Denver Probation – A Legal Guide to How It Works

Q: What will I have to do on probation?

Colorado probation terms vary by case. Ten common conditions of probation in Denver are: 1) Abstaining from drugs and alcohol; 2) Submitting to random drug and alcohol testing; 3) Paying court fines, probation fees, and victim restitution; 4) Completing community service (such as for Habitat for Humanity, Metro Denver); 5) Going to counseling (such as for substance abuse in drug cases or domestic violence counseling); 6) Taking an education class (such as Level II alcohol education classes in DUI cases); 7) Home confinement; 8) Wearing an alcohol detection anklet; 9) Wearing an electronic monitoring anklet; 10) Not possessing any firearms.

Q: Is my probation a public record in Colorado?

Yes. Colorado probation information is available on the applicable district court website or by calling the court clerk. However, juvenile probation information remains confidential.

Q: What happens if I violate probation in Colorado?

If Denver County Probation believes that you violated probation, their officers can arrest you. If you deny violating probation, the court will hold a probation revocation hearing - which is very similar to a trial. If your judge finds that you did not commit a probation violation, then you will be allowed to remain on probation as before. But if the judge determines that you did violate probation, the judge can either: let you stay on probation (usually with more severe terms than before); or revoke your probation and remand you to jail to serve out the remainder of your sentence. Anyone suspected of violating probation is advised to have an attorney represent them at the hearing. In many cases, judges can be persuaded to give defendants a second chance.

Q: How do I contact my probation officer?

Call Denver County Probation Services at (303) 607-7104. The Denver Adult Probation county office is located at: 303 W. Colfax Ave., 5th floor, Denver CO 80204.

Posted on August 8, 2023

Probationer talking to police officer — Probation is available to most defendants in Denver.

Most people convicted of criminal offenses in Denver are eligible for probation instead of incarceration. Though you must follow all the conditions the judge imposes. Falling short on just one of your probationary terms could get your probation revoked and land you in jail.

Below our Colorado criminal defense lawyers answer the top five faqs about Denver County Court Probation.

1. What will I have to do on probation?

Colorado probation terms vary by case. Ten common conditions of probation in Denver are:

Abstaining from drugs and alcohol;
Submitting to random drug and alcohol testing;
Paying court fines, probation fees, and victim restitution;
Completing community service (such as for Habitat for Humanity, Metro Denver);
Going to counseling (such as for substance abuse in drug cases or domestic violence counseling);
Taking an education class (such as Level II alcohol education classes in DUI cases);
Home confinement;
Wearing an alcohol detection anklet;
Wearing an electronic monitoring anklet;
Not possessing any firearms.

You will be assigned to either supervised probation (where you report to your probation officer) or unsupervised probation (where you report to the court). Supervised probation is more intense and costs $50 a month. Unsupervised probation has no additional costs and is typically granted in less serious cases.

Depending on your case, probation lasts from a few weeks to a couple of years. Learn more about felony probation and misdemeanor probation.¹

1.1. Is my probation a public record in Colorado?

Yes. Colorado probation information is available

on the applicable district court website or
by calling the court clerk.

However, juvenile probation information remains confidential.

2. What happens if I violate probation in Colorado?

If Denver County Probation believes that you violated probation, their officers can arrest you. If you deny violating probation, the court will hold a probation revocation hearing – which is very similar to a trial.

If your judge finds that you did not commit a probation violation, then you will be allowed to remain on probation as before. But if the judge determines that you did violate probation, the judge can either:

let you stay on probation (usually with more severe terms than before); or
revoke your probation and remand you to jail to serve out the remainder of your sentence.

Anyone suspected of violating probation is advised to have an attorney represent them at the hearing. In many cases, judges can be persuaded to give defendants a second chance.²

3. How do I contact my probation officer?

Call Denver County Probation Services at (303) 607-7104. The Denver Adult Probation county office is located at:

303 W. Colfax Ave., 5th floor
Denver CO 80204

The hours are Monday through Friday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The general email address is [email protected].

(Denver Juvenile Probation is located in the same building on West Colfax but in Suite# 1401. The phone number is 303-607-7400.)

Man in orange jumpsuit in front of judge

Denver probation violation hearings are decided by a judge, not a jury.

4. Can I travel out of state?

Depending on the terms of your probation, you may need to get court permission prior to traveling outside of Colorado. If you are unsure, contact the Denver County Probation Office at (303) 607-7104.

If you intend to move to another state, you definitely need to notify Denver County Probation as soon as possible. The chief probation officer has to consent to the move and complete a host of paperwork for the interstate probation transfer to be legal under the interstate compact.³

If you wish to move from the county of Denver to a different Colorado county, you also need advanced permission from the probation department. But the transfer process is much simpler than if you were moving states.

5. Can I finish probation early?

As long as you have been compliant, Denver District Court- and County Court judges can release you from probation early.

You would first need to file a motion with the court asking for early termination of probation. The motion also has to include the following information:

your name;
your case number;
your attorney;
your sentencing date;
the expected end date of probation; and
reasons why you should be granted early termination of probation (“good cause”).

The judge may decide to hold a hearing first before deciding on the motion.⁴

Additional resources…

For more information about Denver probation laws, go to our related articles:

Legal References

CRS 18-1.3-201.
See also People v. Lucero (2011) 127 Nev. 92.
Interstate Commission for Adult Offender Supervision, About. See also Martello v. Baker (Colorado Supreme Court, 1975), 189 Colo. 195.
CRS 18-1.3-204. See also People v. Lientz (2012) 317 P.3d 1215.

About the Author

Michael Becker

Michael Becker has over a quarter-century's worth of experience as an attorney and more than 100 trials under his belt. He is a sought-after legal commentator and is licensed to practice law in Colorado, Nevada, California, and Florida.

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