Probation Department

Probation is a method of rehabilitation ordered by the court. In the district court, the probation officers work under the direction of the chief judge, judge, or court administrator, to conduct investigations and prepare informational reports. Those reports include a Pre-Sentence Report, Alcohol Assessment / Evaluation, Probation Violation Report, Amended Order Report, Transfer Investigation Report, and the Restitution Request Report, in addition to various informational reports. They assist the district court judge in determining the appropriate sentences of individuals brought before the court, as well as providing input regarding the current status of a probationer. Although acting independently, the probation officer maintains a professional working relationship with police agencies and prosecutors.

Prior to imposing an order of probation, the court may request that the probation department conduct a Pre-Sentence Investigation. The probation officer is entrusted with the responsibility to make appropriate recommendations to the court, and in order to do that the officer must be aware of the probationer’s life situation, i.e. educational achievements, family and residential status, employment, criminal background, and alcohol or drug issues. That information is revealed only when a thorough investigation is conducted. That may be performed at the probation office, at a place of incarceration, or an in-patient treatment facility, and equally important, in a timely manner. The officer will then prepare a Pre-Sentence Report for the court that typically includes specific recommendations for supervision, and special conditions. The Pre-Sentence Report is only available for viewing by the judge of record for the purpose of passing sentence or establishing an order from the court, the attorney of record and in the attorney’s absence, the offender, and the probation department.

Upon agreeing to accept responsibility for a misdemeanor, the adult offender appears in district court on an assigned date to hear the judge’s order. The judge has several options: Imposing of fines & costs, incarceration, a term of probation, often with conditions that directly address the behavior related to the criminal offense, and any combination thereof. The court may suspend fines and costs if deemed appropriate.

If a term of probation is ordered, it typically is accompanied by conditions, fines and costs.

In addition to standard terms of probation, which include: no arrests, report to the probation officer as required, obtain authorization from the probation officer to leave the state, and inform the probation officer of any address or employment changes, there are special conditions that may be imposed by the sentencing judge.

It is the probation officer’s primary job to ensure that the probationer is in compliance of the court order, and in turn, society’s demands, as dictated by the court, will be met.

Failure to comply with the order of probation shall be reported to the sentencing judge, in the form of an Amended Order, (which will specifically address the indicated need while remaining in the community), or a Probation Violation Report with, as a last resort, a recommendation of incarceration which is recommended only when all other alternatives have been exhausted.

All violation reports are accompanied by a recommendation that is specifically designed to address the probationer’s needs, whether they are treatment, education, jail, or any combination thereof. It is important to deal with the violation in a timely manner.

Providing an alternative to incarceration is part of the probation system. Identifying the needs of the probationer and utilizing the community based programs to address those needs is one of the most important functions of the probation officer. Therefore the probation officer must be aware of the available community based programs which may be used to address a specific need of the probationer.

It is the probation officer’s responsibility to seek out new treatment programs for offenders and make them available to staff.

The probation officer has the authority to recommend to the court additional conditions of probation as they become necessary to address behavior that may constitute a violation of the law. As an example, submitting a positive urine sample which indicates traces of THC, i.e. Marijuana is a violation. Although possessing Marijuana (finding it in the urine) is a misdemeanor, the probation officer may submit an Amended Order request to the sentencing judge to mandate drug counseling due to the positive urinalysis. Thus the probation officer is addressing a violation of probation in a pro-active way to treat the behavior, in a community based program, rather than imposing incarceration.

The probation department subscribes to the theory of progressive discipline. Providing the observed behavior is not a danger to the probationer or the public, violations may be addressed in the community by way of sanctions, programming, or an increase in the type of supervision ordered. In most cases, the sentencing judge authorizes the type of supervision imposed due to indicated behavior. If it merely results in increased reporting dates due to a failure to report, or failure to perform ordered conditions in a timely manner, the court does not necessarily have to be consulted for approval. The probation officer has a certain amount of discretion when supervising a probationer.

Probationers are typically required to meet with their probation officer on a monthly basis. The initial interview includes a reading of the Order of Probation, followed by a question and answer session, and an oral agreement that the probationer completely understands the conditions set forth in the order. The officer makes every effort possible to explain the conditions. Upon receiving the probationer’s assurance that the conditions are understood, the order of probation is signed and dated by both the officer and the probationer. One copy is given to the probationer and the other is maintained in the probationer’s file.

The probation officer records that the orientation was conducted on that date, the order was read, signed, and a copy of the order was given to the probationer. By doing that, the probation officer is documenting that the order of the court has been executed. The officer’s computer or hand written notes are privileged information unavailable to everyone except the officers and judge of record.

The probationer’s file is considered privileged information available to the officer, probation clerk, and the judge of record. Specific paperwork may be reviewed by counsel, but notes, personal letters, etc. are not for public viewing, unless a release of information pertaining to the specific document is signed by the probationer.

The probation department protects the records of all probationers to insure privacy and to maintain the highest level of professionalism.

Tuesdays and Wednesdays ONLY – Close 12-1 for lunch

If you have a current active warrant due to failure to appear for court, failure to pay fines and cost, or failing to comply with the order of probation, the court accepts walk in arraignments on warrants as follows:

• • Tuesdays/Wednesdays/Thursdays at 8:30 AM ONLY
  • If it is a payable warrant, payment is accepted over the phone, online, and in person. A 20% administrative fee will apply to cancel the warrant in addition to the fines and cost owed.

Payments are accepted Online, over the phone, and in person. To Pay online, please visit one of the following:

• • Center Line:
  • Warren:
• To pay over the phone, Please Contact the following:
  • Center Line:
  • Warren:
• Payments are accepted in person at the cashiers window in the form of Cash/card/check, dependent on how the payment will be applied
  • **Bonds: Only Cash is accepted for payment on Bond