The Probation Department is responsible for the supervision, counseling and referral of defendants placed on probation.  The Probation Department at the 51st District Court is a full-service Probation Department in that it also performs all alcohol screening assessments and pre-sentence investigations. 

After sentencing, the enforcement of the terms of probation allows the offender to reside in their community under the supervision of a Probation Officer.  This decision is issued after careful study of the offender’s background, behavior, and potential for success.  The decision is also based on the premise that rehabilitation of certain offenders may be impaired by incarceration.

In February of 2001, the 51st District Court implemented a Sobriety Court in an effort to reduce the incidence of drunk driving by promoting recovery of offenders charged with drinking and driving offenses.

The 51st District Court has a Chief Probation Officer and four additional Probation Officers, as well as a Sobriety Court Case Manager and a Probation Clerk.  These officers are responsible for conducting pre-sentence investigations and alcohol assessments, as well as Probation Violation Hearings.  The entire Probation Staff is involved in the specialized services rendered at the 51st District Court.

51st District Court Probation Officers

Shelly Booth

Shelly Booth has been employed as a Probation Officer at the 51st District Court since 1995.  She is a graduate of Michigan State University with a Bachelor Degree in Criminal Justice.  She is certified by the Michigan Certification Board for Addiction Professionals - ARMS I.

Denise Larkin

Denise Larkin has served as a Probation Officer at the 51st District Court since 1991 and has worked in the probation field since 1987.  From 1987 to 1989, Denise worked as a Presentence Investigator for the Vanderburgh County Circuit Court and from 1989 to 1991 she was the Chief Probation Officer in Gibson County Superior Court, both in Southwestern Indiana.  Denise has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science and Sociology from the University of Southern Indiana.  She is CCJP certified in the State of Michigan.

Angie Reid

Angie Reid has been a full-time Probation Officer at the 51st District Court since 2004.  She graduated from Western Michigan University in 2003 with her Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice and Sociology.  She interned at the Juvenile Court in Kalamazoo for eight months in 2003.  Mrs. Reid currently supervises the Volunteers in Probation program at the Court.  She earned CCJP certification in 2005, and is currently working to obtain a Master's Degree in Counseling from Oakland University.