The 8th Judicial District Probation Department includes Larimer County, in which Fort Collins is located. Within the 8th Judicial District are four probation department offices in the following areas: Fort Collins (two offices) and Loveland (two offices).
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In FY2012, there were 2,796 probation investigations in the 8th Judicial District Probation Department, 53 of which were sex offender investigations, 566 of which were pre-sentence investigations, and 229 of which were administrative investigations.
Education and Training Requirements for Fort Collins, Colorado
Probation officer careers in Fort Collins, Colorado, demand a bachelor’s degree in one of the following fields (or a related field): criminology, social work, sociology, or psychology.
Individuals who want to learn how to become a probation officer in Fort Collins must also consider the training component of this job, which includes initial training via a basic safety course, an officer field safety course, and mandatory new employee training.
All new probation officers must complete training through the Probation Academy and must complete a number of post-training exams—achieving a minimum score of 75 percent on them—in subsequent years (years 2, 3 and 4). By year 6, all probation officers in Fort Collins must be able to work a full caseload of medium- to high-risk offenders.
Probation Officer Career in Fort Collins, Colorado: Probation Programs
There are a number of probation programs in Fort Collins, which are designed to provide specialized services to offenders in specific circumstances or those with specific needs:
- Pre-sentence investigations – Probation officers assigned to pre-sentence investigations are called upon to conduct pre-sentence investigations and write formal reports for the court.
- Specialized supervision – Specialized supervision is designed for high-risk felony offenders. Specialized supervision often includes: Adult Intensive Supervision, Sex Offender Intensive Supervision, and the Female Offender Program.
- Alcohol and drug Driving Safety (ADDS) – Probation officers through the ADDS program conduct pre- and post-sentence evaluations and monitor the offender’s compliance with the mandated treatment.
- Adult and Juvenile Drug Courts – Some probation officers are tasked with providing case supervision and management for offenders in the adult or juvenile drug court through the District Court.
- Victim Assistance Coordination – Victims receive assistance through probation officers who serve as Victim Assistance Coordinators. These officers provide offenders with notification regarding significant events in the offender’s period of probation.