The Boulder County Justice System has one of the oldest and most highly regarded volunteer programs in the United States.

History of the volunteer program

Founded in 1961 by Judge Horace B. Holmes, the Justice System Volunteer Program (JSVP) then consisted of about twenty volunteer positions in the Probation Department and the courts.

In 1981, the program was expanded to include all county justice system agencies: Community Corrections, the District Attorney's Office, and the Sheriff's Department. Jointly funded by the state and county, the JSVP is co-directed by state and county employees who report to the head of the Probation Department and the division manager of Community Corrections.

What Do Volunteers Do?

There are 75-120 volunteers working in the justice system at any given time. Volunteer positions are divided into the following categories:

• law-related
• client-related
• administrative

Volunteers in law-related positions work as staff assistants in the District Attorney's Victim/Witness program, Investigations, Arraignments, Domestic Abuse Unit, Consumer Affairs and Restitution; or in the pre-sentence investigations unit of the Probation Department.

Client-related positions involve direct contact with adult or juvenile defendants who are in various pretrial and post-adjudication programs of Community Corrections, on probation, in the work-release program at the Boulder County Jail or in the Juvenile Center.

Administrative volunteers assist with research and computer projects, client surveys, the JSVP newsletter, and do data entry, word processing and filing in all agencies served by the volunteer program.

How Are The Justice Center Staff Involved?

Staff employed in the Sheriff's Department, Community Corrections, courts, the District Attorney's Office and the Probation Department may request volunteer assistance through the JSVP. The co-directors work with staff to formulate appropriate volunteer positions and write job descriptions.

After an initial interview by the JSVP, a second interview is scheduled with a volunteer's prospective supervisor to determine final placement. The staff supervisor is responsible for providing on-the-job training and regular supervision and evaluation. Agency heads and key staff also participate in JSVP orientation sessions for new volunteers.

How Do Volunteers Affect The Justice System?

When you have an average of 260 volunteers contributing almost 31,500 hours a year, the end result is a much more efficient organization! We are one of the largest volunteer programs in the community, drawing upon the skills and energies of a talented group of citizens. Because of the volunteer-staff partnership, we are able to enhance and expand programs, provide better services to victims and offenders and maintain one of the most open and humane systems in the country.

For more information on the Justice System Volunteer Program, e-mail the Program Director or call 441-3718.