2,209 |
11.7 |
|
2000 |
193,090 |
1,175 |
194,265 |
2,534 |
13.0 |
|
2001 |
199,658 |
1,189 |
200,847 |
2,535 |
12.6 |
|
2002 |
204,412 |
1,206 |
205,618 |
2,566 |
12.5 |
|
2003 |
206,890 |
1,228 |
208,118 |
2,607 |
12.5 |
|
2004 |
211,400 |
1,197 |
212,597 |
2,432 |
11.4 |
|
2005 |
214,399 |
1,203 |
215,602 |
2,501 |
11.6 |
|
2006 |
219,367 |
1,193 |
220,560 |
2,795 |
12.7 |
|
2007 |
224,839 |
1,179 |
226,018 |
3,181 |
14.1 |
|
2008** |
230,312 |
1,153 |
231,465 |
4,403 |
19.0 |
*Probationers are counted on June 30 of each year. Age group population is estimated for July 1.
**Some monitoring system cases were placed on probation beginning March 1, 2008.
See chart - 'Number of Adults'
Juveniles on Probation in the Eighth Judicial District (Larimer & Jackson Counties)*
|
Year |
Larimer County Youth (10-17) |
Jackson County Youth (10-17) |
Total Juveniles |
Juveniles on Probation |
Rate per 1000 Youth (10-17) |
|
1999 |
27,286 |
207 |
27,493 |
519 |
18.9 |
|
2000 |
28,241 |
208 |
28,449 |
408 |
14.3 |
|
2001 |
28,959 |
205 |
29,164 |
359 |
12.3 |
|
2002 |
29,281 |
204 |
29,485 |
324 |
11.0 |
|
2003 |
29,020 |
198 |
29,218 |
323 |
11.1 |
|
2004 |
28,995 |
179 |
29,174 |
273 |
9.4 |
|
2005 |
28,788 |
174 |
28,962 |
339 |
11.7 |
|
2006 |
28,791 |
169 |
28,960 |
269 |
9.3 |
|
2007 |
28,761 |
167 |
28,928 |
300 |
10.4 |
|
2008 |
28,603 |
163 |
28,766 |
373 |
13.0 |
*Probationers are counted on June 30 of each year. Age group population is estimated for July 1.