Colorado’s Jefferson County Pretrial Services – What You Need to Know

 

What are Pretrial Services?

For certain crimes, usually for felonies or more serious misdemeanors, the court will order you to be put on pretrial services, which is basically parole before trial. This is the court’s way of keeping you around and making sure you don’t commit any crimes while awaiting your trial date. Not everyone is required to be on pretrial services; they’re usually ordered for felony offenders.

When you are on pretrial services, you have to be on your best behavior. A condition of pretrial services is that you do not take drugs or consume alcohol. This requirement gets a lot of people in trouble so be extra aware of your actions while on pretrial services.

Pretrial services are operated by a neutral entity that collaborates with a variety of agencies within the criminal justice system. There are two different units within pretrial services operations: the Pretritrial Officer Unit and the Pretrial Case Management Unit.

Pretrial Officer Unit

This unit is located within the Jefferson County Detention Facility. The people in this unit screen and interview arrested persons. The main function of this division is to prepare detailed Pretrial Reports about defendants, which usually include validated risk assessments, defendants’ criminal histories, and other factors that will aid judges in making informed decisions when it’s time to set bond conditions.

Pretrial Case Management Unit

This unit is located within the Jefferson County courthouse. The people in this unit supervise defendants’ compliance with their bond conditions as set forth by the court. If you’re assigned to a pretrial case manager, you’ll meet regularly with him or her so your case manager can review compliance and offer additional resources, if appropriate.

What Do I Have to Do on Pretrial Services?

1) Check-In

If you are ordered to pretrial services, you must check-in within 24 business hours of your release from jail to schedule an intake. Thereafter, pretrial services will request that you check in with them on a scheduled basis. They can require you to check in anywhere from every day to a few times a month. This could be anything from checking in with a diversion officer, checking into court, and/or random urine analysis testing. Your specific pretrial requirements will be given to you on your pretrial services supervision agreement. You will have to call a check-in line. The check-in line will then tell you if you are checked in.

To call the check-in line:

1. Dial (303) 271-6500 from any touch-tone telephone
2. Press #1 to check in if there are no changes to your contact information (if you do have changes to your information you must contact your case manager directly)
3. Enter your SSN
4. Press #1 to verify the SSN you entered is correct
5. Listen to the recording of your next scheduled court appearance (if this information seems wrong from the information that you have, contact your case manager)
6. Once the message indicates that your check-in has been successfully completed, you may hang up

2) Travel Permit Process

While on pretrial services, you are required to notify and get permission from the court before you can travel out of the state. Part of pretrial services is to make sure you don’t try to leave the state without resolving the pending criminal case against you. This means you have to submit a travel permit request before you are able to travel out of the state.

All travel permit requests must be completed in person. A minimum of two business weeks is required to process the request. You are required to have the following information in order to complete the permit request:

1. Name/Address/Telephone number of the person you will be staying with
2. The dates you wish to travel outside of the state of Colorado
3. The purpose of your travel request
4. Method of travel (flying/train/driving)
5. Names of anyone accompanying you
6. Consent of Surety from bondsman or cosigner on bond (does not apply to personal recognizance or self-posted cash bonds)

3) Pretrial Fee Information

Of course, there is nothing you can do about having to pay to be on the services that the court requires you to be on. The system is a money-making machine and this is just another way they make you pay fines.

Acceptable forms of payment:

1. Cash (exact amount only)
2. Credit or Debit Card (Visa or MasterCard only)
3. Money order (made payable to Jefferson County Treasurer C/O pretrial services)

Payments may be made in person at the Jefferson County Pretrial Services office or mailed to:

Jefferson County Pretrial Services

100 Jefferson County Parkway, Suite 1500

Golden, CO 80419-1050

What Happens if You Violate Jefferson County Pretrial Services?

Every case is different, and there are a lot of variables and complexities in most situations. This is why it’s important to have an experienced defense attorney on your side to help you navigate the process. If you miss drug tests, don’t show up to see your case manager, or fail to complete any of your other pretrial requirements: the court may issue a warrant for your arrest, revoke your bond, or increase your initial penalties. You may be facing serious consequences if you violate the conditions of your pretrial requirements, so it’s best to consult an attorney immediately.

Remember! These specific rules are for JEFFERSON COUNTY, CO court so contact the county you have pretrial services in to get specific rules for those counties.

Related Article:

Pretrial Services Through RMOMS in Adams County