Probation

Probation Department Programs and Resources.

The Sherburne County Probation Department embraces evidence based practices and utilize the risk, need and responsivity principle to refer offenders to appropriate programs and services. By adhering to the risk/needs principle, we only recommend and refer offenders to programs and services that are designed specifically to address their individual criminogenic needs.

For questions regarding specific department programs and community resources, please contact 763-765-4550.

Department Programs

Important General Rules for all Programs - Please click to read

Attendance
  • If you arrive late, you will not be admitted.
  • Unexcused absences may result in termination from the program.
  • Anyone who comes to the class under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol will be asked to leave immediately and may face a probation violation and/or other legal consequences.
Payment & Registration
  • All programs must be paid in full prior to starting the program
  • Restarting the program for any reason will result in having to start the entire program over and will require payment of another program fee
  • All on-line program registration closes two days prior to the session start date and payment via credit card or eCheck is required to be considered registered and have a confirmed seat in the program.
  • The only forms of payment acceptable on the day of the program are cashier’s check, money order, personal check or cash (please note that cash is accepted during normal business hours only).
  • All payments are final

Department Programs

AA Orientation Program
This is an educational program that is facilitated by local AA Volunteers. Offenders who have been involved in chemical related offenses will be informed about Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), the concept of chemical dependency as an illness and the recovery from it.

    Program Objectives
    • To provide a positive exposure to the concepts of AA.
    • To provide a means of transition to AA for the offender.

    Program Times
    • Sessions are held on Thursday evenings for eight consecutive weeks.
    • Sessions will begin promptly at 6:00 pm and will end at approximately 7:00 pm
    2013 AA Orientation Program Schedule
    Session Start Date Session End Date Session Times
    January 3rd February 21st 6pm to 7pm
    April 4th May 23rd 6pm to 7pm
    July 11th August 29th 6pm to 7pm
    October 3rd November 21st 6pm to 7pm
    Program Location
    • Birch Room (First Floor)
      Sherburne County Government Center
      13880 Business Center Drive NW
      Elk River, MN 55330-1692
      directions
    Program Cost and Registration
    • There will be a program fee of $25.00 due prior to attending the class.
    • All payments are final.

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Alive at 25 Defensive Driving Program
Defensive driving is driving to save lives, time and money in spite of the conditions around you and the actions of others. A preventable collision is one in which the driver failed to do everything responsible to avoid it.

    Program Objectives
    • To help young drivers RECOGNIZE that licensed drivers between the ages of 15-24 are more likely than anyone else to be injured or killed in a vehicle crash
    • To GIVE young drivers an opportunity to discuss why they are at such high risk in a motor vehicle
    • To DESCRIBE the consequences of making poor judgments or taking unnecessary risks in a vehicle
    • To help young drivers IDENTIFY actions they can take to keep control whether they are a driver or a passenger in a vehicle
    • To encourage young drivers to COMMIT to making better driving choices

    Program Times
    • Classes are held on Tuesday evenings.
    • Class will begin promptly at 4:00 pm and will end at approximately 7:00 pm
    2013 Alive at 25 Defensive Driving Program Schedule
    February 5th 4pm to 7pm
    May 7th 4pm to 7pm
    August 6th 4pm to 7pm
    November 5th 4pm to 7pm
    Program Location
    • Board Room (First Floor)
      Sherburne County Government Center
      13880 Business Center Drive NW
      Elk River, MN 55330-1692
      directions
    Program Cost and Registration
    • There will be a program fee of $75.00, due prior to attending the class.
    • All payments are final.

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Driving With Care™ Level I Education Program*
Traditional alcohol and other drug (AOD) related highway safety programs have been mainly educational, utilizing passive-participant (didactic presentations, films, etc.) program models. There is evidence that this more traditional approach has not been effective in reducing repeat offending or recidivism.

    Program Goals

    The Sherburne County Driving With Care™ Level I Education Program is built on the philosophy that offenders make changes in their actions by changing how they think. This program will give offenders knowledge and skills needed to change their thinking so they may change their actions and prevent future DWI’s/DUI’s.


    Program Times
    • Sessions are held on Thursday evenings for twelve consecutive weeks.
    • Sessions will begin promptly at 6:30 pm and will end at approximately 8:30 pm
    2013 Driving With Care™ Level I Education Program Schedule
    Session Start Date Session End Date Session Times
    April 4th May 9th 6:30pm to 8:30pm
    November 7th December 19th 6:30pm to 8:30pm
      no class on November 28th
    Program Location
    • Pine Room (First Floor)
      Sherburne County Government Center
      13880 Business Center Drive NW
      Elk River, MN 55330-1692
      directions
    Program Cost and Registration
    • There is a program fee of $125.00 due prior to attending the class.
    • All payments are final.
*The Sherburne County Driving With Care Level I Education Program is facilitated by Certified Trainers.

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Driving With Care™ Level II Education Program*
Traditional alcohol and other drug (AOD) related highway safety programs have been mainly educational, utilizing passive-participant (didactic presentations, films, etc.) program models. There is evidence that this more traditional approach has not been effective in reducing repeat offending or recidivism.

    Program Goals

    The Sherburne County Driving With Care™ Level II Education Program is built on the philosophy that offenders make changes in their actions by changing how they think. This program will give offenders knowledge and skills needed to change their thinking so they may change their actions and prevent future DWI’s/DUI’s.


    Program Times
    • Sessions are held on Thursday evenings for twelve consecutive weeks.
    • Sessions will begin promptly at 6:30 pm and will end at approximately 8:30 pm
    2013 Driving With Care™ Level II Education Program Schedule
    Session Start Date Session End Date Session Times
    January 3rd March 21st 6:30pm to 8:30pm
    May 16th August 8th 4pm to 6pm
      no class on July 4th
    August 15th October 31st 6:30pm to 8:30pm
    Program Location
    • Pine Room (First Floor)
      Sherburne County Government Center
      13880 Business Center Drive NW
      Elk River, MN 55330-1692
      directions
    Program Cost and Registration
    • There is a program fee of $250.00 due prior to attending the class.
    • All payments are final.
*The Sherburne County Driving With Care Level II Education Program is facilitated by Certified Trainers.

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Juvenile Drug Education Program (DEP)
Drug and alcohol use by teens is not something to be taken lightly. Substance use can change the direction of a young person’s life physically, emotionally and behaviorally. It can weaken the ability to concentrate and retain information during a teen’s peak learning years, and impair judgment, leading to risky decision making. In addition, drug and alcohol use can lead to poor grades, broken friendships, family problems, and trouble with the law.

    Program Objectives
    • To provide youth with information about tobacco, alcohol, marijuana and other mood-altering chemicals
    • To inform youth on the myths, misperceptions and facts about mood-altering chemicals
    • To educate youth on the health risks and consequences of using mood-altering chemicals
    • To teach youth ways to handle the temptation and peer pressure associated with mood-altering chemicals

    Program Times
    • Sessions are held on Thursday evenings
    • Sessions will begin promptly at 5:00 pm and will end at approximately 7:00 pm
    2013 Juvenile Drug Education Program (DEP) Schedule
    January 3rd 5pm to 7pm
    February 7th 5pm to 7pm
    March 7th 5pm to 7pm
    April 4th 5pm to 7pm
    May 2nd 5pm to 7pm
    June 6th 5pm to 7pm
    July 11th 5pm to 7pm
    August 1st 5pm to 7pm
    September 5th 5pm to 7pm
    October 3rd 5pm to 7pm
    November 7th 5pm to 7pm
    December 5th 5pm to 7pm
    Program Location
    • Maple Room (First Floor)
      Sherburne County Government Center
      13880 Business Center Drive NW
      Elk River, MN 55330-1692
      directions
    Program Cost and Registration
    • There will be a one-time program fee of $50.00, due prior to attending the class.
    • All payments are final.

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Juvenile Theft Prevention Program

What is Theft?

  • Theft is the illegal taking of another person’s property without that person’s freely given consent.
  • A person is guilty of theft, if he/she dishonestly takes property belonging to another with the intention of permanently depriving the other of it.
  • Theft can also be defined as Burglary, Embezzlement, Larceny, Looting, Robbery, Mugging, Trespassing, Fraud and Shoplifting.
    Program Objectives
    • To provide youth with facts about Theft
    • To explain the affects Theft has on society
    • To educate youth on the consequences of Theft
    • To teach youth ways to handle temptation

    Program Times
    • Sessions are held on Tuesday evenings
    • Classes will begin promptly at 4:00pm and will end at approximately 5:30pm
    2013 Juvenile Theft Prevention Program Schedule
    January 29th 4:00pm to 5:30pm
    April 30th 4:00pm to 5:30pm
    July 30th 4:00pm to 5:30pm
    October 29th 4:00pm to 5:30pm
    Program Location
    • Pine Room (First Floor)
      Sherburne County Government Center
      13880 Business Center Drive NW
      Elk River, MN 55330-1692
      directions
    Program Cost and Registration
    • There will be a one-time program fee of $50.00, due prior to attending the class.
    • All payments are final.

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Adult Cognitive Restructuring Program*
The most basic level of our thoughts is referred to as cognitive structure. This is defined as our network of beliefs, assumptions, attitudes, memories and self-images that organize and shape our experiences and behavior.

    Program Goals

    The Sherburne County Cognitive Restructuring Program will assist offenders in building and restructuring cognitive skills. This will be accomplished by empowering offenders to alter their approach to life by adjusting their thinking, values, relationships and goals.

    Program Times
    • Sessions are held on Thursday evenings for ten consecutive weeks.
    • Sessions will begin promptly at 6:30 pm and will end at approximately 8:30 pm
    2013 Adult Cognitive Restructuring Program Schedule
    Session Start Date Session End Date Session Times
    May 23rd August 1st 6:30pm to 8:30pm
      no class on July 4th
    Program Location
    • Pine Room (First Floor)
      Sherburne County Government Center
      13880 Business Center Drive NW
      Elk River, MN 55330-1692
      directions
    Program Cost and Registration
    • There is a one-time program fee of $150.00
    • All payments are final
*The Sherburne County Cognitive Restructuring Program is facilitated by Certified Cognitive Trainers

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Juvenile Cognitive Restructuring Program*
The most basic level of our thoughts is referred to as cognitive structure. This is defined as our network of beliefs, assumptions, attitudes, memories and self-images that organize and shape our experiences and behavior.

    Program Goals

    The Sherburne County Cognitive Restructuring Program will assist offenders in building and restructuring cognitive skills. This will be accomplished by empowering offenders to alter their approach to life by adjusting their thinking, values, relationships and goals.

    Program Times
    • Sessions are held on Thursday evenings for ten consecutive weeks.
    • Sessions will begin promptly at 4:00 pm and will end at approximately 6:00 pm
    • Parents are encouraged to attend a meeting between 5:40pm-6:00pm on the first session date. The purpose of this meeting is to go over class expectations and answer questions.
    2013 Juvenile Cognitive Restructuring Program Schedule
    Session Start Date Session End Date Session Times
    January 17th March 21st 4:00pm to 6:00pm
    August 15th October 17th 4:00pm to 6:00pm
    Program Location
    • Pine Room (First Floor)
      Sherburne County Government Center
      13880 Business Center Drive NW
      Elk River, MN 55330-1692
      directions
    Program Cost and Registration
    • There is a one-time program fee of $75.00
    • All payments are final
*The Sherburne County Cognitive Restructuring Program is facilitated by Certified Cognitive Trainers

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Probation Contact:

Sherburne County Govt Center
ATTN: Probation
13880 Business Center Dr NW
Elk River, MN 55330-1692

Office Location & Hours

Phone: 763-765-4550
800-438-0574
Fax: 763-765-4555