If you believe a PRE has violated the Standards of Practice in Chief Justice Directive 21-02, you may click the button below to file a complaint. You must have a prima facia finding from the Judicial Officer in your case in order to file your complaint. The only complaints that do not require a prima facia finding by the Judicial Officer are complaints regarding the PRE’s failure to make mandatory notification of grievances and the PRE violation of CJD 21-02 Standard 6: The PRE shall establish and maintain competence through training. The PRE complaint process will not result in changes to court orders. Complaints must be brought within one year after termination of the PRE appointment.

PRIMA FACIA FINDING:
Parties or their counsel of record shall file a complaint only after the court has made prima facia findings on the record that the PRE failed to comply with the court’s order of appointment or has violated a practice standard set forth in this CJD. (Black's Law Dictionary definition of prima facie: ... (18c) Sufficient to establish a fact or raise a presumption unless disproved or rebutted; based on what seems to be true on first examination, even though it may later be proved to be untrue).

The Judicial Branch does not certify or endorse PREs. Parties should independently investigate PRE qualifications and suitability. Those listed on Statewide PRE Roster submitted a PRE affidavit, proof of mental health licensure, passed a background check, as determined by the Office of the State Court Administrator, and submitted proof of mandatory training pursuant to CJD 21-02. The SCAO determines final eligibility for appointment of PREs. PREs should have no expectation of appointment.

Definition of Mental Health Provider as Defined by CJD 21-02

a) psychologists licensed pursuant to §12-245-301, C.R.S., et. seq.;
b) social workers licensed pursuant to §12-245-401, C.R.S., et. seq.;
c) marriage and family therapists licensed pursuant to §12-245-501, C.R.S., et. seq.;
d) licensed professional counselors, licensed pursuant to §12-245-601, C.R.S., et. seq.; and
e) licensed addiction counselors, defined by §12-245-801(10), C.R.S., with a scope of work defined by §12-245-803(4), C.R.S., and pursuant to §12-245-804(1), C.R.S.

A PRE must be a mental health professional, as defined by CJD 21-02, and must have the appropriate training and qualifications pursuant to §14-10-127, C.R.S. Prospective PREs should review Chief Justice Directive 21-02 and §14-10-127, C.R.S., to learn more about the PRE role and responsibilities.

Step 1: Complete the mandatory training: Training requirements are 6 initial hours of training on domestic violence, including coercive control, and its traumatic effect on children, adults and families; and 6 initial hours of training on child abuse and child sexual abuse and its traumatic effects. The SCAO does not provide the mandatory training.

Step 2: PRE Affidavit. PRE affidavits will be accepted starting November 1, 2021 on rolling basis (processing of PRE applications can take approximately 14 days). Please CLICK HERE to complete the online Affidavit.

*The Affidavit will include a release of information for background check and you will need to upload your training certificates. Please list your contact information on your Affidavit as you wish to have it appear on the public roster.

Step 3: Affidavit Submission. Email your Affidavit to PREProgram@judicial.state.co.us . You must include your proof of mental health license and proof of required DV and Child Abuse training pursuant to CJD 21-02. Please include your Affidavit, mental health license and all training certificates/training information in one email submission when possible (we understand you may need to supplement with training certificates). Please include the title of the class, class provider, date, and credit hours with your email submission and attach training certificates as a PDF file. Please number the classes in the body of your email and label the attached certificate to correlate.

Please do not email certificates or class descriptions to Jaime.Watman@judicial.state.co.us

Step 4: Background Check: After you email your Affidavit, you will receive an email to complete your ONLINE authorization for background check.

If you do not wish to have your phone number and address publicly disclosed, you may wish to list an alternate phone number and post office box on the affidavit.

*coming soon

Four subsequent hours of training every two years on domestic violence, including coercive control, and child abuse, and child sexual abuse, and the traumatic effects on children, adults, and families are required.

§14-10-127, C.R.S. (governs the appointment of PREs)

CJD 21-02 (PRE appointment, practice standards and complaint procedures)

HB 21-1228

HB 21-1228 Task Force Charging Document

For questions about PRE appointments, please email Jaime Watman at Jaime.Watman@judicial.state.co.us

Letter to CFIs and PREs from the SCAO - click here to download PDF