Middle District of Florida

Joseph C. Collins, Chief United States Probation Officer

Welcome to the United States Probation Office for the Middle District of Florida. Our vision is to deliver the highest quality services nationally. We hope you find this site helpful. On this site you will find information regarding policies, standard forms, directions to our offices and information related to sentencing and supervision.

The Middle District of Florida currently has twenty-six U.S. District Judges (thirteen of whom are senior Judges), and eighteen Magistrate Judges. Geographically, the district covers thirty-five counties from the Georgia border on the northeast to south of Naples on Florida’s southwest coast. There are five divisional offices located in Tampa, Jacksonville, Ocala, Orlando, and Fort Myers, and satellite offices in Cocoa and Sarasota. There are 170 staff members on board.

U.S. Courthouse & Federal Building, Ft. Myers, FL

In 1998 a new federal courthouse was built a few blocks from the old one. Prominently featured on the exterior of the new building is a mural by Barbara Jo Revelle entitled “An Alternative History of Fort Myers” depicting historic photographs. In July 2006, the building was awarded the International Office Building of the Year Award in the Government Building category.
U.S. Courthouse, Orlando, FL
In August 2007, a new building (below) was completed to form a federal Judicial Complex built around a public park designed by landscape pioneer Dan Kiley. Enhancing the heart of downtown Orlando, the new courthouse replicates the tower from the 1941 Federal Building and Post Office. Its five-story atrium contains six large stained glass windows designed by acclaimed New York artist Al Held whose work has won many awards.
Golden-Collum Memorial Federal Building
Ocala,FL

In 1961, a new 70,000 square foot Federal Building and Courthouse was completed. When it opened, the new facility housed twelve federal agencies. In 1984 by a special act of Congress, the building was officially named the “Golden-Collum Memorial Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse” to honor veterans from Marion County who died in the Vietnam War.
Bryan Simpson U.S. Courthouse, Jacksonville, FL

In 2006, President George W. Bush signed a bill designating this courthouse as the John Milton Bryan Simpson United States Courthouse. Judge Simpson was appointed to the federal bench in 1950 and joined the Middle District in 1962. He later served on both the Fifth and Eleventh Circuit Courts of Appeals. His decisions were instrumental in desegregating schools in the Middle District.
Sam M. Gibbons U.S. Courthouse, Tampa,FL

A Tampa attorney, Sam Gibbons fought on the beaches of Normandy and then served his country as a member of Congress for seventeen terms where he was recognized as a leader in free trade and protecting the elderly. Offering panoramic views from the upper floors of downtown Tampa and Tampa Bay.