Juvenile Probation

About Juvenile Probation

This section provides general information about probation and tips for being successful while on probation. Please talk to your attorney about any questions you may have after reading the information on this page.

Two Types of Probation

• Supervised Probation: If you are placed on supervised probation, you must report to a probation officer on a regular basis. Your probation officer will stop by your house to make sure that you are home when you are supposed to be and will also come to your school from time to time. You must obey all laws while you are on probation. You will probably be ordered to make payments, submit to drug tests, and/or perform community service. You may be ordered to participate in counseling. If you commit a new crime or fail to do what the Court ordered you to do, you are violating your probation. You can be arrested and sent to the Youth Justice Center for violating probation. Please see below for tips for being successful on supervised probation.
• Juvenile Intensive Probation (JIPS): Juvenile Intensive Probation, usually called JIPS, is supervised probation with extra restrictions. In addition to normal conditions of probation, you will be required to participate in one or more of the following for not less than 32 hours each week: school, a court-ordered treatment program, employment, and/or supervised community service. You will be on house arrest. This means that you cannot leave your home at any time except to attend school, work, or treatment, to perform community service, or to participate in an activity at the direction of your supervising probation officer. You must submit to drug and alcohol tests, and you might be ordered to wear an electronic monitor (an ankle bracelet). Please see the tips for being successful on supervised probation below, but remember that you have additional requirements because you are on JIPS. Also keep in mind that if you violate JIPS, you are very likely to be sentenced to the Department of Juvenile Corrections.

Tips for Succeeding on Supervised Probation

Report, Report, Report

Your probation starts the day of your disposition hearing. You will meet with a Juvenile Probation Officer immediately after the hearing. He or she will review the written terms of probation with you. These are the rules that you must follow for as long as you are on probation. If you are unsure about whether or not you are allowed to do something, or if any of the terms are unclear, ask your probation officer. You will be held responsible for any violation of your terms of probation. The telephone number for Juvenile Probation is 520-866-7065.

You will be given a date and time to meet with your assigned probation officer. Do not miss that appointment. Make sure that you are on time. If you are running late, call the Juvenile Probation Department and let someone know. If you miss a meeting with your Probation Officer, don't panic. Your probation will not be automatically revoked the first time you miss an appointment. Instead, call your Probation Officer immediately, explain what happened, and reschedule the meeting.

Do Not Move Without Permission

While on probation, you must get permission from your probation officer before you move to a different address. Also, you must tell your Probation Officer immediately if your telephone number changes.

Stay Sober

Do not drink alcohol. Do not use any illegal drugs. Do not use any prescription drugs unless you have a valid prescription. You will be tested for drugs and alcohol. If you test positive, you will be violated.

Do What You Are Ordered To Do

If you were ordered to do community service, do it. If you were ordered to do counseling or a drug/alcohol screening, do it. If you were given a curfew, be home by that time. If you are having problems doing something you were ordered to do, talk to your Probation Officer. Ask for help. The worst thing you can do is ignore something you are required to do.

Pay Something Every Time

You will be ordered to make payments while on probation. Those payments may include any or all of the following: probation supervision fees, fines, DUI assessments, incarceration costs, restitution, transfer fees, time payment fees, defense attorney fees, etc. If you cannot afford to make the payments, talk to your Probation Officer. Explain your financial situation. If you can't pay the full amount, pay as much as you can. Don't miss any payments. It is extremely important that you pay as much as you can as often as you can. As long as you do that, you cannot be sent to prison or jail for not making your full payments.

Stay Organized

Use a monthly calendar to keep track of your obligations. If you are having a hard time keeping track of what you have to do and when, call the Public Defender's Office and ask for a Probation Handbook. Look at it every week. Update it as you go.

Communicate

Every time you call your Probation Officer, you are sending the message that you take probation seriously. Your Probation Officer wants to help you to succeed on probation. Any time you are confused about what you are supposed to do or have a question about what you are allowed to do, simply call your Probation Officer.

Remember, the Judge wouldn't have put you on probation if he or she didn't think you could do it.