Step 1: Read your paperwork closely
Pull out every document tied to your case: the order, any diversion or probation agreement, and notes from your hearing. Highlight three things: the number of hours or sessions, any wording about format (group, in person, a specific type of program), and the deadline. If the paperwork is vague, that is your first question for the court or your officer, not for a class provider.
Step 2: Work out which court is in charge
In Lawrence, the answer is usually one of two places. The Douglas County District Court, the state court for the Seventh Judicial District, is at 111 East 11th Street and hears civil and criminal matters under state law. Lawrence Municipal Court, at City Hall on 6 E. 6th Street, handles city ordinance violations such as traffic and misdemeanor cases. The court named at the top of your order is the one whose expectations count. Its own page, cited below, lists contact details if you need to reach the clerk.
Step 3: Talk to your supervising officer, if you have one
If you are on supervision, the county lists Community Corrections at the Judicial and Law Enforcement Center and at 1006 New Hampshire St, and Court Services in the basement of the East 11th Street building. Call or visit before you enroll. Ask:
1. Does a class need your OK before I start? 2. Is online or video attendance acceptable? 3. What proof do you want, and do you need it from me or from the provider? 4. Do you track progress during the class or only at the end?
Only the court or your officer decides whether a program fits your order. Write down the answers and the name of the person who gave them.
Step 4: Build a shortlist
Use the directory to find a few providers who serve Lawrence or offer live online groups. Look at schedules first. A group that meets on a weeknight near your job or bus route is easier to finish than one that looks good but forces you to leave work early every week. If you are a student, check the provider's calendar against the semester, including breaks.
Step 5: Ask each provider the same questions
Asking the same list makes comparing easier:
- How many sessions, how long each, and how often?
- What happens if I miss a week?
- Is the group closed (same people throughout) or rolling?
- How do you send completion paperwork, and how fast?
- What does the full course cost, and what is the refund policy?
Be wary of any provider who claims to know how your judge or officer will view their class. They can't know that; only the court or your officer can say. A provider who answers your questions plainly, puts the schedule and fees in writing, and tells you how attendance is recorded is giving you what you need to make your own call.
Step 6: Check back with your officer before paying
Once you've picked one, send your officer or the clerk the provider's name and a description of the class (hours, format, schedule). A short email creates a record. If they raise a concern, you've lost nothing but a day.
Step 7: Attend, and keep your own records
Keep a simple log: date, time, topic, and anything you were asked to practice. Save receipts and any attendance slips. If a session is cancelled, note it and ask how it will be made up. Your own records are useful if paperwork goes missing between the provider and the courthouse.
Step 8: Deliver proof on time
When you finish, get the completion document and confirm where it should go. If it goes to the district court, ask the clerk's office at East 11th how they want it filed. If it goes to a supervising officer, hand it over or send it in the way they asked, and keep a copy. Aim to finish a couple of weeks before your deadline so a slow letter doesn't put you behind.
A note for people signing up on their own
If nobody ordered you to take a class, you can skip Steps 2, 3 and 8. Focus on fit: a format you'll actually attend, a schedule that works, and a provider you feel you can be honest with. This directory introduces you to independent providers; it doesn't run classes or check their credentials, so take the time to ask your own questions.