Adult Probation Department

This article gives community members, probationers, victims, and justice partners a practical, plain-English guide to the Maricopa County AZ Adult Probation Department (APD). You’ll learn what the department is responsible for, how supervision and specialized programs work, what to expect at key touchpoints like pretrial and presentence, how payments and court appearances fit in, and where to find official contacts. Each section builds on the last so you can move from a quick understanding to confident action.

Understand the role: how Adult Probation fits inside the Judicial Branch of Arizona in Maricopa County

The Maricopa County AZ Adult Probation Department operates within the Judicial Branch of Arizona in Maricopa County. Its mission is centered on safety and change: supervising adults placed on probation by the Superior Court, enforcing court orders, and connecting people to evidence-based services that reduce reoffending and improve community well-being. When people think about probation, they often picture only check-ins and curfews. In reality, APD’s work spans pretrial to reentry, and from accountability to rehabilitation.

For a comprehensive overview of the department’s purpose, leadership, and public information, visit the Maricopa County Adult Probation Department page under the Judicial Branch of Arizona in Maricopa County. The department vision emphasizes fairness, respect, integrity, innovation, and safety—values that shape every program and policy decision, from day-to-day supervision to specialized treatment pathways. See the department landing page at the Maricopa County Adult Probation Department site for high-level context, quick links, and current information.

Explore the department’s overview at the Maricopa County Adult Probation Department site: Adult Probation Department

Get the lay of the land: how operations and organization support safety and change

See how APD is structured to deliver results

APD’s operations are organized to match people to the level and type of service they need. That includes supervision services for standard, intensive, domestic violence, and sex-offense caseloads; specialized services that focus on mental health care, cognitive skills, substance use treatment, and reentry; and justice system functions like pretrial services and presentence investigations. This integrated structure lets the department protect the community while offering targeted, research-backed help to the people under its supervision.

Drill into how the department runs at Adult Probation Operations: Department Information

The mission in action: accountability + support

“Accountability” in probation is more than sanctions. It includes compliance monitoring, restitution collection, and swift responses to violations. “Support” is more than referrals—it means coaching, skills practice, and access to treatment that removes barriers to lawful behavior. APD’s operating approach blends these two pillars. Probation Officers use validated tools to assess risk and needs, set meaningful conditions, and connect people with services that address the drivers of crime—like substance use, trauma, or unstable housing.

Work with supervision services: what probation looks like day-to-day

Map your options: standard, intensive, and specialized supervision

The Adult Probation Supervision Services framework tailors oversight to each individual’s risks and needs. Conditions of supervision—such as no-use drug clauses, curfews, or victim no-contact orders—are tied to public safety goals and personal change plans. Officers reinforce progress, document setbacks, and adjust contacts as people move through levels.

Review program details at Adult Probation Supervision Services: Supervision Services

Standard Probation: build consistency and momentum

Standard Probation focuses on three working goals—accountability, change, and community. Individuals receive reporting instructions, must comply with financial obligations (restitution, fines, fees), and engage in counseling or treatment as ordered. Drug use is prohibited, with compliance monitored. Risk level determines the frequency and mix of office, field, and collateral contacts. Progress can unlock fewer restrictions, while noncompliance can add structure and supports.

Intensive Probation Supervision (IPS): step up structure to step down risk

IPS is for individuals who need tight structure. Contact frequency is higher, with officers verifying residence, work, and treatment in person. As compliance improves, contacts can be reduced and, with court approval, individuals may transition to standard supervision. IPS works when individuals and officers maintain a steady rhythm of communication and follow-through that leaves little room for risky gaps.

Domestic Violence Program: stop abuse and center safety

This program’s goal is to end abusive patterns and build healthy relationship skills. It rests on four pillars: victim safety, offender accountability, close monitoring, and targeted intervention, typically via a minimum 32-week offender intervention program. Officers keep victim outreach channels open, coordinate with treatment providers, and ensure financial responsibilities—like restitution—remain on track.

Sex Offender Program: a containment model with verified progress

For convicted sex offenders, APD uses a containment approach—high-touch supervision, frequent surveillance, and specialized treatment aimed at internal self-management. Officers work with clinicians to track behavior change; when safe and appropriate, families or victims may be included. Progress and setbacks are documented regularly to guide court and supervision decisions.

What to expect from your officer: the supervision partnership

Clear reporting instructions and schedules aligned to risk level

Field and collateral contacts to verify employment, residence, and treatment

Swift feedback on successes and violations

Referrals to services that match assessed needs (e.g., cognitive groups, substance use treatment, mental health care)

Financial accountability with structured plans for restitution, fees, and fines

Tap specialized services: targeted help for complex needs

Some individuals need more than standard supervision can provide. APD’s Specialized Services division meets those needs with focused programming and trained officers who understand how mental health conditions, addiction, trauma, and reentry disrupt daily stability—and what it takes to rebuild it.

Learn about the portfolio at Adult Probation Specialized Services: Specialized Services

Cognitive Intervention Programs: change thinking, change behavior

APD supports three evidence-based models designed to reduce reoffending by strengthening decision-making and problem-solving:

Moral Reconation Therapy (MRT) to rebuild values and accountability

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to identify thinking traps and practice new responses

Thinking for a Change (T4C) to combine cognitive skills with social and problem-solving strategies

These programs are delivered in structured small-group formats that emphasize repetition, real-life application, and coaching. The aim is to make safer choices automatic, not forced.

Substance Use Treatment: coordinated care with monthly progress checks

When the court orders treatment, individuals are referred to a contracted provider near where they live. Providers use CBT-based group models that emphasize skill-building, relapse prevention, and pro-social supports. Individuals pay a modest co-pay based on ability; progress is reported monthly to the supervising officer, who aligns treatment milestones with supervision goals.

Services for Serious Mental Illness (SMI): specialized officers and court collaboration

Individuals with SMI receive tailored supervision from officers trained to recognize symptoms, de-escalate crises, and coordinate clinical care. Officers collaborate with behavioral health clinics, work closely with Mental Health Court, and connect individuals to supports like medication management, housing, and ongoing therapy. The objective is simple: stabilize health, reduce justice involvement, and increase safety.

Community Reintegration Unit (CRU): bridge the gap from jail to community

For individuals serving a jail term as a condition of probation (60+ days), CRU officers begin reentry planning while the person is still in custody. The focus is practical: identification documents, housing, employment, substance use or mental health treatment, and clear probation expectations. When possible, early-release options (such as the MOSAIC program described by APD) are paired with robust post-release supports.

Prison Reentry Units (PRU): start planning before the gate opens

For people returning from state prison to Maricopa County on probation, PRU officers connect before release, set up reentry basics, and ensure that probation conditions are clear and ready to go day one. This early handoff reduces missed appointments and the scramble for essentials like IDs and housing.

Unsupervised Probation: the lightest-touch pathway

Low-risk individuals with lower-level convictions may receive unsupervised probation. Compliance is typically tracked by phone, email, and mail, with a small team (a probation officer and a caseload administrator) ensuring that court-ordered conditions are completed on time. Even in this lowest level, expectations remain firm—particularly on financial obligations and law-abiding conduct.

Pretrial Services and Presentence Investigations: the front end of the process

Pretrial Services: risk-informed release and early monitoring

Immediately after an arrest, a Judicial Officer sets release conditions. Pretrial Services provides the court with a validated risk assessment and relevant background, helping to determine whether a person can be safely released while their case is pending. When monitoring is ordered, pretrial officers manage conditions such as testing, no-contact orders, stay-away directives, and electronic monitoring, and submit reports on compliance or bond review as needed. Pretrial Services is located in the South Court Tower in downtown Phoenix, making coordination with criminal divisions and court calendars seamless.

Presentence Investigations: complete information for a fair sentence

After a finding of guilt in most Superior Court cases, the court orders a Presentence Report. APD’s Presentence Division handles these reports through a two-step collaboration:

Presentence Screener meets with the defendant, gathers personal and case-related information, and completes a risk assessment.

Presentence Probation Officer verifies information, contacts victims for statements, compiles risk data, and develops a sentencing recommendation.

Victim input is central. Officers explain the process, document losses, and include victim statements so Judicial Officers can weigh safety, accountability, and restitution. If probation is granted at sentencing, the individual returns to the Presentence Assessment Center to confirm assessments, receive initial referrals, and get assigned to a supervising officer.

How payments, calendars, and locations connect to probation requirements

Make required payments through the Clerk of Court

Court-ordered financial obligations—restitution, fines, fees—are enforced during supervision. Individuals can use the Clerk’s official portal to make secure payments online. Officers can help probationers track what they owe, build realistic payment plans, and document progress for the court.

Pay through the Clerk of the Superior Court: Online Payment Portal

Check hearings and plan attendance

Missing a court date can derail progress. The Judicial Branch offers a public, always-updated calendar of hearings so parties know where to be and when. Probationers should routinely verify dates, arrive early, and bring any documents requested by the officer or court.

Confirm dates at Today’s Hearing Calendar: Court Calendar

Know where to go: major court buildings and probation touchpoints

APD services, pretrial, presentence, and many treatment and reentry partnerships are anchored to key court facilities across the county. While some specialized classes or service activities occur at community or regional sites, most court-related appointments connect to central complexes in Phoenix and regional justice centers around the Valley. If you’re unsure which location to use for a given task—reporting, a class, or a hearing—your officer or APD front desk can clarify.

See official Judicial Branch locations: Court Locations

Victim services: restitution, information, and support woven into supervision

APD integrates victim services into supervision and presentence work. Officers keep victims informed when appropriate, encourage participation through statements and verified loss documentation, and monitor restitution payments. The department’s victim services team focuses on safety planning, communication, and ensuring that the court’s orders—no-contact, stay-away zones, or other protective conditions—are understood and followed. The goal is to give victims a meaningful voice and to hold offenders accountable in ways that promote healing and reduce the risk of repeat harm.

Explore Restitution resources via the official victim services pages: Restitution Information

Education, careers, and reintegration: how APD links change to opportunity

Education and cognitive skills go hand-in-hand

A key barrier to lawful income is unfinished education or limited job readiness. APD connects probationers to education programs that cover GED preparation and testing, cognitive skills development, job readiness, and financial literacy. These offerings are structured around probation schedules, and they reinforce the cognitive interventions used in supervision and treatment—so people practice the same skills in class, at work, and at home.

Career development through county programs

Employment is a protective factor: when people work steadily in legitimate jobs, recidivism falls. Maricopa County’s justice-focused employment programs pair job search support with coaching, skills training, and connections to willing employers. Officers often incorporate employment goals into case plans and check in on progress at each contact, adjusting conditions or referrals when shifts in schedule or child care would otherwise lead to noncompliance.

Learn about county workforce resources at Arizona@Work — Smart Justice: Smart Justice

Community Restitution Program (CRP): give back while building structure

Community restitution—often called “community service”—allows probationers to repay the community through work at certified agencies or special projects screened by APD’s Community Restitution Program. The CRP team matches individuals to appropriate sites, confirms attendance and task completion, and ensures that hours count toward court-ordered obligations. In some circumstances, individuals can earn credit for successful participation in approved programs, including certain classes held in jail—when pre-approved by CRP. The program also lists several APD-linked locations where projects may be offered; individuals should confirm the correct site with CRP staff before reporting.

How to succeed with CRP:

Register early and read all instructions carefully
Confirm your assigned location and schedule in writing
Track hours meticulously and get supervisor signatures
Ask your officer about any program that might qualify for credit before you start

Law Library Resource Center: self-help tools for forms and research

Probation often intersects with other legal issues—family obligations, protective orders, or post-conviction filings. The Law Library Resource Center provides access to forms, how-to guides, and workshops that help self-represented litigants follow the rules and meet deadlines. Probationers can use these materials to prepare paperwork accurately and avoid delays.

Access official forms and guides: Law Library Resource Center

Stay connected: find the right point of contact at the right time

Getting answers quickly prevents small problems from becoming violations. The Judicial Branch publishes department contacts so you can reach the correct office, confirm reporting instructions, or ask where to submit documentation. This is particularly useful for first-time probationers, victims looking for restitution information, or employers verifying probationer schedules or conditions.

Use the official Department Contact Information directory: Department Contact Information

Program-by-program expectations: turn orders into daily routines

If you’re starting probation after sentencing

Read your conditions line by line and flag questions for your officer.

Complete assessments promptly; they drive your treatment and reporting plan.

Map your week (work, family, treatment, check-ins) so you can show the court a workable schedule.

Document payments (receipts, confirmation numbers) to prove financial compliance.

If you’re transferring from IPS to Standard

Demonstrate reliability—no missed contacts, clean tests, and on-time program attendance.
Share solutions—if a work shift conflicts with a class, request a change in advance.
Maintain verification—keep pay stubs, attendance slips, and letters from providers.

If you’re in a specialized service track (SMI, Drug Court, CRU/PRU)

Coordinate care teams—officer, clinician, case manager—to eliminate gaps.

Pre-plan transitions—new job, new housing, or a medication change should be discussed before they happen.

Expect frequent check-ins early on; structure tapers as stability increases.

Link courtroom requirements to real-life logistics

Hearings and appearances

Always confirm the time and location for hearings using the official calendar, then build in arrival time for security screening. If you need interpretation services, request them ahead of the hearing through the court’s established channels; your officer can help you connect with court services so your matter isn’t continued for lack of an interpreter.

Documents and recordkeeping

Keep a probation folder—digital or paper—with your conditions, class schedules, employment verification, and payment confirmations. Courts and officers value clarity; a well-organized record can shorten hearings, resolve apparent compliance problems, and support requests for reduced reporting or early termination when appropriate.

Transportation and time management

Probation succeeds when people can get to where they must be—work, treatment, community restitution, and court. If transportation is a challenge, tell your officer early. Officers can often sequence appointments to minimize travel or connect you to services located along your regular commute.

How APD measures success: safety first, change that lasts

APD publishes annual reports and internal newsletters to keep the public, staff, and justice partners informed about what’s working and where the department is headed. While the terminology can be technical—risk assessments, compliance rates, dosage hours—the underlying message is practical: resources follow data. Programs that measurably reduce new offenses and increase stability get strengthened; practices that don’t show results are re-engineered. That’s how the department maintains a balance between community expectations for safety and an individual’s capacity for change.

Adult Probation Department – relevant departments and contacts

Adult Probation Department — PO Box 3407, Phoenix, AZ 85030 — (602) 372-5300

Pretrial Services (South Court Tower) — 175 W. Madison St., Phoenix, AZ 85003 — (602) 506-8575

Judicial Branch Information Center — 201 W. Jefferson Street, Phoenix, AZ 85003 — (602) 506-3204

Maricopa County Adult Probation Department FAQs

How do reporting expectations work from day one?

Reporting instructions are given at sentencing or assignment, and they’re tied to your supervision level. Officers verify compliance through in-person, phone, email, and mail check-ins. You’re expected to follow court-ordered conditions, complete assigned programming, and stay current on restitution, fines, and fees. Drug and alcohol testing may be required, and results are monitored. See the county’s overview on Supervision Services for how reporting ties to risk and progress.

What’s the difference between Standard, Intensive, and Unsupervised probation?

Standard focuses on accountability, behavior change, and community stability. Intensive Probation Supervision (IPS) adds frequent home, employment, and treatment checks; contacts may taper as you advance. Unsupervised is typically for low-risk individuals with compliance tracked remotely. Program moves—like IPS to Standard—require demonstrated progress and court approval. Learn more under Adult Probation Operations.

What specialized programs are available if I have higher needs?

The department offers divisions for mental health (SMI services), substance use treatment, prison reentry, and community reintegration. Cognitive interventions (e.g., CBT, MRT, T4C) are used to reduce reoffending, with coordinated support across courts, clinics, and probation staff. Eligibility and expectations are outlined in Specialized Services.

How does the Drug Court program affect my case?

Participants attend regular status hearings while on probation, with close monitoring and treatment engagement. Completing the minimum one-year program can lead to probation discharge and a re-designation of the offense to a misdemeanor when applicable. Eligibility includes at least two years of probation on a drug-related felony and excludes certain drug-sale convictions. Details appear within Specialized Services.

What happens in Presentence Investigations before sentencing?

When ordered, screeners and probation officers compile a Presentence Report that includes case facts, risk assessment data, and verified information from defendants and victims. Officers contact victims for statements on impact and restitution. The report’s recommendation supports the court’s sentencing decision. See the Adult Probation Department page for division roles.