Adult Probation Department

The Maricopa County AZ Adult Probation Department supervises adults placed on probation, monitors compliance with court-ordered conditions, supports rehabilitation, assists victims, and operates specialized programs for people with different supervision and treatment needs. This article explains the department’s major services, how probation supervision works, where different programs fit into the process, how court-ordered payments and community restitution are handled, what information participants may need to provide, and how to locate the appropriate Adult Probation office or official service.

Adult Probation Department Services

The Maricopa County Adult Probation Department is part of the Judicial Branch of Arizona in Maricopa County. Its stated mission is to enhance community safety through service, accountability, and influencing change. The department supervises adults who have been placed on probation and works to ensure that court-mandated orders are completed while also providing resources intended to support positive behavioral change and successful participation in the community.

The official Adult Probation Department website organizes its work into several major areas. These include supervision of justice-involved individuals, victim services, rehabilitation support, community safety initiatives, specialized services, education, pretrial services, and presentence investigations. The service a person needs depends on where that person is in the court process and what the court has ordered.

Probation should also be distinguished from pretrial supervision. A person on probation has already reached a stage at which the court has imposed probation as part of a sentence. Pretrial Services, by contrast, supervises certain individuals who have been released while criminal charges are still pending. The requirements and responsibilities involved in these two situations are different.

How Probation Supervision Works

The department’s supervision programs are designed around accountability, behavioral change, and public safety. Conditions are based on court orders and the individual’s supervision needs. Probation officers monitor compliance, provide reporting instructions, connect people with appropriate programs when applicable, and document progress or noncompliance.

The official Adult Probation Supervision Services page describes several supervision models, including standard probation, intensive probation, domestic violence supervision, and sex offender supervision. The appropriate level or program depends on the person’s case, risk assessment, court orders, and supervision requirements.

Standard Probation

Standard probation is structured around accountability, change, and community involvement. The individual receives reporting instructions and is expected to comply with all conditions imposed by the court. The supervision level is tied to the individual’s assessed risk of reoffending.

Standard probation can include financial obligations such as restitution, fines, fees, and reimbursements. Individuals may also be placed in counseling, therapy, or other community programs. Drug use is prohibited, and compliance may be monitored as part of supervision.

A common mistake is assuming that every person on standard probation follows the same reporting schedule or program requirements. The department does not describe one universal schedule for all probationers. Individuals should rely on the reporting instructions and conditions provided for their own case.

Intensive Probation Supervision

Intensive Probation Supervision, commonly identified as IPS, provides a higher level of supervision and engagement. It may be used for individuals assessed as high-risk or as a sentencing alternative for people requiring more structure than standard probation.

IPS involves increased contact with probation staff. Officers may conduct frequent visits at a person’s residence, place of employment, or treatment location. The levels of IPS are intended to provide more structure initially and can change as the individual demonstrates stability and progress.

An individual who successfully engages in the IPS program and meets its requirements may have an opportunity to transition to standard probation, but that transition requires court approval. It should not be treated as automatic merely because time has passed or the participant believes requirements have been completed.

Specialized Supervision Programs

Some probationers have circumstances that call for specialized supervision or treatment. The department’s Specialized Services programs address mental health needs, substance use disorders, community reentry, high-risk supervision, treatment court participation, and other specific supervision needs.

Programs described by the department include Drug Court, DUI Court, Veterans Court, the Supervised Youth Unit, Reach Out, Thinking for a Change, Decision Points, custody reintegration programs, the Mental Health Unit, domestic violence programming, substance use treatment, Interstate Compact services, community restitution, and financial compliance support.

Placement in these programs is not simply a matter of choosing a preferred service. The department identifies particular eligibility, assessment, court-order, or supervision conditions for many programs. A person should follow the direction of the assigned probation officer, court, or program staff rather than assuming that a program is available for voluntary enrollment.

Treatment Court Programs

Drug Court

Drug Court uses a team-based model involving probation officers, treatment providers, attorneys, law enforcement, judicial officers, and other participating entities. Participants receive a clinical assessment and substance use disorder treatment and are subject to random urinalysis testing.

The department also states that Drug Court participants have monthly face-to-face check-ins with the Drug Court team. Because these requirements are connected to participation in the program, participants should distinguish them from ordinary probation reporting obligations.

DUI Court

DUI Court follows a treatment court model and involves a judicial officer, Adult Probation personnel, the Public Defender’s Office, and contracted clinicians. The program focuses on individuals assessed as medium-high or high-risk of reoffending and emphasizes behavioral change, accountability, participation, and attendance.

Veterans Court

Veterans Court serves veterans on probation supervision who are assessed as medium-high to high-risk. The program brings together probation officers, a judicial officer, defense and county attorneys, peer support mentors, Department of Veterans Affairs staff, and other participating agencies.

Goals are tailored to the needs of each veteran participating in the program. The department describes the use of rewards and sanctions, individualized problem solving, and an emphasis on stability and sobriety.

Mental Health and Substance Use

The Mental Health Unit provides specialized supervision for individuals who have a seriously mentally ill determination through the Regional Behavioral Health Authority and who have been ordered to comply with additional mental health conditions of probation.

Participants may be required to take medication as prescribed, participate in appropriate treatment, and complete the Mental Health Court Program. The department describes its model as combining probation risk-reduction practices with the behavioral health authority’s harm-reduction model.

Substance use treatment may also be ordered by the court. When that occurs, individuals are referred to a contracted treatment agency in their area. The department states that treatment agencies use cognitive behavioral principles and coordinate with probation officers and the Assessment Center to monitor planning and progress.

Participants in substance use treatment may have a minimum co-pay based on their financial standing. Progress is reported monthly, individuals must maintain frequent contact with their assigned probation officer, and treatment can include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in small groups.

Reentry After Incarceration

The department operates programs intended to support people returning to the community after incarceration. The Prison Reentry Program begins working with individuals before release from prison. A probation officer can connect with the individual before release, outline probation expectations, oversee community reentry, and assist with needs related to identification, housing, and employment.

The Community Reintegration Unit provides transitional services to individuals who have spent 60 days or more in the Maricopa County jail as a condition of probation. Its work focuses on identifying immediate needs, reducing absconding, building useful skills, coordinating community support, and connecting individuals with other Adult Probation programs.

Employment and Career Support

Employment assistance is also available through Maricopa County’s Smart Justice Program. The program is designed for justice-involved individuals seeking employment and career opportunities. Services can include workforce readiness coaching, resume assistance, interview preparation, job leads, skills workshops, occupational training, apprenticeships, paid work experience, and one-on-one career guidance.

Smart Justice has its own eligibility requirements. According to the county, applicants must be at least 18, legally authorized to work in the United States, have a felony conviction, and be actively on probation or parole or have been released from incarceration during the previous 12 months.

For individualized services, participants may need documentation that establishes eligibility. The county identifies the following examples:

Photo identification showing date of birth.
Social Security card.
DD214 for veterans.
Proof of family income for the previous six months.
Selective Service registration for males age 18 and older.

Additional documentation may be requested by workforce staff. The Smart Justice process also uses an Arizona Job Connection account before career center services are accessed.

Adult Education Opportunities

The Frank X. Gordon Adult Education Program provides adult education and workforce services at no cost to adults age 16 or older in the community. Participation is not limited to people currently on probation.

Education services described by Adult Probation include GED preparation and testing, cognitive skills development, job readiness, career planning, financial literacy, budgeting, and development of computer and digital literacy. New student registration is offered throughout the year.

Students must be at least 16 years old and have valid U.S. state-issued identification. Because enrollment is open to eligible community members as well as probationers, a person should not assume that a probation case number is required simply to participate in the education program.

Community Restitution Requirements

Individuals ordered by the court to complete community restitution hours should pay close attention to the Adult Probation Department’s Community Restitution Program requirements. The program works with certified nonprofit and governmental entities that can accept and supervise probation work assignments.

Before performing community restitution, individuals should register with the Community Restitution Program. The department directs individuals to provide their name and case number when registering. Program staff then register the individual and provide the assigned location and other information needed for the work assignment.

Credit is valid only for work completed through a certified agency or a special project sanctioned by the Community Restitution Program. This restriction is especially important because performing volunteer work independently does not mean the hours will automatically count toward a court-ordered requirement.

Community restitution credit can also be awarded for participation in or completion of certain qualifying programs while a person is on supervision. Examples identified by the department include some treatment programs, earning a GED or high school diploma, and completing a trade or vocational program.

Any extra credit must be approved in advance by the Community Restitution Program. Individuals considering a treatment, educational, vocational, or other activity for restitution credit should verify qualification before relying on the activity to satisfy required hours.

Court-Ordered Financial Obligations

Probation cases can involve restitution, fines, fees, and other court-ordered financial obligations. The Adult Probation Department’s Financial Compliance Unit works with probation officers and individuals under supervision to encourage regular payment and maintain accountability, with priority given to victim restitution.

Financial Compliance staff may conduct Payment Ability Evaluations to assess an individual’s circumstances and ability to pay. These evaluations are part of the department’s financial compliance work and should not be confused with the Clerk of Superior Court’s payment processing system.

Paying Probation Fees and Restitution

The Maricopa County Clerk of Superior Court processes payments for criminal cases. The Clerk’s official payment information page states that online payments can be made by credit card, debit card, or eCheck for criminal fines, probation fees, and restitution in criminal cases.

People who know their case number can proceed through the Clerk’s online bill payment process. Those who need assistance locating a case number or debtor number can use the Clerk’s Online Payments FAQs.

Criminal case payments are handled by the Clerk’s Criminal Financial Obligations Unit. The unit records payments in the criminal financial system and maintains detailed payment histories. This role is different from the Adult Probation Department’s supervision of compliance with financial obligations.

Payment options described by the Clerk include online, in-person, mail, and wire payments. Payment methods and requirements vary by type. For example, mailed criminal case payments are made by money order, while wire transfers require a payment wire form and can require up to 24 to 48 hours for processing.

People making payments should use the identifying information requested by the Clerk. Applying a payment to the wrong case or account can create unnecessary problems, particularly when a person has more than one court matter.

Presentence Investigation Process

The Adult Probation Department also has an important role before probation is imposed. In most Superior Court cases in which guilt has been determined and the court has discretion over the penalty, the court must order a Presentence Report.

The Presentence Division uses screeners and probation officers to gather and verify information for the report. Early in the process, a Presentence Screener meets with the defendant to collect information and complete a risk assessment. That information is then provided to a probation officer for further investigation.

A Presentence Report can include:

Case information.
Defendant information.
Statements from interested parties.
A risk assessment.
Screening information.
A sentencing recommendation.

The Presentence Probation Officer also contacts victims for statements when applicable, explains the court process, and discusses financial losses caused by the offense. The officer verifies relevant information, prepares the report, and submits it to the court, defense, and prosecution.

If probation is granted at sentencing, the individual returns to the Presentence Assessment Center. Staff verify that the assessment has been completed, provide applicable referrals, and give the probationer the assigned probation officer’s information.

Pretrial Services Before Sentencing

Pretrial Services operates at an earlier point in the criminal court process. After a person has been arrested and taken into custody for an alleged criminal offense, the court determines release conditions at the Initial Appearance while charges are pending.

Probation officers assigned to the Initial Appearance Unit provide the court with information that can include criminal history and a validated Public Safety Assessment. The assessment evaluates the risk of reoffending and the likelihood that the individual will attend future court hearings if released.

Individuals placed on Pretrial Services can be subject to General Pretrial Supervision or additional restrictions ordered by the court. Release conditions can include drug or alcohol testing, no-contact orders involving alleged victims, restrictions against returning to the scene of the alleged offense, electronic monitoring, and other court-ordered requirements.

Pretrial probation officers monitor compliance, provide court-hearing reminders and resources, and submit reports to the court when needed. They may also submit Bond Review Reports when ordered by the court.

A person should not treat pretrial requirements as probation terms or assume that procedures described for sentenced probationers apply during a pending criminal case. The governing release order controls the individual’s pretrial obligations.

Victim Services and Restitution

The Adult Probation Department provides services to victims when the person responsible for the offense is under probation supervision. The official Adult Probation Victim Services page explains assistance related to probation cases, restitution, and post-conviction matters.

If the person who committed the crime was sentenced to prison rather than probation, the department directs victims to the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry Victim Services Department instead. This distinction helps prevent a victim from contacting the wrong agency based solely on the fact that the case originated in Maricopa County.

Victims who suffered financial loss as a result of a crime may have restitution ordered as part of the defendant’s sentence. Adult Probation Victim Services supports victims affected by crime and participates in the probation-related restitution process.

Post-conviction notification requests and crime victim compensation involve different responsibilities. The department directs victims who have not opted in for criminal-case notifications, as well as people seeking information about victim compensation eligibility and applications, to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office.

Locating the Correct Probation Office

Adult Probation services operate from several Judicial Branch locations throughout Maricopa County. The official Judicial Branch locations directory identifies Adult Probation facilities in Phoenix, Scottsdale, Mesa, Avondale, Glendale, and other parts of the county.

Examples of locations identified for Adult Probation include the Black Canyon Building, Downtown Justice Center, Luhrs Tower, Scottsdale Adult Probation Department, Southeast Justice Center, Southport Building, Southwest Regional Court Center, Sunnyslope Building, West Court Building, and Western Regional Center.

The existence of multiple probation offices does not mean a probationer can report at any Adult Probation location. Office assignment depends on the person’s case and supervision arrangements. A probationer should use the office or reporting location provided by the assigned officer or department instead of choosing a location based solely on convenience.

The Judicial Branch also maintains official Adult Probation contact information for people who need to reach the department. When contacting Adult Probation about an existing matter, having the person’s name and case-related information available can help distinguish the correct case or service, particularly when the inquiry concerns probation supervision or community restitution registration.

Common Probation Service Mistakes

Several problems can be avoided by recognizing which agency and system controls a particular task. Adult Probation supervises probation conditions, but the Clerk of Superior Court processes criminal case payments. Pretrial Services supervises certain people while charges are pending, while probation supervision follows sentencing. Victim Services responsibilities also change depending on whether the responsible individual received probation or a prison sentence.

Community restitution presents another common source of confusion. Court-ordered community restitution credit is subject to Adult Probation program rules. Hours must be completed through a certified agency or sanctioned project to qualify, and extra credit requires advance approval. Completing unrelated volunteer service without program authorization should not be assumed to satisfy the court requirement.

People participating in treatment, educational, employment, or specialized probation programs should also distinguish a general program description from their personal court orders. A service appearing on an Adult Probation webpage does not establish that every probationer must participate or is eligible to participate.

For financial matters, individuals should distinguish a probation officer or Financial Compliance collector from the Clerk’s payment system. Questions about supervision and compliance belong to Adult Probation, while payment processing and criminal payment histories are maintained through the Clerk of Superior Court.

Finally, individuals should keep case identifiers consistent when dealing with probation-related services. Community restitution registration specifically uses the person’s name and case number, while the Clerk’s online payment process may require a case number or debtor number. These identifiers serve different systems and should not be treated as interchangeable.

Adult Probation Department Offices

Adult Probation Department

PO Box 3407, Phoenix, AZ 85030
Phone: (602) 506-3581

Adult Probation Department FAQs

Can I move to another state while I am on probation?

A move to another state may require review through the Interstate Compact rather than simply changing your address and continuing supervision elsewhere. Maricopa County Adult Probation participates in the Interstate Commission for Adult Offender Supervision system, which regulates transfers of supervised individuals among all 50 states and participating U.S. territories. Outgoing probation officers review transfer requests, while incoming officers handle cases transferred into Maricopa County. Because interstate supervision is governed by specific rules, a probationer should not assume that moving automatically transfers the case. The county’s Adult Probation Specialized Services information provides additional details about the Interstate Compact program.

What happens if someone stops reporting to probation?

Maricopa County Adult Probation has a Fugitive Apprehension Unit that searches for individuals who have absconded from probation supervision, have outstanding arrest warrants, or have failed to appear in court. Officers in the unit work with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies and may assist with arrests, transportation, and jail booking. Missing supervision requirements should therefore not be treated as simply an administrative issue. The consequences depend on the person’s case, court orders, and warrant status.

Can someone under 21 be supervised by Adult Probation?

Yes, in certain cases. The department operates a Supervised Youth Unit for high-risk individuals under age 21 whose cases are being handled in the adult criminal justice system. The unit works with participants, their families, and community stakeholders, evaluates treatment needs, addresses noncompliance, and considers psychological and developmental needs. Placement is based on the individual’s case and assessment rather than age alone.

Where can I review Adult Probation annual reports?

The Judicial Branch publishes Adult Probation annual reports covering department activity across multiple fiscal years. The Adult Probation Operations page provides access to current and historical reports, along with the department’s organizational information, mission, vision, and values.