Volunteer Program

The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office is currently in need of volunteers in several areas.  Please contact us for more information or to apply.  See below for more information.

Who We Are
Volunteers donate their time serving in a variety of positions at the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office.  In 2009, more than 200 volunteers donated 17,139 hours of service to the Sheriff's Office.  Assuming their services are worth a conservative $10 per hour, that means volunteers saved Jefferson County taxpayers $171,390.

Sheriff's Office volunteers are a diverse group.  Ages run the spectrum from teens to retirees.  A few volunteers are POST-certified law enforcement reserves.  Many volunteers work at the Sheriff's Office during the week, while some get called out on weekends to respond to crime scenes for victim support.  Some volunteers donate their own services as well as their horse's  -- as part of the Mounted Patrol. 

All have one thing in common: a desire to give back to their community.

Main Volunteer Areas
Most volunteers work in the jail.  Detention counselors provide one-on-one inmate counseling and act as group facilitators for programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous, and anger management programs.

Volunteers in the jail's Chaplaincy program work as teachers, worship leaders and care counselors. They are essential in assisting the agency's chaplain in providing spiritual and religious support to the inmate population, by request.

The Sheriff's Office also has a large group of Victim Services volunteer advocates.  These volunteers complete a 40-hour initial Victim Services training before responding to assist victims in the aftermath of a crime or crisis.

Other Assignments
Volunteers may work in one of many other areas at the Sheriff's Office.  Work schedules vary by position and individual needs.

- GED program
- Investigations
- Evidence
- Animal Control
- Booking
- Community Relations
- Work Release
- Administration
- Training & Recruiting
- Patrol

Reserves
Reserve deputies are volunteers who undergo a 200-hour reserve sheriff's academy and become POST-certified law enforcement officers with limited responsibilities.  Most are Jeffco residents who work a normal 9-5 job and volunteer their time to the Sheriff's Office on some weekends.  Their assignments may include law enforcement duties, fugitive extraditions, search and rescue, crime scene security or security at large events.

Selection Process
The selection process for most volunteer positions involves an application, interview, polygraph examination and background investigation.

Youth Volunteer Opportunities
For high school and college students, volunteer opportunities are available through the Explorer program.  Volunteer opportunities are not available to students younger than age 14.   Younger students interested in volunteering may consider local scouting programs, many of which provide a good foundation for the Sheriff's Office Explorer program.

To Apply
To apply for a volunteer position, visit our job openings page and click on the volunteer job.  If you have questions, please contact the Training and Recruiting Section at 303-271-5332.

Last Modified: Apr 5, 2010 08:09 AM