| We encourage citizens to report violations of the conditions by
probationers. Although probationers' due process rights are somewhat limited, violations
that are reported to the courts must have a basis in fact. Reports of law violations
should be made with the appropriate law enforcement agency, whose personnel will
investigate the complaint. For example, allegations of domestic violence, theft, driving
while intoxicated, burglary, drug possession or sales, and any other law violation would
be investigated by the appropriate law enforcement agency, such as the Brazos County
Sheriff's Department [(979) 361-4100], the Bryan Police Department [(979) 361-3888], or
the College Station Police Department [(979) 764-3600]. For any emergency, dial 9-1-1. 
The results of police investigations of probationers are passed on to the community
supervision officer. If the police agency determines the case should be pursued, the judge
who placed the offender on community supervision will be notified. Community supervision
officers do not have the power to arrest probationers except in the very limited
circumstance of a direct order from a judge, and the appropriate paperwork must first be
filed with that judge. Violations must be reported to the judge in the appropriate format,
the prosecutor must have a chance to review the violations and recommend to the judge that
action be taken, and the judge then determines whether to take action on the violations.
If action is taken, a summons is issued for the probationer to appear in court to answer
to the violations, or a warrant is issued for the same purpose, after which a police
officer will arrest the offender. See the Definitions section for a discussion of
revocation.
Violations that do not involve breaking the law are investigated by the community
supervision officer, and if it is determined that a violation likely occurred, the officer
will present the information to the prosecutor and judge, as discussed above. An example
is allegations of drug use. The officer will look for corroborating evidence, such as an
arrest for drug possession, a positive urine screen, or an admission by the offender of
drug use before the violation is reported to the court. Another example is an allegation
of a probationer falsifying community service hours. The officer investigates the
complaint with the community service agency, and reports the results of the investigation
to the prosecutor and judge. A third example is an offender who is reportedly missing
class after being ordered by a judge to attend school. The officer contacts school
authorities to verify class attendance, and if the allegation is true, that information is
brought to the prosecutor and judge's attention. The community supervision officer
recommends action that may be taken by the judge, but the final decision on that action
rests with the judge who originally sentenced the offender.
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