Probation services to expand in 7th Judicial District

Daily Press

MONTROSE — Montrose and surrounding counties will see a boost in probation services after new hires are made as part of a 13-percent expansion of the Colorado Judicial Branch probation services department.

The 7th Judicial District, which consists of Montrose, Delta, Gunnison, San Miguel, Ouray, and Hinsdale Counties, will see four probation officers added to its staff. Those officers represent only a few of the 81 new openings for probation officers statewide, along with 12 probation supervisors and 18 support positions that have been approved as part of the fiscal year 2008 budget bill.

“Montrose was number two in the state for need of probation officers. We are currently staffed at 53 percent of our need; this will bring us up to 80 percent, so we still won’t have what we need,” said Carol Warner, chief probation officer of the 7th Judicial District.

Two new officers will be hired to work in Delta, and two replacements will fill positions vacated by officers who are transferring to Montrose from Gunnison and Telluride. That will bring the number of probation officers in the Montrose office up to eight, along with two probation supervisors.

Funding for the additional positions will be available July 1 and recruitment efforts are currently under way. Warner hopes to be interviewing candidates throughout July and have positions filled by August.

“The issue is that we’ve been getting the job done, but it’s very difficult to supervise at a level that people really should be supervised at when you’re so short on staff,” Warner said. “Supervising is more than just surveillance; it’s really helping defendants link up with resources and not end up in jail. The task really is to provide for more community safety and to improve the probationers’ chance of actually being successful on probation.”

Probation is considered an inexpensive and effective alternative to incarceration. The average annual cost of probation per individual is between $750 and $2,400, depending on the intensity of surveillance, compared to the $27,600 that it cost to house an inmate for a year in the Department of Corrections.

During fiscal year 2006, the probation services department provided supervision for over 41,000 individuals, prepared over 19,000 pre-sentence investigation reports and completed over 27,000 alcohol and drug evaluations.

“This is an exciting time for the recruitment of probation professionals,” said Jeff Boylan, a Judicial Branch staffing analyst, in a press release. “We’re seeking the highest-quality candidates who strive to make a positive impact in the communities they serve.”

Contact John Deneen via e-mail at johnd@montrosepress.com