Compass Measure - Probation Supervision

Index: Crime & Safety / Subcategory: Crime

Probation Supervision - Adults & Juveniles

Date updated: 12/05/2011

Chart Directory:
Probation Supervision in the 8th Judicial District, FY 2002 - FY 2011

Rate of Probation Clients per 1,000 Population
New Juvenile & Adult Probation Clients
Number of Adults on Probation
Number of Juveniles on Probation

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 large majority of cases, however, are from Larimer County.

All data are based on a point-in-time annual count (annually on June 30^th) for adult and juvenile probationers.

What this chart shows: Probation Clients per 1,000 Population in the 8th Judicial District, FY 2002 - FY 2011

*Probationers are counted on June 30 of each year. Age group population is estimated for July 1.

Data Sources: Colorado State Judicial Branch

See data table

What this chart shows: New Juvenile & Adult Probation Clients in the 8th Judicial District, FY 2002 - FY 2011

*New clients represent the total number of unique individuals placed on probation for the fiscal year (July 1^st to June 30^th).

Data Sources: Colorado State Judicial Branch

See data table

What this chart shows: Adults on Probation Supervision in the 8th Judicial District, FY 2002 - FY 2011

*Probationers are counted on June 30 of each year.

Data Source: Colorado State Judicial Branch

See data table

What this chart shows: Juveniles on Probation in the 8th Judicial District, FY 2002 - FY 2011

*Probationers are counted on June 30 of each year.

Data Source: Colorado State Judicial Branch

See data table

What the above data tell us:
There have been several changes in the judicial system since July 1, 2001, that have affected probation caseloads in the 8^th Judicial District (Jackson and Larimer Counties).

Adults - Between fiscal years 2002 and 2011, the number of adult probationers increased 77.6% from 2,566 cases in FY 2002 to 4,557 cases in FY 2011. During this same time period, the adult population increased by 17.2%. As a result, the probation rate (per 1,000 population) rose to a high of 22.1 in FY 2009.

According to 8th Judicial District probation staff, the continued increase in adult rates has 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 8th 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 fiscal years 2002 to 2011, juveniles on probation varied from a high of 631 in 2009, to a low of 242 in 2006. The 8th 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 continues to request diversion sentences for youth with lower risk factors who have committed less serious offenses.

Probation staff report that youth who have been 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:

Related Information on COMPASS -

Other Resources -

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/A

Data Tables:

Adults and Juveniles on Probation in the 8th Judicial District (Larimer & Jackson Counties)*

Fiscal Year	Adult Population (18-90+)	8^th Judicial District Adults on Probation	Rate per 1,000 Adults (18-90+)	Juvenile Population (10 to 18)	8^th Judicial District Juveniles on Probation	Rate per 1,000 Juveniles (10 to 18)
FY 2002	205,227	2,566	12.5	34,392	324	9.4
FY 2003	207,568	2,607	12.6	34,252	323	9.4
FY 2004	212,220	2,237	10.5	34,298	254	7.4
FY 2005	215,048	2,276	10.6	33,938	307	9.0
FY 2006	219,750	2,536	11.5	33,916	242	7.1
FY 2007	224,823	2,962	13.2	33,795	267	7.9
FY 2008**	229,878	4,162	18.1	33,670	342	10.2
FY 2009	234,574	5,183	22.1	33,607	631	18.8
FY 2010	237,681	4,858	20.4	33,386	385	11.5
FY 2011	240,498	4,557	18.9	33,638	416	12.4

*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 - 'Rate of Adults and Juveniles on Probation'

See chart - 'Number of Adults on Probation'

See chart - 'Number of Juveniles on Probation'

New Probation Clients in the 8th Judicial District (Larimer & Jackson Counties)*

Fiscal Year	New Adult (Age 18-90+) Clients	New Juvenile (Age 10 to 18) Clients
FY 2002	1,448	286
FY 2003	1,622	262
FY 2004	1,548	187
FY 2005	1,565	284
FY 2006	1,660	219
FY 2007	1,880	258
FY 2008**	3,096	297
FY 2009	4,532	620
FY 2010	4,017	276
FY 2011	3,803	413

*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 - 'New Adult and Juvenile Probation Clients'