Two days ago, I watched a client’s Probation Officer revoke his probation after 3 years of working very hard in sex offender treatment. It could just as easily have been any type of Greeley Probation. Today, I worked with a client who is scheduled to successfully finish his Probation for a worse crime. One failed and one was successful. What was the difference? Let’s first look at who Probation officers are and then I’ll give you the inside scoop.
What do Probation Officer’s Do in Weld County? What is Their Job in Greeley Courts?
A Weld County Probation Officer works for the State of Colorado, and their job is to supervise the convicted defendant to fulfill the sentencing orders of the judge. When someone is sentenced, they are immediately to report to Probation to begin supervision by a Probation Officer. The Probation Officer designs a program, rules and deadlines for a defendant, or “Probationer.” Officers are supposed to ensure that the Probationer does not present a risk to “community safety”. That is the buzz word. These Probation Officers are the boss, and they usually have a big ego. You sometimes wonder if half of these Officers just started their job yesterday with no training. If the Probationer is smart, he will try hard to learn what the Probation Officer wants and fully comply. Cutting corners can only get him hurt.
Attitude is Critical While on Probation in Weld County, Colorado
The Probationer’s attitude of submission and humility makes all the difference. Even with a bad Weld County Probation Officer who eventually wants you to fail, you can still be successful with the right attitude. My client who was revoked had a proud heart and argued with his Probation Officer. He may have been correct on occasions – but she won in the end. He thought they were equals. The humble client had the attitude of “whatever you want me to do, I will do it with no complaining.” He held the attitude that “you can teach me something and help me get there.” In the case of the Probationer who was revoked, I read more than 600 pages of the Probation Officer’s notes. There was a distinct point where everything went down the toilet. My client angered his Probation Officer and after that he could not do anything right, no matter what he did. She had it out for him and only recorded notes of his failures. She planned for his revocation and even sought out input from his angry son and wife to revoke his Probation.
Probation Officers in Greeley Plan for Your Probation Revocation Complaint by Keeping a Record of Wrongs
Some Greeley Probation Officers start recording your shortcomings from the very start, to use in their Probation Revocation Complaint if it becomes necessary. It is their focus. They may not act like failures on your part are of any concern, but if you make them mad enough, they will pull out notes from years ago when you did not fully perform for them. Then, in your Complaint for Revocation, they will list EVERY one of these failures over the years. Examples include times you were late or missed an appointment with them, times you missed a call-in for curfew, times you missed a UA, and times you received a complaint from your victim. If you miss a payment for Probation fees, they will make a record. If you have a hot UA, they will make a note of it. In the end, if they want you to succeed, they will let this record slide and let you off Probation. If you make them unhappy, you will be surprised when they serve you with a Complaint and a long list of years of errors. Never mistake that a Probation Officer is your friend or equal. They will lie to send you to prison or community corrections, if you don’t humble yourself around them. And, they have the power to do it. It is safer for a judge’s career to trust these Probation Officers than to trust you.
Important Reminders About Weld County Probation Officers
Probation Officers in Weld County are not your friend. You are their servant. You serve their wishes and exist to build up their ego. Really. Yes, they need to get you to do Court ordered treatment and things related to your obvious problems like UA’s and DV treatment. But they want and need much more. They hold the power and will lie to put you in the Weld County Jail, prison or community corrections. At some point, they will actually be against you and try to make you fail. Some Greeley Probation Officers do want you to succeed, and help you get there. These are the good ones. But more and more today act like you exist so they can boss someone around and feel better about themselves.