“Make no mistake, no matter who you are or what you look like: Maddie’s bell tolls for someone close to you, and maybe someone you love.” “Gut wrenching.” “Heartbreaking.” “A beautiful tribute.” Those are just a few of the words being used on social media to describe the obituary for Madelyn Linsenmeir, whose family wrote […]
INDIANAPOLIS—The Indiana Commission to Combat Drug Abuse has launched an interactive, online naloxone administration heat map that provides insight into the location of incidents where naloxone was administered and reported by emergency medical services providers. Also known by the brand name Narcan®, naloxone blocks the effects of an opioid overdose and can save the life […]
A national Opioid Task Force held a field hearing in Indianapolis this week and provided a chance for the group to hear how legal interventions aid people with a substance use disorder. The justice system is often the first point of entry for someone with an addiction. Indiana Chief Justice Loretta Rush sits on the […]
Many judges, magistrates, and commissioners were recognized by Chief Justice Loretta Rush for their commitment to higher education and their long-time service. Fourteen judicial officers received an Indiana Judicial College certificate, twenty-nine received an Indiana Graduate Program for Judges certificate, and eleven were honored for Years of Service on the bench. The honors were presented […]
A revolutionary fingerprint scanner can deliver drug test results within minutes with up to 99 per cent accuracy. That’s the finding of a new study that looked at the performance of the Reader 1000 compared to existing urine and blood tests. The device accurately tests for the four main groups of drugs most commonly abused […]
The United Nations defines human trafficking as the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of persons by improper means such as force, abduction, fraud or coercion for an improper purpose including forced labor or sexual exploitation. However, the really scary thing about human trafficking is the fact that the Midwest, as well as the state […]
E-filing is now mandatory in Warrick County, with just four more counties remaining to implement the online filing system. As of Tuesday, 89 Indiana trial courts have adopted mandatory e-filing for most case types. Courts that will soon make the switch to mandatory e-filing include Goshen City Court, Lake Circuit and Superior Courts, Wayne Circuit […]
Months in prison didn’t rid Daryl of his addiction to opioids. “Before I left the parking lot of the prison, I was shooting up, getting high,” he says. Daryl has used heroin and prescription painkillers for more than a decade. Almost four years ago he became one of more than 200 people who tested positive […]
He may be the one wearing the robe, but the rapport Monroe Circuit Judge Kenneth Todd shares with defendants lacks the rigidity commonly found in court hearings. Instead, as defendants approach the bench, there is a sense of familiarity between him and those whose future he holds in his hands. “How long have you and […]
Democratic California Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill eliminating cash bail in the state Tuesday Maryland virtually eliminated cash bail in 2017, but proponents of a reworked justice system are not happy with the results Several states and cities are moving toward reducing or ending cash bail California became the first state to end the […]
Driven in part by family tragedy, San Francisco Mayor London Breed has repeatedly pledged to open what could be the first supervised drug injection site in the country. However, California Gov. Jerry Brown made the promise tougher to keep when he vetoed legislation over the weekend that would have given San Francisco some legal cover […]
Pastor tells how, at 14, his plot to avenge a murder fell apart The Rev. Charles Harrison’s brother was killed in Louisville, Kentucky, at the age of 21. “I will never forget that, when my parents received the phone call to inform them that my brother had been killed in Louisville,” Harrison said, speaking to […]
When I relocated to Indiana to assume my role as chief medical officer at Fairbanks three years ago, I witnessed firsthand — on day one — the level of devastation the opioid crisis has inflicted on our communities. Today, despite physicians’ best efforts, relentless news coverage, and the establishment of Gov. Eric Holcomb’s Commission to Combat Drug Abuse, the opioid epidemic is getting worse in Indiana. This illness does not […]
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – A drug treatment program called New Beginnings at the Monroe County Jail is helping addicts while they are still behind bars. It started a little more than a year ago and it’s finding success. New Beginnings is a 90-day re-entry program. Participants in the program take life skills classes for the last […]
Doctors are prescribing benzodiazepines, like Xanax and Ativan, at skyrocketing rates. But most don’t know about their debilitating, even deadly, effects. Video: When Christy Huff developed a painful eye problem that led to insomnia, her doctor had a common solution— Xanax. She took the medication as directed. One pill at night offered her some […]
Efforts to fight the epidemic must focus on more than just the availability of certain drugs, the researchers say. The current opioid overdose crisis is actually part of a 40-year trend that is still headed upward, and current efforts to fight it may not be anywhere near enough, researchers said Thursday. A new analysis of […]
Indiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Loretta Rush says she’s encouraged by progress shown in a new type of specialty court. There are several types of so-called “problem-solving” courts. They include drug courts to help with the state’s addiction epidemic and others aimed at military veterans. Rush says one of the newest types is family recovery […]
The Senate on Monday passed a bipartisan, multipronged package of 70 bills aimed at curbing the opioid epidemic, but Congress still has work to do to reach the finish line. The package, which passed 99-1 and focuses on prevention and treatment, includes a provision President Trump endorsed on Twitter last month. It marks the most […]
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Recycle Force President Gregg Keesling knows all about tearing down television sets and electronics for recycling. He’s learning more about gunshot wounds and insurance for his employees. “It is fairly common for people in our program to be shot and return back to work. We’ve had people return the next day,” said […]
Goodwill Industries of Central Indiana’s New Beginnings hosted the 3-on-3 basketball tournament bringing together participants in New Beginnings, a six month re-entry program for ex-offenders that work on job and life skills, with representatives from Goodwill, IMPD, the Mayor’s Office, Marion County Probation department and other services.
The Trump administration has awarded Indiana more than $25 million to fight the opioid epidemic, largely by expanding access to treatment and recovery services. Indiana’s funding announced Wednesday by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services was among more than $1 billion awarded to all 50 states to combat opioid abuse. Indiana is getting […]
Indiana Chief Justice Loretta Rush has been named the state’s 2018 Government Leader of the Year by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce. “The role of the chief justice of Indiana is expansive in both its responsibilities and importance,” a Tuesday press release said. “Loretta Rush brings a passionate commitment, and strong organizational skills and communication […]
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced that it is ready to hire an additional 50 Veterans Justice Outreach (VJO) specialists following President Trump’s signing today of the Veterans Treatment Court Improvement Act of 2018, a new law shoring up support services to Veterans impacted by the justice system. The law requires […]
(See original article for a video) The Center for Disease Control and Prevention released preliminary overdose estimates for 2017. Although a few states offer some encouraging examples of progress, the estimates — or even just one, the record 72,000 overdose deaths — offer a troubling look at how the United States is still struggling to […]
In 2010, more than 4 million adults in the United States were under probation supervision, according to estimates from the Bureau of Justice Statistics. Increasingly, the role of probation officers—the correctional professionals who supervise these individuals—has shifted from monitoring offender compliance with court orders to helping people change their behavior. This more inThis is a […]
Society for Human Resource Management and the Charles Koch Institute
5/17/2018
A Survey by the Society for Human Resource Management and the Charles Koch Institute The number of Americans with a criminal history is on the rise, and nearly one-third of the adult working-age population has a record. A new nationwide study commissioned by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and the Charles Koch Institute […]
The Indiana Task Force on Public Defense (Task Force) presented its Final Report to the Indiana Public Defender Commission (Commission) on August 22, 2018. The report identified numerous systemic deficiencies and made recommendations for both immediate and long-term system reforms. The Commission has tentatively approved a legislative/policy reform agenda for 2019 and seeks public comment […]
The United States Probation Office for the Southern District of Indiana has been dedicated to the memory of U.S. Probation Officer Thomas E. Gahl, who was the first U.S. Probation Officer killed in the line of duty by a parolee. Tom was killed on September 22, 1986, by Michael Wayne Jackson, who had a life-long […]
A juvenile accused of robbing a pharmacy might not be tried in federal criminal court because attempted robbery is not considered a violent crime in Indiana, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday, vacating the teen’s waiver to be tried as an adult. D.D.B. was arrested with an adult accomplice shortly after an Indianapolis […]
The Indiana Office of Court Services will be holding the Justice Services Conference on August 6-8, 2019 at the Indiana Convention Center. Though it is a year away, we are ready to start planning for this event and we would love your help! Like last year, we are opening a Call for Papers. If you […]
The Founder’s Award is a way of recognizing individuals who have significantly contributed to the field of probation in general and specifically to the POPAI organization. The recipient need not be a Probation Officer or POPAI member. The selected person however, shall be characterized by his/her commitment of influence and promotion of professionalism to Indiana […]
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) – – The Food and Drug Administration made national headlines when it declared that teen vaping is an epidemic. The agency threatened to stop the sale of flavored e-cigarettes if the manufacturers cannot prove they are doing enough to keep them out of the hands of teens. JUUL and at least […]
Cristina Rivell has been struggling with an opioid addiction since she was a teenager — going in and out of rehab for five years. The most recent time, her doctor prescribed her a low dose of buprenorphine (often known by its brand name, Suboxone), a drug that helps curb cravings for stronger opioids and prevents […]
Declining user fee revenues continue to be a budgeting concern for probation and community corrections officials. Two probation officer positions previously supported by the court, alcohol and drug fees fund were moved to the county general fund on Tuesday, the first day of the 2019 county council budget work sessions. Chief Probation Officer Linda Brady […]
Around 25 years ago, Ty Hookway, founder of the upstate New York-based janitorial services company CleanCraft, was driving past one of their client’s houses when he noticed one of his workers’ cars parked in front. It was late–around 11 p.m.–so Hookway stopped to check in and see if everything was okay. Inside, he saw Sanford […]
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human services, 116 people die from opioid-related overdoses every day. These numbers reached record highs in 2016, prompting President Trump to temporarily declare a state of emergency in late 2017, but new opioid overdose statistics analyzed by Salon show the crisis could actually be getting worse. Data […]
Richard King suffers from bipolar disorder. A pastor and Vietnam veteran from Fort Smith, Ark., Richard has undergone treatment for his mental illness for years. But when a stomach illness prevented him from taking his prescribed medication, he found himself on March 11 experiencing a mental health crisis that led to his arrest on a […]
There are real concerns with marijuana addiction. That doesn’t mean legalization is a bad idea. It is now widely accepted that marijuana is, at the very least, less dangerous than other recreational drugs. The typical line you’ll hear — I certainly do in my email inbox — is that “marijuana is harmless,” often meant as […]
Nearly two years ago, 11 Indiana counties, including Hamilton and Hendricks, decided to try a different approach to handling those arrested and awaiting trial. Instead of setting money bail amounts, judges would use risk assessments to decide whether defendants should be held in jail or, more likely, simply be allowed to go home on the promise they would return […]
California will become the first state in the nation to abolish bail for suspects awaiting trial under a sweeping reform bill signed by Gov. Jerry Brown on Tuesday. An overhaul of the state’s bail system has been in the works for years, and became an inevitability earlier this year when a California appellate court declared the […]
An increasing number of Indiana school districts are turning to truancy courts to address issues with chronic absences. But, the focus isn’t on punishing students. The state defines chronic truancy as a student having at least 10 unexcused absences during one school year. Many districts across the state are adopting policies that aim to connect […]
Criminal defendants who don’t show up for a court hearing may find themselves in a bad place — jail — if a judge orders them arrested for failure to appear. This happens all the time. It can be a life-altering event for the person who gets arrested, who is held without bond, sometimes for days, […]
OAKLAND, Calif. — Every year, thousands of people addicted to opioids show up at hospital emergency rooms in withdrawal so agonizing it leaves them moaning and writhing on the floor. Usually, they’re given medicines that help with vomiting or diarrhea and sent on their way, maybe with a few numbers to call about treatment. When […]
A woman that police called “one of the worst DUI offenders in the United States” has been sentenced. RIVERSIDE, Ill. (WLS) — Tasha Lynn Schleicher, 41, of New Hope, Minnesota, was arrested in west suburban Riverside in April and faced multiple charges, including two counts of felony aggravated drunk driving, two counts of misdemeanor drunk […]
Compared to jail, electronic monitoring with ankle bracelets is said to be a more humane and effective approach—but it’s not so simple. The movement to reform bail practices and thereby shrink jail populations could lead to a harmful over-reliance on electronic monitoring. Nearly half a million people who have not yet been convicted of a […]
The House is touting passage of dozens of bills that could help combat the national opioid crisis — but a small handful of companies that have spent millions lobbying Congress could reap a windfall if any of the bills become law. In a two-week legislative blitz, the House cleared several narrowly tailored measures that would […]
Linda Brady, Probation Representative to State EBDM Policy Team
The state Evidence Based Decision Making (EBDM) Policy Team met on August 17, 2018. Agenda and Work Group Reports: State EBDM Team Agenda 8-17-2018 Pretrial Work Group Report 8-17-2018 Behavior Responses Group Report 8-17-2018 Professional Development Work Group Report 8-14-2018 Data Work Group Report 8-14-2018 The next State Team meeting will be October 5, 2018, […]
The 18th Annual Judge David’s Community In-Service is on Wednesday, October 3, 2018. This year’s theme is: “Keeping Our Kids in Safe Waters: How to Navigate the Depths of Mental Health Challenges and Suicide Prevention”. Attendees will hear a powerful Keynote presentation from Kevin Hines. In September 2000, Kevin leapt off the Golden Gate Bridge, […]
Recently retired public defender planned to pursue passion for judiciary before fatal shooting, friends say A prominent attorney remembered for his warmth, good humor and precise legal mind was expected to retire at month’s end to pursue his passion for the judiciary. Instead, Tracy Edward Page was shot and killed Wednesday afternoon at his Hobart […]
The men file in, a few wearing pressed button-down shirts, others jeans caked in mud from work on a construction site. They meet in the living room of an old taupe bungalow on a leafy street in a small Southern city. Someone has shoved a workout bike into the corner to make room for a […]
A man who argued public policy should disfavor criminally charging people who have overdosed on heroin lost Wednesday, as the Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed his felony possession conviction. Tavis Ray Crittendon raised those arguments and others in appealing his conviction after a bench trial in Kosciusko County. “Although Crittendon argues that there is a […]
Nationally-acclaimed photographer, Richard Ross, brings his work “Juvenile In Justice” to Bloomington for the month of April. His photos show the treatment and containment of children in detention centers and have been featured by CNN, NPR, TIME Magazine, 60 Minutes, The Washington Post and more. The artist visited Bloomington for two days and held events, […]
The Vigo County Veterans Court has been recognized and is being awarded a federal grant. VIGO COUNTY, Ind. (WTHI) — The Vigo County veterans court was started about three years ago by Judge John Roach. Since it started it’s helped almost 30 veterans get out of the system and get their lives back on track. […]
For almost 35 years, the county’s road crew program has served as an alternative to jail time. However, for financial reasons, Monroe County judges decided to discontinue the program. The last day of the program was Saturday. Eight individuals participated. “We are disappointed that we have to cease with road crew, but we have to […]
As legalization of recreational and medical marijuana continues to expand, police across the country are more concerned than ever about stoned drivers taking to the nation’s roads and freeways, endangering lives. With few accurate roadside tools to detect pot impairment, police today have to rely largely on field sobriety tests developed to fight drunk driving […]
A car inspection on I-70 led to the discovery of $1 million worth of marijuana hidden in fresh lettuce, Indiana State Police said Wednesday. A tractor-trailer traveling eastbound was stopped near the 41 mile marker around 7:30 a.m. in Putnam County for a routine inspection, State Police said in a news release. A search of […]
INDIANAPOLIS, IN (WAVE) – Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb is now joining the call to pass a hate crime law in the Hoosier state. The move comes just days after anti-Semitic graffiti was spray painted on a synagogue in Carmel. The vandalism has united the Carmel community and much of the state who are urging lawmakers […]
“Dr. Earl gave us treasures and nuggets that we have immediately implemented, with respect to diversity recruitment and retention, and leadership development.” — Alfred Dowe, Asst. Director of Recruitment and Community Outreach University of Arkansas Graduate School and International Education “Many, many thanks for your refreshing insights and positive approaches to coping with change during […]
Lake Superior Judge Elizabeth Tavitas was on the bench on July 18 when her phone rang with a message that would change her career. It was a call from Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb, informing her that she had been selected as Indiana’s next Court of Appeals judge. “I saw his (Holcomb’s) name light up on my […]
It’s not uncommon for the Indiana Department of Child Services to hear it doesn’t have enough evidence to support its child welfare cases. Children in need of services cases that enter the court often leave shredded by judges for lack of a sufficient reasoning as to why they came before the bench without enough evidence […]
The following candidates are slated for the 2018 POPAI Fall Election: President: Adam McQueen Secretary: Cherie Wood District 2: Cheryl Bartnick Ryan Hull Heather Malone District 4: Lakisha Fisher District 6: Andria Geigle District 8: Mignon Ware Article XII ELECTIONS E. Voting The President of the Association shall open the annual meeting of the Association […]
Stakeholders discuss ways to curb addiction Police, health care providers and others at the center of the local opioid problem will soon receive a map for helping tackle drug abuse. After months of gathering input, Montgomery United Fund For You’s United Against Opioid Abuse Project is completing a report that seeks to gauge the extent […]
INDIANAPOLIS — The Hoosier State is at the center of America’s opioid drug abuse epidemic, so it’s up to Hoosiers to figure out how best to combat the scourge and prepare for the next one. That motivation drew nearly 1,000 judicial, law enforcement, public health and community leaders from all 92 counties to the Indiana […]
INDIANAPOLIS — Hundreds of criminal justice professionals tasted the cruel reality of the state’s opioid crisis when Marion Superior Court Judge William Nelson played a chilling 911 call from a mother who had just found her 20-year-old son dead from an overdose. The 90-second recording of the despondent and sobbing woman filled the ballroom at […]
In Dallas County, Texas, the main outlet of psychiatric care for those with mental illness is no longer the corrections system. A five-year initiative aimed at bridging the gap between the legal and medical communities is successfully diverting justice-involved mentally ill individuals to effective treatment programs. The key to the program is technology. The initiative […]
Court Times. Compiled By: Amanda R. Wishin | Research Attorney, Indiana Office of Court Services
New immunities Community corrections officers and probation officers who administer an overdose intervention drug. S.E.A. 13, P.L. 4. A guardian ad litem program and court appointed special advocate program when a child is placed on a waiting list for guardian ad litem or court appointed special advocate services. S.E.A. 135, P.L. 120. Fire department that […]
Community Solutions: United to Combat the Opioid Epidemic Register for the 2018 Public Safety + Public Health Opioid Conference being held on Tuesday, August 14th at 502 East Event Centre in Carmel, IN. Cost: $25 Objective The goal of this conference is to showcase how Public Safety and Public Health are strategic partners in the […]
Nominations are being accepted until August 6, 2018 for three awards presented during our Fall Conference in French Lick. The Founder’s Award is a way of recognizing individuals who have significantly contributed to the field of probation in general, and specifically to the POPAI organization. The recipient need not be a Probation Officer or POPAI […]
MINNEAPOLIS (KARE11) – A judge’s choice to hand down probation instead of prison time to former day care provider Nataliia Karia, who pleaded guilty to attempted murder, is getting a lot of reaction. “The trauma her victims suffered is undeniable,” said Karia’s attorney Brock Hunter. “I’m sure many of them will be scarred for the […]
May 25 was a day that rocked a central Indiana community to its core. A 13-year-old student allegedly opened fire at Noblesville West Middle School, injuring a science teacher and a fellow 13-year-old classmate. Both victims survived, leaving prosecutors with only one option: to try the shooter in juvenile court. Under Indiana law, 13-year-olds cannot […]
Jane Seigel | Interim Chief Administrative Officer, Office of Judicial Administration and Jenny Bauer | Staff Attorney, Indiana Office of Court Services
Adult and Juvenile Interstate Compacts How many times has an out-of-state offender appeared in your courtroom for sentencing? Do you know what to do if the out-of-state offender is to be sentenced for a felony? Consider the following example: an offender from Illinois appears in your Court for sentencing on a felony Operating a Vehicle […]
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indiana lawmakers entered this year’s session with limited ambitions when compared to years past. They still passed dozens of new laws. And while many of the most attention grabbing ideas — like legal Sunday retail alcohol sales — were already made the law of the land, more are set to take effect […]
Greetings POPAI Membership: According to the POPAI Bylaws, Article XIV AMENDMENTS These bylaws may be altered, amended or repealed by the membership if a quorum is present at any regular or special meeting. Written notice of any proposed alteration to the bylaws shall be submitted to the President of the Executive Board at least sixty (60) […]
The American Probation and Parole Association (APPA) recognizes the nearly 100,000-strong members of the community corrections/supervision workforce for your dedication to and influence on the justice system. Each year during Pretrial, Probation, and Parole Supervision Week (PPPS Week), we make an extra effort to acknowledge your compassion, strength, and determination. You make a difference, even […]
KNOX, Ind. — After receiving board approval at the end of June, Starke County Community Corrections is merging with the probation department. The director of the new Court Services department says the move should reduce caseloads while saving the county big bucks. The director says putting only one person in charge (instead of one leader […]
INDIANAPOLIS (WTHR) – City and neighborhood leaders took part in the ceremonial groundbreaking for Marion County’s new Community Justice Campus Thursday morning. The $571 million project is going to be built on at the site of the former Citizens Energy coke plant on the southeast side of Indianapolis. The campus will house a 3,000-bed jail, […]
As many as one in four Americans are afraid of needles. That’s led a handful of start-ups to develop alternatives to hypodermic syringes. This would be good news for health care: While needles provide an effective tool for vaccinations and treatments that the stomach’s digestive juices would neutralize if taken orally, needle phobia keeps many […]
HIDDEN VALLEY, Ind. (WKRC) – Evidence in the murder of Tom Biedenharn suggests more than one person was involved in his death, Indiana State Police said Tuesday. The revelation comes as Biedenharn’s family renewed its plea for information in the case by putting up a $50,000 reward. Biedenharn was found murdered in his home in […]
How to find help If you or anyone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 (TALK) or the Crisis Text Line by texting 741-741. JEFFERSONVILLE — A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report published last Thursday revealed that suicide rates have risen in almost every […]
Nominations are being accepted until August 6, 2018 for three awards presented during our Fall Conference in French Lick. The Founder’s Award is a way of recognizing individuals who have significantly contributed to the field of probation in general, and specifically to the POPAI organization. The recipient need not be a Probation Officer or POPAI […]
International Association of Correctional Training Personnel
The International Association of Correctional Training Personnel (IACTP) is a criminal justice association that includes members of the training professions from national, state and local corrections agencies, community corrections, juvenile justice, higher education, academies and commissions, and private corrections. We expect attendance to be from 75-150 participants, with approximately 15-30 participants per workshop. The smaller […]
The conference will be returning this year to French Lick Springs Resort on September 5, 6, and 7, 2018 Find information for: Attendees Vendors The 2018 POPAI Fall Conference will be returning to the French Lick Resort in French Lick, Indiana, The fantastic hotel and conference facility provides the perfect setting for probation professionals to […]
“Legacy. What is a legacy? It’s planting seeds in a garden you never get to see.” —Hamilton: An American Musical, by Lin-Manuel Miranda Jane Seigel officially retired on April 30, after 19 years of service to the Indiana Supreme Court. To Lin-Manuel Miranda’s point, the garden of reforms, outcomes, and initiatives Jane has planted will […]
There’s a significant need for transitional housing in Montgomery County for certain individuals in the criminal justice system. Montgomery Superior Court I Judge Heather Barajas and Chief Probation Officer Andria Geigle addressed county commissioners at the start of Monday’s meeting about the possibility of making such housing available here. “One of the biggest problems we […]
INDIANAPOLIS (WTHR) – In a unanimous decision, the Indianapolis City-County council approved a plan to create the largest needle exchange program in the state. The vote comes nearly a month after Dr. Virginia Caine, Marion County’s public health director, declared a “public health emergency” over the increase in Hepatitis C cases, which they’re blaming on […]
KOKOMO, Ind. (AP) — The family of a central Indiana couple who died after a repeat drunk driver struck them in Seattle has settled a wrongful death lawsuit against the West Coast city for $13 million. The family of Dennis and Judy Schulte settled the lawsuit with Seattle in April after an appeals court denied […]
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Indiana Supreme Court says students must be told about their right to remain silent when questioned by police in a custody-type setting at school. The court ruled Wednesday in the case of a 13-year-old boy suspected of a bomb threat at an Indianapolis school. The court threw out the confession, saying […]
It’s time for the annual POPAI Elections. Up for election in 2018: President Secretary District 2 District 4 District 6 District 8 POPAI District 5 Representative Melanie Pitstick is serving as the Election Committee Chair. The Intent to Run form must be sent to Melanie by July 6, 2018 (postmarked, emailed, or faxed). The form […]
Every year, it’s estimated that 650,000 offenders are released from the nation’s prisons, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. However, national recidivism rates remain high, with some studies finding that two-thirds of inmates are re-arrested. Upon release, many ex-prisoners are supervised by probation and parole officers (POs) who have an opportunity to help offenders make positive […]
Part One of Three Introduction Since the Supreme Court adopted Criminal Rule (CR) 26 in September 2016, the Pretrial Committee, the Indiana Evidence Based Decision Making (EBDM) Policy Team, and the Indiana Office of Court Services (IOCS) have diligently worked with 11 counties to implement CR 26 and other evidence based pretrial practices. Here are […]
Adult and Juvenile Interstate Compacts How many times has an out-of-state offender appeared in your courtroom for sentencing? Do you know what to do if the out-of-state offender is to be sentenced for a felony? Consider the following example: an offender from Illinois appears in your Court for sentencing on a felony Operating a Vehicle […]
Indiana leaders are questioning current state law that prevents juveniles from being charged as adults one day after a prosecutor said a 13-year-old Noblesville school shooting suspect would not be tried because of his age. House Speaker Brian Bosma, R-Indianapolis, said in a statement Wednesday lawmakers plan to review current state law concerning juveniles not […]
Dearborn County, Ind. — More than three dozen registered sex offenders in Dearborn County got a rude awakening as officers began knocking on doors not long after sunrise Tuesday. “We want to make sure, number one, that they’re following the rules, but two, that they’re not committing new offenses,” said Dearborn County Probation Officer Karrisa […]
An Indiana Court of Appeals ruling that reserved the right to demand a jury trial in misdemeanor cases to defendants has been upheld after the Indiana Supreme Court declined to hear the state’s challenge to that ruling. The Court of Appeals’ February decision in State of Indiana v. Latasha Bonds, 49A02-1704-CR-770, interpreted Indiana Rule of Criminal Procedure 22 […]
A family drug court in southern Indiana has received a $2.1 million federal grant to expand its services, which could help reunite an estimated 175 families over the next five years. Judge Vicki Carmichael has run the Clark County Family Treatment Drug Court for seven years with only one county-paid employee, but the new five-year […]
POPAI provides a scholarship every year in memory of Probation Officer Donald “Charley” Knepple. Charley lost his life on April 28, 1997, while performing his probation officer duties in Allen County, Indiana. In an effort to honor an outstanding professional and to promote further professionalism, POPAI selected a scholarship that would encourage continued education and […]
“With my new lease on life, I still remember the one I took.” Soon, I will walk out of prison for the first time in 27 years. I’ve been preparing for this day for so long, I know exactly how it’ll go: My wife will pick me up at the gates of Sing Sing, and […]
by Dionne Barnes-Proby, Priscillia Hunt, Lisa Jonsson, Samantha Cherney
by Dionne Barnes-Proby, Priscillia Hunt, Lisa Jonsson, Samantha Cherney
This report is one component of a larger RAND project aimed at addressing income inequalities faced by workers with criminal records. Given the labor market challenges faced by people with criminal convictions, it can be challenging for probation agencies to help their clients find jobs, let alone earn living wages. This report summarizes findings from […]
View original article for video featuring Sullivan County CPO Barb Lance. Opioids are fueling a drug abuse crisis. The pills, aimed a treating pain, kill roughly two people everyday in Indiana. In fact, the latest figures show 66 percent of all drug overdose deaths in the United States are caused by opioids. The staggering problem […]
A former New Albany middle school administrator will serve jail time for voyeurism at school. Paul Raake, a former vice principal at Scribner Middle School, where he was employed for more than 40 years, has been sentenced to one year in jail after pleading guilty to a level 6 felony for voyeurism. Floyd County Circuit […]
Early this year, the founder of Miss Transgender America, Christa Leigh Steele-Knudslien, was found dead in her home after being stabbed and beaten to death by her husband. In an interview with police, Mark Steele-Knudslien said he “snapped” after arguing with his wife. Intimate partner violence is as prevalent in the LGBTQ community as in […]
(CNN) – No one should have to stay in jail because they lack the money to buy their freedom. Yet every night, according to the Justice Department’s statistics, nearly 450,000 people who have not been convicted of a crime sit in jail, a large number trapped there simply because they don’t have enough money to post bail. […]
On any given day in the United States, more than 450,000 people are behind bars awaiting their constitutionally mandated fair trial. None of them have been convicted of a crime — they’ve been accused of committing a crime, but no formal ruling of guilt or innocence has been made. That means these hundreds of thousands […]
Google and Facebook, the world’s most dominant online-advertising companies, will no longer take money from America’s for-profit bail bond agencies, siding with a growing national movement to eliminate cash bail from the criminal justice system. The two tech giants said this week that their decisions to block bail-bond ads were part of a broader effort to […]
LINDEN, N.C. — Two men were arrested after more than $90 million worth of liquid methamphetamine was found in a semi-truck in North Carolina. WTVD reported that the truck was being driven by 49-year-old Raul Topete Arreola and 48-year-old Aquileo Perez Pineda. Each has been charged with three counts of trafficking meth. There was a […]
Baby Roman is just waking up from his afternoon nap and now he’s looking for a toy. His grandfather, Frank McCarrell, is trying to distract him from the house’s décor with a bottle of milk. “He don’t usually be asleep this time,” said McCarrell, who just finished his workday to babysit for his daughter. “When […]
An Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law professor is headed to Washington, D.C., to testify before the U.S. Senate about his work combatting the ongoing opioid crisis.
The economic impact to Indiana from opioid misuse is more than $4 billion annually, or about $11 million a day, according to a study published by a Columbus professor and an Indiana University student. In Hancock County, the total cost over the 15-year study period — from 2003 to 2017 — was $500 million, the […]
A northern Indiana trial court’s contempt order against a man who violated a condition of bail was an abuse of discretion, the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled Wednesday, reversing the order. Cameron Hunter was released on bail pending criminal charges against him before Kosciusko Superior Judge David C. Cates. At a plea hearing, Hunter sought […]
The 2019 Minimum Salary Schedule for Probation Officers is posted to the Indiana Office of Court Service’s website in the probation section (under Salary Materials). https://www.in.gov/judiciary/probation/2343.htm 2019 PO Salary Schedule
There is tremendous local-level innovation occurring across the country aimed at reducing incarceration and making the criminal justice system more fair and effective at protecting communities. To support such innovative thinking nationwide, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation has partnered with the Urban Institute to launch the Innovation Fund. The purpose of the Innovation Fund is to […]
Despite working on Indiana public defense reforms for 41 years, there are still goals Larry Landis wishes he could have accomplished before his impending retirement from the Indiana Public Defender Council. In a perfect world, Landis said his career would have led to more judicial sentencing discretion, a greater focus on mental health treatment, and […]
HARRISBURG, Pa. – A new report says reforming probation practices for juveniles could increase their chances for success. In the past 20 years, juvenile justice system reforms have led to far fewer young people being held in juvenile detention centers. But the report from The Annie E. Casey Foundation says little has changed in the […]
An Indiana woman has pleaded guilty and faces 30 years in prison for killing a young mother and then claiming the victim’s infant daughter as her own. Prosecutors said Geraldine R. Jones, 39, murdered 23-year-old Samantha Fleming, of Anderson, after posing as an employee of the Indiana Department of Child Services and arriving at Fleming’s […]
A settlement in a federal lawsuit ends a policy that prohibited Allen County Jail inmates from receiving visits from their children, among other agreed changes. Settlement terms of the class action Ronald Ward and Samuel Chinnis v. David Gladieux, in his official capacity as Allen County Sheriff, 1:16-cv-99, end a complaint brought on behalf of […]
It’s time for the annual POPAI Elections. Up for election in 2018: President Secretary District 2 District 4 District 6 District 8 POPAI District 5 Representative Melanie Pitstick is serving as the Election Committee Chair. Intent to Run Form The Intent to Run form must be sent to Melanie by July 6, 2018 (postmarked, emailed, […]
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — As the opioid crisis deepens across the country, researchers at Indiana University have released a series of research-driven, potential solutions. Their report is part of the university’s Responding to the Addictions Crisis Grand Challenge initiative. The researchers call for broader and more robust harm-reduction strategies, programs to reduce the stigma of substance use […]
HONORABLE KENNETH ROBERT SCHEIBENBERGER, 69, of Fort Wayne, passed away on Wednesday, April 18, 2018. Born on Sunday, Jan. 16, 1949, in Fort Wayne, he was a son of Robert G. Scheibenberger, who survives, and the late Marilyn J. (Rouch) Scheibenberger. He was a lifelong member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. He was a proud […]
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Wednesday that he was granting conditional pardons to every parolee in the state — 35,000 — to restore their voting rights. Cuomo, facing a primary challenge from the left from actress and activist Cynthia Nixon, made an end-run around the state Legislature, where Republicans had stymied his effort. In […]
In Marin County’s drug court, failure is common and disastrous, while success is measured in relatively modest terms: steady employment, sobriety, abstinence from crime. Michael Fielding took the success concept to a higher level. He got himself admitted to law school on a full scholarship. Fielding, who graduated from the drug court program last week […]
The Indiana Supreme Court heard arguments Friday in a case that raises questions about what avenues juveniles have for seeking relief if they think their cases weren’t handled properly. The case illustrates larger challenges with Indiana’s juvenile justice system, because kids don’t have the same avenues for relief as adults in the criminal justice system. […]
Each county should select a team lead judge to designate team members and complete this nomination form by May 4 to send a judicial officer, prosecutor, public defender, law enforcement officer, probation officer, Department of Child Services representative, and medication assisted treatment provider to the Summit. See this updated flyer for more information. (Flyer updated July […]
KOKOMO, Ind. (WISH) — Some veterans in trouble with the law will have the chance to avoid jail time by participating in a new program to help steer their lives in the right direction. It’s called veterans court. It’s already being done in several places around the state, including Marion and Hamilton counties, but a […]
Newest Team Members Lauren Moore, Southeast Program Director Lauren began with IDOC in August 2015 as an intern with PEN Industries. After finishing her Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice and Public Safety at IUPUI in December 2015, she worked as a program director with PEN for 2 years.
Probation Officer Donald Knepple was shot and killed after being ambushed by a man at a counseling center on South Calhoun Street in Fort Wayne. The suspect, a former juvenile corrections officer who had been convicted of attempted child molestation, had arranged a meeting with his counselor and Probation Officer Knepple with the intent of […]
IOCS has developed an Administrative 9 Benchcard that can provide some quick answers to questions about this complicated rule. Contact Jeff Wiese for questions.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has launched an Evidence-Based Practices Resource Center (Resource Center) that aims to provide communities, clinicians, policy-makers and others in the field with the information and tools they need to incorporate evidence-based practices into their communities or clinical settings. The Resource Center, at www.samhsa.gov/ebp-resource-center, contains a collection […]
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is accepting applications for its Assertive Community Treatment grants. The grants will be used to improve behavioral health outcomes by reducing the rates of hospitalization and death for people with a serious mental illness (SMI). SAMHSA expects that the program will also reduce the rates of […]
Retired Marion Superior Court Judge Patricia Gifford, the sixth woman to sit as a trial judge in the state of Indiana and one of the first women in the country to be assigned to prosecute only sex offense cases, died April 8 in Fort Meyers Beach, Florida. She was 79.
Indiana among 18 states to ban it as concerns rise As part of a routine drug test, Adam Randall handed a vial of yellow liquid to a probation officer. Although it looked like a urine sample from the 31-year-old – who was required to submit to testing after a previous conviction – authorities in Queensbury, […]
Though a cooperative effort from entities here in Switzerland County and the area, a program that helps people who are incarcerated get their high school equivalency diplomas. Switzerland County Probation Officer Jeff Theetge says that the county is working in conjunction with River Valley Resources to provide the program. “We have been working with River […]
The Indiana Court of Appeals has upheld the adjudication of a New Jersey child as a child in need of services after finding the child’s mother waived her argument that an Indiana trial court lacked personal jurisdiction over her and her child. After she was dispatched to a Marion County bus station on a report […]
A Tippecanoe County man convicted of incest with his teenage niece will have one of his probation conditions revisited after the Indiana Supreme Court determined the condition requiring him to get permission to access the internet was not reasonably related to his crime. In Kristopher L. Weida v. State of Indiana, 79S02-1711-CR-687, 34-year-old Kristopher Weida […]
State and local health officials have issued a warning about a synthetic pot in Illinois that has caused users to experience severe bleeding. On Friday, the Illinois Department of Public Health reported that 32 people in the past few weeks visited emergency rooms with severe bleeding after using a synthetic cannabinoid product. That’s up from […]
INDIANAPOLIS — Criminal defendants who post a cash bond to be released from jail before trial might not get that money back — even when they show up for trial — if a creditor of any kind obtains a civil court order to garnish the bond. In a case of first impression, the Indiana Supreme […]
Save the Date Statewide Opioid Seminar on MAT Training will be held on July 25, 2018 at the Indiana Convention Center. Every county should send a multi-disciplinary team. Details in a PDF document.
WAYNE COUNTY, Ind. — Teenagers are indeed different from adults. They think differently. Their emotions drive them differently. They act differently. Therefore, it makes sense to treat them differently than adults. Three Teaching the Teen Brain training sessions this month taught this to Wayne County educators and education administrators. Sponsored by the Wayne County Probation […]
The Vigo Superior Court must provide a man convicted of resisting and spitting on local law enforcement officers with a written list of his specific probation conditions after the Indiana Court of Appeals found discrepancies and vagueness in the conditions provided. In Dustin McCarty v. State of Indiana, 84A04-1707-CR-1599, a Terre Haute police officer encountered Dustin […]
Linking people with substance use disorders to the treatment they need to kick their addiction has just become easier in Indiana. The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration Thursday announced a new partnership with a software platform that can help social workers find openings at treatment facilities. The partnership, funded by money from the 21st Century Cures […]
March 28, 2018 by Court Services S.E.A. 13, P.L. 4 Effective: July 1, 2018 Provides that community corrections officers and probation officers may administer an overdose intervention drug. Requires community corrections officers and probation officers to report the use of an overdose intervention drug to the emergency ambulance service responsible for reporting the use to […]
To: Circuit, Superior, and Probate Courts, City and Town Courts, Marion County Small Claims Courts From: Jeffrey S. Wiese, Deputy Director of Legal Support Date: March 14, 2018 New Procedure for Courts with Late Quarterly or Annual Statistical Reports Ind. Administrative Rule 1 and Ind. Administrative Rule 2 require courts and probation departments to file […]
The Justice Services Conference will be held May 9-11, 2018. A block of rooms has been reserved at the Omni Severin Hotel, Indianapolis, IN 46225, at a group rate of $119/night. This conference is open to probation officers and their supervising judge, court alcohol and drug program judges, program directors, program staff and education facilitators […]
Criminal justice data in this country is hard to come by. It can be messy and difficult to understand. And in many cases, the data doesn’t exist at all. How many people are in jail? For what crimes? For how long? Are people in jail mostly awaiting trial? Are they there for being unable to […]
REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN FOR THE SPRING CONFERENCE! WHEN: Friday, April 13, 2018 WHERE: The Hornet Park Community Center in Beech Grove, IN WHO: Special guest featuring Patty Wetterling! Patty is the mother of Jacob Wetterling, who was abducted at the age of 11, by a masked gunman on October 22, 1989 near his home […]
As homelessness rises nationwide, Las Vegas is taking a gamble on a new way of helping the homeless. But some say it’s money that could be better spent. On a single night in January last year, almost 6,500 people were counted as homeless in Clark County, Nev., and about 67 percent of them were sleeping […]
INDIANAPOLIS — A Madison County woman who claimed that some of the illegal drugs found in her system were from an uncle’s tooth cream had her probation violation upheld Friday by the Indiana Court of Appeals. Ashlee K. Pierce, 34, of Alexandria had appealed her two-year sentence for probation violation from Madison Circuit Court. The […]
When a co-worker at Putnam County Adult Probation spoke about a problem one of her clients was facing recently, case manager Kelli Stevens had the seed of an idea. Probation officer Malachi Taylor was meeting with a client, speaking with her about the need for a job in order to move forward for both the […]
A Madison County man who alleged the state challenged a potential juror for race-based reasons has lost his appeal, with the Indiana Court of Appeals finding the record of the robbery trial does not support the argument that the juror was released because he was black. In Steven Wade Childress v. State of Indiana, 48A02-1707-CR-1658, Steven […]
Submit your application to be considered for the Donald “Charley” Knepple Scholarship Award. The winner will be announced at the 2018 Annual Indiana Probation Officers Conference in May. The qualified candidate chosen for the Scholarship Award will be awarded $2,500.00 to help pay for their costs in continuing his or her education pursing a Masters […]
I’ve posted the most recent report from The LegisGroup in the Members Only area (log in required). It includes those bills you’ve been watching that remained alive into the second half of the session. With that report, you can see the point in the process at which any now-bills died. Problems logging in? Just email […]
So many people were vomiting, and emergency responders didn’t know why. Eight people between Second and Third avenues in Evansville were found sick, unconscious or a mix of the two last Thursday. Fearing some kind of mass overdose, the Evansville Fire Department administered Narcan, but it didn’t work. After speaking to the victims, police and […]
SEYMOUR, Ind. – Two people were arrested after police say a man was stabbed while “playing a game” on a MegaBus traveling through Indiana. Officers with the Seymour Police Department and Indiana State Police troopers responded to a stabbing report around 6 a.m. on Tuesday. According to investigators, the stabbing occurred while the bus was […]
2018 POPAI Management Training includes training for CPOs, Assistant CPOs and supervisory level staff. These trainings are specifically for those who are in supervisory level positions. More details including a link for full information, registration, and easy online payment. Vendors welcome on April 13, more information.
The Senate Corrections and Criminal Law heard HB 1214 sponsored by Sen. Young on CBD oil and industrial hemp. The bill repeals all provisions concerning the cannabidiol registry and a “substance containing cannabidiol” (all added by HEA 1148-2017) and legalizes CBD oil, repeals superseded provisions relating to cannabidiol registration, and establishes that there is sufficient […]
Domestic Violence offenders require a different approach to supervising them. Cunning and often manipulative, they can be among the most challenging of probationers to supervise. Join us March 22, as Sara Mahoney returns to discuss: the tactics/characteristics of a DV Offender and a victim how these characteristics impact the ongoing supervision of the offender, the advantage […]
LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa.– Over 96 percent of DUI offenders in Lancaster wearing alcohol-detection devices are avoiding alcohol, according to recently-released data. In 2017, 745 people on bail conditions or probation/parole in Lancaster County wore a SCRAM device under the county’s DUI repeat offender program. Only 25 people violated the conditions by having a drink, according […]
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is publishing guidance today to help broaden healthcare professionals’ understanding of medications that can be used to treat Americans with opioid use disorder (OUD). “We know that people can and do recover from opioid use disorders when they receive appropriate treatment, and medication-assisted treatment’s success in […]
Marion County will start its new judicial selection process next month with the interviews of 17 judges who want to stand for retention in the November 2018 elections. Three other judges — Democrats Thomas Carroll and Rebekah Pierson-Treacy and Republican Michael Keele — have decided to retire at the end of this year. The interviews […]
Probation is a prison sentence that is suspended on the condition that the offender follow certain prescribed rules and commit no further crimes. Today, probation is a federal, state, and local activity administered by more than 2,000 separate agenices, with nearly 4 million adult offenders under supervision. (Seiter 2014) Parole, both a procedure by which […]
The Indiana Department of Correction has released it’s 2018 schedule. Check out these PDF documents for information: IDOC Community Corrections Division Course Descriptions January – June 2018 IDOC Community Corrections Division Training Calendar For more information or to register, look on SharePoint, contact your Regional Representative or Director Shannon Bowling at sbowling@idoc.in.gov For a bit […]
Judge Reynolds is a district court judge for the 1st District Court Lewis and Clark County Montana. He has been on the bench since 2010. In this position, Judge Reynolds presides over the First Judicial District Treatment Court. Prior to his election as judge, Judge Reynolds was a partner in the Helena law firm of […]
GREENVILLE — The Darke County Adult Probation Department’s Chief Probation Officer James D. Mollette said, it is important that people working community service have buy-in. “We try to instill in them that they are paying it forward in a sense, and helping the community,” he said. “It doesn’t always work; but we try.” According to […]
Details on court operations at the county and appellate level for 2016 are available in the Indiana Judicial Service Report and the Indiana Probation Report. 2016 Indiana Probation Report Summary of 2016 Caseload Data The probation caseload information presented in this report was reported to the IOCS on a quarterly basis. It reflects the number […]
We currently have seven jobs posted on the POPAI website. Positions are open in Ripley, Monroe, Lawrence, Jasper, Madison, Huntington, and Wayne Counties. The Indiana Association of Community Corrections Act Counties also has jobs posted on their website: IACCAC Jobs. Please check out the job postings!
Local detox center’s charges for urine tests much higher than probation department’s Urine goes by another name in South Florida. It’s called “liquid gold,” the essence of a billion-dollar industry that’s making people rich. That sea of gold has trickled its way to southern Indiana, where an addiction treatment facility wants to open a detox […]
In December, we sent out Department Invoices since so many POPAI Members renew their memberships together. Individuals who aren’t paying with your department and are due for 2018 can either send a check in or use the convenience of paying online with our Membership Application Page and PayPal. Simply click the “Renewal” button, then fill […]
The National Institute of Corrections (NIC) announced the final publication of the much anticipated Evidence Based Decision Making (EBDM) series of documents. They are available now in the NIC library. Evidence-Based Decision Making (EBDM) Primer This primer was developed to introduce criminal justice and allied professionals to evidence-based decision making. The Primer can be found […]
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Indiana University School of Nursing Dean and Distinguished Professor Robin Newhouse has announced the Phase One projects of the Responding to the Addictions Crisis Grand Challenges initiative. As part of IU’s $50 million commitment to prevent, reduce and treat addictions in Indiana, initial pilot grants feature collaborative teams of faculty members, researchers, community organizations […]
Jessica Fehrenbacher, Special to the Courier & Press
Our current world allows us many opportunities to showcase ourselves and our accomplishments. Social media has made it possible to share aspects of our lives that just years ago would have never been brought to light. As a youth worker (and a parent), we want young people to share their thoughts, feelings and ideas about […]
Update 2/12/18: Alicia has been found safe. LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Lafayette Police Department is asking for the public’s help with locating a missing woman. Alicia Casillas-Faulkner was last seen in the area of Cambridge Estate Apartments in the 3600 block of St Rd 38 E, during the morning of Monday January 29. She is […]
Probation, corrections merger hoped to help with caseload overload Big changes are in the works for the local judicial system. Last week the Howard County Community Corrections Advisory Board unanimously approved an agreement aimed at merging the local probation and community corrections department. With the probation department bogged down by high caseloads, officials hope the […]
Walmart will offer a drug disposal product — for free — to pharmacy customers as part of an effort to combat the nation’s opioid abuse epidemic, the retail giant said Wednesday. The product, a powder called DisposeRX, is meant to be used by customers who no longer need their prescription painkillers or are concerned that […]
The Howard County work release center has accepted its first two inmates, bringing an end to months of anticipation and speculation about the much-debated program. The center, housed in the former county jail on Berkley Road, received its first inmate Wednesday and its second Thursday, and has already displayed, in a small way, the effect […]
Editor’s note: The illicit drug trade is undergoing a seismic shift, with Utah in the middle of the deadly impact of opioids. This is another in an ongoing series of stories about this modern-day plague. SALT LAKE CITY — In November, when President Trump’s bipartisan commission on the opioid crisis issued its report, it recommended […]
Gov. Eric Holcomb on Friday extended the moratorium on seizures of CBD oil from retailers’ shelves — as well Indiana State Excise Police’s education period on products derived from cannabis — while lawmakers consider bills regulating those products. “I said back in November that I was open to extending the education period on CBD oil […]
GREENFIELD — Area residents packed the county courthouse annex Wednesday to hear from candidates in one of the most hotly contested races this election season. The Hancock County Young Republicans conducted a special forum Wednesday night, inviting the public to hear from the Republican candidates running in May’s primary for sheriff. No Democrats have announced […]
Noblesville was among several Indiana cities and counties to legally confront opioid companies this week, joining the likes of Indianapolis, Bloomington, Lafayette and others that already have filed lawsuits or announced intentions to do so. The rush of new suits came from Greenwood, Fort Wayne, Muncie, Kokomo, Terre Haute, Atlanta, Jennings County and Vigo County. But the […]
Legislative Update Published by the Indiana Office of Court Services
1/12/2018
Court Services
The Courts and Criminal Code Committee heard HB 1034 authored by Rep. Lehman on home detention matters. The bill eliminates the requirement that a period of home detention ordered as a condition of probation must be at least 60 days. Adds to the list of activities that a home detention offender may engage in outside […]
After two years of painstaking investigation, David Schiller and the rest of the Drug Enforcement Administration team he supervised were ready to move on the biggest opioid distribution case in U.S. history. The team, based out of the DEA’s Denver field division, had been examining the operations of the nation’s largest drug company, McKesson Corp. […]
LAFAYETTE, Ind. – By all accounts, it was just a normal day Wednesday in the fourth-floor courtroom of Tippecanoe Superior 3, where the county’s child neglect cases are heard. Sixty miles to the south, Indiana House and Senate leaders were gaveling in the 2018 General Assembly session Wednesday afternoon with a vow that they weren’t […]
The Indiana Court of Appeals has upheld a man’s battery conviction and probationary prohibition on possession of a firearm, finding the trial court did not err in the process of hearing testimony and imposing a sentence. In Robert Wilder v. State of Indiana, 49A02-1706-CR-1420, Robert Wilder operated a food truck next to an Indianapolis restaurant […]
(Article link includes full video) Introduction Governor Holcomb, Lt. Governor Crouch, Members of the General Assembly, State leaders, and Judges, welcome to the 2018 State of the Judiciary. Today I fulfill my constitutional responsibility of reporting on Indiana’s judiciary, which I am pleased to say is renewed, respected, and resolved. In a word, strong. Let’s […]
A divided panel of the Indiana Court of Appeals has ordered a trial court to reconsider a sentence modification for an offender who agreed to a fixed-sentence plea agreement, a ruling that goes against proposed legislation currently pending before an Indiana Senate committee. However, in his first writing as an appellate senior judge, former Indiana […]
An Indiana Senate bill filed Friday would allow the state’s riverboats, racinos and their satellite facilities to offer legal sports betting if federal prohibitions are lifted. SB 405, introduced by Sen. Jon Ford, R-Terre Haute, follows similar bills or laws in at least 10 other states. The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to rule on […]
Forty-eight people died in Monroe County from accidental heroin and opioid overdoses in the past two and a half years. Thirty-five happened over two years. Sixteen in 2015. Nineteen in 2016. During the first six months of 2017, opioid overdoses claimed the lives of another 13 people in Monroe County. And more have died since. […]
KOKOMO – Tyler Sparger knows exactly where he would be today if he never beat his addiction – in fact he didn’t even need to wait for the entire question to be asked. “Dead,” was his fast, blunt response. Sparger has been clean since around April 2016, and has a dream of becoming an attorney. […]
A drunken-driving arrest involving human organ samples. A shooting victim who called Uber. An underwear thief. Crimes are rarely a laughing matter. Occasionally, though, they’re unusual. Here are five that were particularly memorable from the past year. BRAINS, LIVERS AND VODKA In September police made a drunken-driving arrest in Morgan County after a witness said a Nissan Titan was […]
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – A consortium of eight Indiana agricultural and public health organizations will host a statewide symposium focusing on the significant impact of the opioid crisis in rural and farming communities. The symposium is scheduled for Jan. 5, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at the Boone County Fairgrounds, 1300 Hwy. 100 S, Lebanon. […]
Boston University Statehouse Program BOSTON — Consider this: You are fined as punishment for some offense. You can’t pay this fine and wind up in jail. Upon release you still don’t have the money to pay the fine or the means to avoid the behavior you were fined for in the first place. You are […]
“Stop the Bleed” is a national awareness campaign and a call to action. Stop the Bleed is intended to cultivate grassroots efforts that encourage bystanders to become trained, equipped and empowered to help in a bleeding emergency before professional help arrives.
More than 60 percent of opioid overdose deaths involve people who suffer from chronic pain, a new analysis reveals. Many of them also struggled with depression or anxiety, the investigators found.
National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges
8/21/2017
The National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ) passed a resolution supporting the commitment to juvenile probation systems that conform to the latest knowledge of adolescent brain development. Current research on adolescent brain development is key in juvenile and family court judges’ understanding, anticipating and responding to the behavior of adolescents by holding […]
On the heels of criticism from a national organization and multiple lawsuits challenging Indiana’s public defender system, Indiana lawmakers and legal stakeholders are beginning to review the state’s public defense mechanisms to identify strategies for improvement. Led by retired 7th Circuit Court of Appeals Judge John Tinder, the 17-member Task Force on Public Defense was […]
The Indiana Supreme Court will introduce a new case type into the state’s uniform case numbering system at the start of the new year. The court amended Administrative Rule 8 last week to add a new juvenile case type, JQ, that will serve as the classification for child protection order cases. Other protection order cases […]
Child abuse and neglect have been shown to increase the risk of later forms of antisocial behavior, including violence perpetration and crime in adulthood. However, the processes through which child abuse leads to subsequent antisocial and criminal behavior are not well understood. New findings from NIJ-funded research conducted by Dr. Herrenkohl and colleagues help to […]
Three men have filed a lawsuit against the Indiana Department of Correction, claiming Indiana’s requirement that they register as sex offenders violates their Constitutional rights.
After being convicted of incest with his teenage niece, a Tippecanoe County man’s sentence contained several probation conditions, including a prohibition on accessing websites “frequented by children” and a prohibition on internet use without prior approval. Those conditions are the subject of an appeal now under review by the Indiana Supreme Court, which will decide […]
House Enrolled Act 1006 (HEA1006; July 1, 2014), also known as Public Law 168, mandates that the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI) provide a comprehensive annual report of HEA1006’s impact on the Indiana criminal justice system. Annual reports in 2015 and 2016 were completed by the Sagamore Institute. ICJI sought to build on the Sagamore […]
Chief Bodine at Shelby County Probation Department contacted me earlier this week with an interesting unique opportunity. She is looking for someone to manage an active caseload of 50 (with oversight), see appointments, enter information into case management system, work with other agencies to collaborate services, fill out required paperwork (with oversight). Term Dates are […]
Steve Lockyear didn’t see this coming. Before this year, 2016 marked the busiest year the Vanderburgh County Coroner’s Office had ever seen. Drug overdoses spiked as heroin, fentanyl and scores of other opiates ripped through the community. So everyone stepped up. The coroner’s office, Mayor Lloyd Winnecke’s administration, local law enforcement, hospitals and community groups […]
Jeff Miller is keeping his City-County Council seat while fighting child molestation charges for the same reasons he first ran for the council in 2011, he told constituents Tuesday. Miller, a second-term Republican, wrote in an email that his motivation for serving on the council has always been “to give a voice to those who felt they […]
The Indiana Office of Court Services has announced the First Annual Justice Services Conference to be held on May 9th – 11th, 2018 at the Indiana Convention Center. The conference will include all staff from Probation, Court Alcohol and Drug Programs and Problem-Solving Courts. With the increased number of sessions being offered, they have opened […]
Addiction specialists caution against reading too much into a new study released this week that compares two popular medications for opioid addiction. This much-anticipated research is the largest study so far to directly compare the widely used treatment Suboxone with relative newcomer Vivitrol. Researchers who compared the two drugs found them equally effective once treatment […]
Some opioid addicts are turning to an over-the-counter alternative to get high — and it’s probably not one you’d expect. A growing number are taking dangerous doses of Imodium A-D, a widely available gastrointestinal medication, CBS New York reports. According to a report published in the Annals of Emergency Medicine, the anti-diarrhea medication has growing […]
The Indiana Department of Correction will be presenting a brief webinar and Q&A to provide those providing community supervision with vital information regarding changes in IDOC Addiction Recovery Services and the implications on the Purposeful Incarceration Initiative for recommendation, sentencing, and modification. To register for the IDOC Purposeful Incarceration – Update for Community Supervision […]
Two key initiatives undertaken by Trial Court Technology (TCT) are in the spotlight for playing important roles in the sharing of court data with key stakeholders and the public. Data from the Abstract of Judgment application and the Odyssey court case management system is enhancing the amount and quality of data TCT is now able […]
FDA OKs appliance that’s made in Indiana GREENWOOD — Since February, Greenwood City Court Judge Lewis Gregory has offered plan through the local probation department in which opiate addicts can choose to wear a NSS-2 Bridge, a hearing aid-sized device that helps fight the pain of withdrawal. The other option is often jail. “The attraction […]
Tim Cook and Katie Culp, CEO, President, KSM Location Advisors
Last week’s (i) on Economic Development put the spotlight on Indiana’s opioid epidemic and its impact on the economy. What could two people involved in site selection and economic development possibly have to say about this crisis? As it turns out, a lot. Opioid and other drug abuse has a significant impact on Indiana’s workforce and, therefore, […]
Richard Grundy III, who eluded several local drug and murder charges over the last two years in Marion County, is now facing new drug charges — this time from the federal government. On Monday, indictments unsealed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana detailed new allegations against Grundy and 25 others during the months preceding and following […]
INDIANAPOLIS (WTHR) – Alfie Ballew has worked at the Marion County Coroner’s office for more than two decades. She sees death every day, but even she is stunned by what’s going on right now. “I’ve never seen anything like this,” said the chief deputy coroner. “This is a disease that is actually causing people to […]
It is a challenge faced by courts throughout Indiana: matching the modern day needs of the courts with the limitations of historic courthouses. But in Allen County, an abundance of will and ingenuity found a way to tackle the problem. After struggling for years with limited space and aging technology, Allen Superior Court Judges embarked […]
Prosecutors Support Governor’s Proposals to Attack the Drug Epidemic (INDIANAPOLIS – November 8, 2017) Indiana prosecutors expressed support today for Governor Eric Holcomb’s 2018 NextLevel agenda as he outlined proposals to attack the drug epidemic. The governor’s criminal code proposals include: Establishment of felony charges for drug-induced homicide and for those who illicitly manufacture drugs […]
A county prosecutor’s group is strongly opposing efforts to allow medical marijuana, saying it’s “wrong for Indiana” and could worsen the state’s drug abuse crisis. The Association of Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys also debunked cannabis’ medicinal properties. It said the Institute of Medicine concluded this year that there was “insufficient evidence” to use it to treat […]
Wanda Ramirez likes to draw faces with hairstyles, no bodies attached. She calls it doodling. Her recovery specialist calls it art. “She’s an artist,” the specialist, Laura Gwinnell, said with a nod. Ms. Ramirez, 51, was uncomfortable with the compliment. She laughed shyly and rolled her eyes. She draws, she said, “when I’m at my […]
Marion Superior Judge William Nelson, whose stepson died of a drug overdose, confirmed Monday he is under consideration to be the nation’s drug czar. Nelson applied to be the director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy last December and he traveled to Washington, D.C., in July for interviews with Trump administration officials. The […]
A new drug treatment program in the Clark County Jail is unlike any other program in Ohio and is aimed at preventing crime, Springfield leaders said. McKinley Hall expanded its drug treatment program within the Clark County Jail earlier this month to allow for nearly double the number of inmates to participate. Previously, only about […]
National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center
Registration is required to join this event. Register Registration Password: GoGreen Date and time:Thursday, November 16, 2017 1:00 pm Eastern Standard Time (New York, GMT-05:00) Panelist(s) Info: Paul M. Sheldon, M.A. Senior Advisor, GreenPrisons.Org Duration:1 hour Description: Over the past decade, the corrections community’s perspective on sustainability-oriented practices has evolved to include tremendous cost savings […]
Pretrial Justice Institute’s CEO, Cherise Fanno Burdeen, has been on tour with all of the pretrial highlights of 2017, and now’s she’s making an appearance in the University of Pretrial. Join Cherise to hear about pretrial policy, legislation, litigation, and highlights from the field. Co-sponsored by the American Probation and Parole Association and the University […]
Page 36: “In 2015, Washington DC, Georgia, Indiana, Tennessee, and Wisconsin all experienced nearly double the number of armed robberies than the previous year. Indiana experienced 168 prescription drug armed robberies in 2015, which made it the only state with more than 100 pharmacy armed robberies in a single year in the last seven years […]
by Joe Russo, George B. Drake, John S. Shaffer, Brian A. Jackson
Ebook Challenged by high costs and concerns that the U.S. corrections sector is not achieving its goals, there has been a growing focus on approaches to reform and improve the sector’s performance. Policies initiated during the tough-on-crime era led to aggressive prosecution, lengthier sentences, and an exploding correctional population. In recent years, the corrections sector […]
PERU, Ind. – An Indiana doctor accused of operating a “pill mill” has reached a plea agreement that would include 10 years of probation but no prison time. The Kokomo Tribune reports 70-year-old Dr. Tristan Stonger appeared Thursday in Miami County Circuit Court to plead guilty to five charges, including issuing an invalid prescription and […]
EVANSVILLE — It’s about time. That’s how Sheriff Dave Wedding feels after the Indiana Department of Corrections told Vanderburgh County officials they must address jail overcrowding and understaffing. Wedding made it a point in his first term as sheriff to call for major changes to the jail, which is now only 11 years old. He […]
JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind. (WDRB) — Clark County schools have announced a new partnership with local law enforcement agencies and the courts which will allow local probation officers to process on-site arrests using school office space. The probation officers will process arrests made by school resource officers, and determine if the students should be released without condition, […]
As the video begins, Crawfordsville Police Sgt. Matt Schroeter approaches Backstep Brewing Co., where officers were responding to a report of an armed robbery. Seconds later, a masked man in a dark shirt and khaki shorts and holding an air gun backs out of the brewery, turning to face the officers. “Drop the gun! Drop […]
Agenda October 24, 2017 Consideration of Final Committee Report and any Committee Requested Legislation Proposals. Testimony of Brad Ray Ph.D. IUPUI Concerning Program Evaluation of Recovery Works Other Business Adjournment LINK to Exhibits Access to Recovery and Recidivism Among Former Prison Inmates Recovery Works Phase One Policy Brief Memo Concerning DOC Population and Expenditures Changes […]
(The full article contains some video.) President Trump has declared the opioid epidemic a national emergency, and 21 million Americans are addicted to drugs and alcohol. The cover story of September’s National Geographic looks into the science of addiction and its impact on the brain’s pathways. The article’s author, Fran Smith, writes, “Addiction remolds […]
There’s about 10 feet between Judge Craig Hannah’s courtroom bench and the place where a defendant stands to be arraigned here in Buffalo City Court. But for 26-year-old Caitlyn Stein, it has been a long, arduous 10 feet. “This is your first day back! Good to see you!” Judge Hannah says as he greets her. […]
Agenda 10-11-2017 Call to Order Old Business Availability and Certification of Treatment Providers and Treatment Facilities Extending Support Services to Misdemeanants Serious Mental Illness and the Death Penalty Requiring Bills Creating Crimes And Increasing Penalties To Be Reviewed By An Interim Study Committee Other Business and Announcements Adjournment MINUTES 10-11-2017 EXHIBITS: LINK to ALL MEETING […]
The Indiana Office of Court Services (IOCS) is excited to announce the First Annual Justice Services Conference to be held on May 9th – 11th, 2018 at the Indiana Convention Center. The conference will include staff from Probation, Court Alcohol and Drug Programs, and Problem-Solving Courts. This combined conference replaces the formerly separate Probation […]
Pat Hummel has serious qualms about the day her son Tyler is released from prison. Understandable when you hear the reason why. He’s a drug addict. Has been since he was in junior high. And despite her and husband Dave’s best efforts — including tough love and tens of thousands of dollars spent on counseling, […]
In southwest Ohio, people die from drug overdoses at more than double the national rate. In the future, whether someone survives could hinge on what county they are in. The sheriff in Butler County this summer declared that his officers wouldn’t carry medication to reverse overdoses. In Middletown, a city of 49,000 that overlaps the […]
Training begins for officer/teenager interactions La PORTE — On Thursday morning, Policing the Teen Brain kicked off at the city of La Porte Police Department. The two day training program is designed to give law enforcement, teachers and others a better understanding of how to work with adolescents. “We’ve been in the process over the […]
Hurricane Harvey made landfall along the Texas Coast on August 25, 2017. The POPAI Board collected $1000 from attendees at the Fall Conference in September, then matched the funds. POPAI President Adam McQueen reached out to the Texas Probation Association to locate a good recipient for funds. Two departments were identified that were hit the […]
Two key initiatives undertaken by Trial Court Technology (TCT) are in the spotlight for playing important roles in the sharing of court data with key stakeholders and the public. Data from the Abstract of Judgment application and the Odyssey court case management system is enhancing the amount and quality of data TCT is now able […]
When current La Porte Circuit Court Judge Tom Alevizos came to the bench in 2007, he noticed there was a problem concerning the way juvenile cases were being handled. He immediately went to work fixing the problem. “Everything was being done wrong,” he said. “When I got here things were bad.” Now, La Porte County […]
Our juvenile courts have several innovative tools available to assist children and youth through the Child in Need of Services (CHINS) and delinquency processes. Courts have the new dual status youth screening and assessment tool that allows courts to better identify crossover youth and to coordinate services for youth, regardless of whether they come into […]
Directors of community corrections programs do not have authority to revoke inmates’ good time credit as a disciplinary measure because the Indiana Department of Correction has not yet delegated that authority to community corrections programs, the Indiana Supreme Court ruled Friday. The decision reversed rulings in the trial court and Court of Appeals. That decision […]
CONCORD, N.H. — In the state morgue here, in the industrial maze of a hospital basement, Dr. Thomas A. Andrew was slicing through the lung of a 36-year-old woman when white foam seeped out onto the autopsy table. Foam in the lungs is a sign of acute intoxication caused by an opioid. So is […]
ANDERSON — Lots of opportunities exist for criminal defendants in Indiana to appeal and challenge court rulings and decisions after a trial. One of the most common reasons for appeal occurs when an offender is accused of violating probation, found guilty, and is sent to the Department of Correction to serve out their jail time. […]
(Note: the article is full of interesting video, if you have a moment and want to dig deeper, follow the link above to the full article.) Pain and pleasure rank among nature’s strongest motivators, but when mixed, the two can become irresistible. This is how opioids brew a potent and deadly addiction in the […]
Failing a drug test, associating with felons and other technical parole violations are among the key drivers of prison’s “revolving door,” according to new UC Berkeley research. The study, published this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences journal, found that felons who served time behind bars were more likely to return […]
While images of men in white robes and torches might evoke feelings of a bygone era, the White Nationalist movement is alive and well — if you know where to look and what you’re looking for. Join Detective Brent Smith as he shares a rare, “behind the scenes” view of the White Nationalist movement in […]
As Marion County Prosecutor Terry Curry stood at a podium Thursday to announce his office’s pursuit of the death penalty against Jason Dane Brown, he read four names. David Moore. Rod Bradway. Perry Renn. And now Aaron Allan. All four were police officers who have been killed during Curry’s seven years as the county prosecutor. At […]
The next chapter in Harris County’s saga over bail practices is set to play out in federal court Tuesday morning, and officials involved in pretrial processes throughout Texas are holding their breath. The state’s most populous county is involved in a complicated fight over how its bail procedures impact poor misdemeanor defendants awaiting trial. A federal lawsuit questions the constitutionality of the […]
Most people facing criminal charges in Indiana can await their trials outside of jail – if they have the ability to post bail. Indiana’s Constitution defines bail as monetary, but a state Supreme Court rule will move away from that longstanding practice and allow counties to release some people without requiring a bail payment. The […]
At the dedication of Terre Haute’s new federal courthouse in November 2009, then-Judge Larry McKinney of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana took a swipe at those who said it couldn’t be done. The Southern District lost its presence in western Indiana when its Art Deco style courthouse on Seventh and […]
Evansville Courier and Press (original article Indy Star)
10/5/2017
Kaitlin L Lange
Even after excise police said they would no longer confiscate a cannabis extract from Indiana stores, they continued to threaten to punish retailers that carried the product. At least twice after the state’s Alcohol and Tobacco Commission announced the moratorium on Aug. 12, excise police, the agency’s law enforcement arm, cited stores for potential violations […]
Probation representatives discussed the impact of the revised Indiana criminal code (known as HEA 1006) at the September 19, 2017 meeting of the Interim Study Committee on Corrections and Criminal Code. Representatives of Probation Departments: Linda Brady, Chief Probation Officer of Monroe County Probation Department and Committee member, described the potential drop in court revenue that […]
The misuse of opioids such as heroin, morphine, and prescription pain medicines is not only a devastating public health crisis, it is critically affecting the administration of justice in courthouses throughout the United States. In response to this national crisis, top state court leaders formed a task force to find solutions, examine current efforts, and […]
The 2017 IACCAC Fall Training Institute online registration is now available! This year’s conference theme is “Assessments – Keys to the Kingdom of Offender Change”. The conference will be held at the Hyatt Regency Indianapolis located at One South Capitol Avenue, Indianapolis, Indiana on Wednesday, November 15, 2017 through Friday, November 17, 2017 with Intensive […]
CLARK COUNTY — A Clark County judge recently was feted for her work to improve the courts system and to better the community. Circuit Court No. 4 Judge Vicki Carmichael was awarded the two distinctions at the annual Indiana Judicial Conference, attended by around 600 judges, magistrates and senior judges from across the state. The […]
New York City police confiscated almost 200 pounds of the potent synthetic opioid fentanyl last month ? the largest seizure in city history. The cache was enough to kill more than 30 million people from overdoses, police said. On Aug. 1, more than 140 pounds of pure fentanyl and almost 50 pounds of fentanyl-laced heroin, […]
A Chicago woman who got kicked out of a bar and instigated a confrontation with a bouncer must pay for the medical bills the man sustained as a result of being attacked by her friends, the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday.
Videos for the Interim Study Committee on Corrections and Criminal Code meetings on September 6 and September 19 are available online. Exhibits from the September 6 meeting include: Presentation by Department of Correction Presentation by Prosecuting Attorneys Council Presentation by Public Defender Council Presentation by Office of Judicial Administration Staff Presentation by Division of Mental […]
Inside what was once a prison license plate factory, 42-year-old inmate Richard Willett spends his days in a converted robotics lab, learning how to operate computerized machinery in hopes of working a good-paying job when he’s freed. It’s better than his past two prison stints, when he mostly just waited for parole only to end […]
Facility to house victims of human trafficking Henry County’s former youth detention center, located atop a hill just west of Ind. 3 in Memorial Park, will soon be back in the business of housing juveniles. However, the facility’s future tenants won’t be there because they ran afoul of the law; rather, it will be because […]
Davis Powell works at Pomp’s Tire Service in Savage where he inspects and repairs tires. “Overall, it’s a good job with good benefits,” said Powell, 33, a two-year employee. Powell has gone from being a penniless inmate in a Minnesota state prison four years ago to a $14-an-hour employee, plus benefits and ample overtime, a […]
Interim Study Committee on Corrections and Criminal Code
The results of a jail survey recently conducted in cooperation with the Sheriffs’ Association including Abstract of Judgment data was submitted to the Interim Study Committee on Corrections and Criminal Code earlier and provides a snapshot of current jail populations and the impact of Level 6 offenders. Questions, contact Lisa Thompson, Project Manager for Trial Court […]
INDIANAPOLIS – Lawmakers heard Tuesday that efforts to reduce costs at the Indiana Department of Correction and divert offenders to programs such as community corrections and probation haven’t been as successful as hoped. Chris Johnston of KSM Consulting delivered a report to the Interim Study Committee on Corrections and Criminal Code on the reform that […]
The United States Probation Office for the Southern District of Indiana has been dedicated to the memory of U.S. Probation Officer Thomas E. Gahl, who was the first U.S. Probation Officer killed in the line of duty by a parolee. Tom was killed on September 22, 1986, by Michael Wayne Jackson, who had a life-long […]
The case of a Hampden County man locked up for three-and-a-half years awaiting trial because he couldn’t make bail on a charge of armed robbery while masked led to a state high court decision Friday that advocates say will reform a bail system they say punishes poor people. “Our clients who don’t have the money […]
A man thought his child’s mother was inside when he banged on the front door and demanded to enter a northeast-side apartment late Thursday. But it was the wrong address. When this angry man kicked in the door to that wrong apartment, he paid with his life. Indianapolis Metropolitan Police said a resident was protecting […]
A request to move the funding of a probation officer position to Monroe County’s public safety local income tax fund sparked discussion about spending priorities for those tax dollars, and the overall condition of user fee funds. At a county 2018 budget hearing Monday, Chief Probation Officer Linda Brady told the Monroe County Council her […]
Linda Brady reported that she has been appointed to serve as a lay member of the Interim Study Committee on Corrections and Criminal Code. Senator Mike Young is the Chair, and Representative Tom Washburne is the Vice Chair. Find more information including dates for the committee meetings and study topics in the Members Only Area […]
FORT WAYNE — “This is a hate crime.” That’s what a white supremacist told a Fort Wayne police officer last year, according to an affidavit, as he confessed to killing a black man. Aaryn Snyder showed the police officer a tattoo — a “patch,” the affidavit said, from a “white organization.” He said he earned it by […]
The Fall Conference Photos are here! We’d like to have more photos here. If you took photos that we can use, please email them to Karen (website.popai@gmx.com).
The “Founder’s Award” is a way of recognizing individuals who have significantly contributed to the field of probation in general and specifically to the POPAI organization. The recipient need not be a Probation Officer or POPAI member. The selected person however, shall be characterized by his/her commitment of influence and promotion of professionalism to Indiana […]
The “Rookie” Probation Officer of the Year Award was established to recognize probation officers who, while at the beginning of their career, show the attitude, aptitude, and the desire to improve themselves and to develop into leaders among their peers. Nominees shall be within their first two (2) years of certification as a probation officer […]
The Line Probation Officer of the Year Award was established to recognize line probation officers who have performed their duties in an outstanding manner and/or made significant contributions to the field of probation at the local, regional or national level. The recipient may also have brought credit or honor to the profession of probation through […]
CR 26 timeline change The Indiana Supreme Court handed down an order that amends the effective date of Sections A and B of Criminal Rule 26 until January 2020. Chief Justice Rush highlights the collaborative work being done to implement an evidence based pretrial justice system. See attached Order and letter from Chief Justice Rush. Criminal Rule […]
The 2017 DOC Cost Savings Report to the Indiana General Assembly dated February 28, 2017. DOC 2017 CostSavingsReport IntroductionLetter1006Carter This report must be filed by the DOC annually by March 1st pursuant to IC 11-12-2-1(b).
DANVILLE — The vision of the Hendricks County Probation Department is to reduce recidivism through evidence-based cognitive behavior self-change programming and case planning. Hendricks County Probation oversees both adult and juvenile probation as well as home detention. Cases that come through the probation office range from theft to drinking and driving to battery and sex […]
(Reuters Health) – Every year, an estimated 2 million people diagnosed with mental illness are jailed in the U.S., and soon after they’re released, many wind up behind bars again. But specialized supervision on probation for people with mental illness can radically reduce the odds they’ll be re-arrested within five years, a new study suggests. […]
JERSEY CITY, N.J. ─ On the ground floor of a deteriorating county courthouse, in a room outfitted with temporary office furniture and tangles of electrical wires, a cornerstone of America’s criminal justice system is crumbling. A 20-year-old man in a green jail jumpsuit appears on a video monitor that faces a judge. It is early June, and he […]
Each year, some 2 million people with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and other mental illnesses are arrested for various crimes, inadvertently turning the US correctional system into the nation’s primary provider of inpatient psychiatric care. But an eight-year study now offers a solution. Researchers studied the supervision and outcomes of 359 offenders with mental illness, comparing […]
POPAI extends our sympathy to the family, coworkers, and friends of James Reagan, Intensive Supervisor for Clark County Probation. James Patrick Reagan, 61, lost his battle to cancer at his home on August 29, 2017. James graduated from Providence High School and The University of Louisville. James retired from the Jeffersonville Police Department after 28 […]
The Indiana Supreme Court will hold an investiture ceremony for its newest member, Justice Christopher Goff, at the Indiana statehouse next week. Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb will administer the ceremonial oath to Goff, the court’s 110th justice, during a ceremony at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Sept. 1, in the Supreme Court courtroom. The ceremony will also […]
Indiana Evidence Based Decision Making Policy Team / Indiana Office of Court Services
August 23, 2017
Indiana EBDM Policy Team Meeting Agenda EBDM Agenda Aug 23 2017 Welcome/Justice David. Minutes Approval EBDM Meeting Minutes July 14 2017 Phase VI Progress Review and Process Progression / Mimi Carter EBDM Progress Review Process Progression 20170823 Work Group Reports and Discussion/ Work Group Chairs Pretrial Work Group 20170823 Risk Reduction Strategies 201708231458 Data Work Group […]
2017 POPAI Fall Conference Downloadable Document We are again returning this year to the French Lick Resort. We will be offering a variety of breakout sessions, a few of which are highlighted in the online materials. Our vendors have some special activities planned for us this year including another dinner celebration on Wednesday evening and […]
JEFFERSONVILLE — A practice designed to increase public safety, reduce recidivism and balance inequalities in pretrial judgments is taking shape in Clark County. In the past six months, Clark County has implemented pretrial assessments into two of its four courts — Clark County Circuit Court Nos. 1 and 4, and hired two new staff to […]
JEFFERSONVILLE — A little-used part of Clark County Community Corrections — an inmate diversion program — is slated to close by the end of the year. The Clark County inmate work release program will shutter by Dec. 31, after a contract between Clark County Corrections and the Indiana Department of Corrections to house the inmates […]
POPAI stands with APPA condemning the actions in Charlottesville as well as sending condolences to the families of those who lost their lives. “The American Probation and Parole Association, a membership organization that represents 90,000 public safety professionals, strongly condemns the racial hatred and bigotry on display in Charlottesville, Virginia. The resulting tragic outcome, with […]
Find details on the following positions on our Jobs Page. Veterans Court Coordinator (IOCS) Pretrial Pilot Project and Evidence Based Decision Making Initiative Coordinator (IOCS) Chief PO (Hancock) Probation Officer Pretrial Release Program (Monroe) Probation Officer (Marion and Miami) Community Corrections Field Officer (Monroe)
“The Vision”, the Providence High School alumni magazine
Katie Chrisco
(Elizabeth Starck is our 2015 Indiana Line PO of the Year) Elizabeth Starck ’01 has always had a love for animals. As a young girl, she said, she would bring home stray animals and beg her parents to let her keep them. Now, as a volunteer for Southern Indiana Animal Rescue, she is still bringing animals […]
Local police are starting a Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign this month to crack down on drunk driving and other unsafe driving in Vanderburgh County. The Vanderburgh County campaign, which will involve at least one sobriety checkpoint as well as saturation patrols, is a joint effort of the Evansville Police Department, the Vanderburgh […]
A former manager of an Indianapolis nightclub was also the drug kingpin of an operation that traded in bitcoin and sold cocaine and heroin through the darknet, federal authorities said Wednesday. Pierre Burnett Jr., former manager of Epic Ultra Lounge on the northeast side, was sentenced to more than 15½ years in prison for conspiracy to distribute heroin and cocaine, distribution […]
The Grant Superior Court did not err when it denied a man’s request for credit for time spent in a halfway house, as his placement at the house was not considered confinement or imprisonment, the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled. In November 2012, Cody Hickman pleaded guilty to three counts of burglary and theft under […]
A dearth of beds at state psychiatric hospitals in many parts of the country and shortages of mental health resources mean that mentally ill people who commit minor crimes often end up languishing in jails, which are poorly equipped to handle their illnesses. It’s a difficult problem that, without intervention, creates a grim cyclical pattern: […]
Desta Clark has seen his share of trouble with the law. Sexual misconduct, fighting, robbery, drug use, selling weed. He’s been in and out of secure detention, on and off house arrest. He’s currently walking a fine line on probation. And getting ready to go back to school, and Bloomington North’s football team. He’s 15. […]
Pretrial Justice Institute PRESS RELEASE - Contact Fiona Druge
Cities & Counties Work To Address Longstanding Barriers to Justice The Pretrial Justice Institute (PJI) has selected six local jurisdictions to receive targeted technical assistance from PJI funded by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance. Each of the sites will focus on a specific topic designed to help the jurisdiction improve the […]
George Richard Glass, 87 NOV. 5, 1929—JULY 23, 2017 BLOOMINGTON — George Richard Glass passed away at age 87 on Sunday, July 23, 2017, in the loving company of family and those who cared for him greatly. A man never short of words, he told stories often and even offered some great last advice “Great […]
The following candidates have been slated for the 2017 POPAI Fall Election: Vice-President: Troy Hatfield Treasurer: CJ Miller District 1: Robert Schuster District 3: Sarah Lochner District 5: Melanie Pitstick District 7: Michael Coriell This year each position is uncontested. In accordance with the by-laws, in lieu of ballots, this year’s election will be […]
A case currently before the Indiana Court of Appeals could have a precedential effect on the process judges must go through before prohibiting the broadcasting of court recordings, as a northern Indiana TV station argues for answers as to why it was banned from airing a court-provided recording of a sentencing hearing in a high-profile […]
Just a reminder that if you know someone who deserves an award, nominations for the following awards are due by August 7. (links lead to nomination forms) 2017 Founders Award 2017 Line Probation Officer of the Year 2017 Rookie Probation Officer of the Year
Dr. Dan O’Donnell speaks to a small group of men and women seated among rows of tables at Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department’s East District headquarters. His delivery is matter-of-fact, maybe because the problem he’s talking about — the opioid epidemic — is no surprise to anyone in this room. They’ve seen the “pinpoint pupils,” the […]
June was another rough month in Manchester, N.H. Over the course of 30 days, there were 99 suspected opioid overdoses, six of which were fatal. That’s the most overdoses in a month so far in 2017, according to Christopher Stawasz, regional director of emergency medical services provider American Medical Response. It’s the continuation of a […]
To sign up for updates to this Forum, log in then click HERE. Updates will include: Minutes/Materials from Indiana Statewide EBDM Policy Team. Minutes/Materials from six (6) statewide EBDM Work Groups. Groups meet monthly to work on specific areas of EBDM. Indiana EBDM Work Groups: (1) Pretrial – Chairs: Judge Surbeck (Allen County) and Larry […]
2017 POPAI Fall Conference Downloadable Document We are again returning this year to the French Lick Resort. We will be offering a variety of breakout sessions, a few of which are highlighted in the online materials. More specific information regarding all of the additional topics to be included will be coming soon. Our vendors have […]
Any parent can tell you that timeouts, groundings, and other punishments only go so far in encouraging good behavior. If kids are scolded over and over again, the reprimands can lose their effect: Walls go up, and cooperation goes down. But throw in a few high-fives or thumbs-ups to recognize a nice job clearing the […]
The FBI has opened a civil rights investigation into the police shooting of Aaron Bailey, an unarmed black man who was killed last month by Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers. IMPD Chief Bryan Roach said Tuesday that the Police Department asked for the FBI’s assistance because the community wants an independent review. He and Mayor […]
After three defendants fatally overdosed in a single week last year, it became clear that Buffalo’s ordinary drug treatment court was no match for the heroin and painkiller crisis. Now the city is experimenting with the nation’s first opioid crisis intervention court, which can get users into treatment within hours of their arrest instead of […]
An agreement between the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana and the city of Indianapolis will stop the Marion County Sheriff’s Department from detaining immigrants for the federal government. The stipulated final judgment and order for permanent injunction was filed Monday in the case, Antonio Lopez-Aguilar v. Marion County Sheriff’s Department, et al., 1:16-cv-2457, pending in the U.S. District […]
Nominations for for “Founder’s Award”, “Line Probation Officer of the Year”, and “Rookie Probation Officer of the Year” will be accepted until August 7, 2017. The Awards will be presented during the Lunch / Business Meeting at the 2017 POPAI Conference at the French Lick Resort in French Lick, IN. Winners of the “Probation […]
Drake Abramson is quick to pull out his wallet and show off his new driver’s license. It’s something the Lake Station teen has been looking forward to. Earlier this month, he graduated from high school and went to prom. His grandfather helped him buy a car, and at 19 years old, he was able to […]
It’s exciting, isn’t it? The smell of charred meats. The crunch of the empty beer can under your feet. The freedom of a day off work in the middle of an Indiana summer. It’s America’s birthday, and it’s glorious. But celebrating these wonderful freedoms shouldn’t come at the cost of common sense. That means not […]
Michael Prather, 55, an inmate at Hudson County prison in Kearny, N.J., has been using opioids since the age of 14. He had been free of heroin while serving an earlier sentence of more than 20 years, but after being released he relapsed, committed a crime, and wound up right back where he started. “I still […]
It’s your last chance to submit an intent to run form for the annual POPAI Elections. Up for election in 2017: Vice-President Treasurer District 1 District 3 District 5 District 7 POPAI District 2 Representative Steve Keele is serving as the Election Committee Chair. Intent to Run Form The Intent to Run form must be […]
Find details about these jobs on our Jobs Page: Probation Officer Pretrial Release Program Monroe County Probation Officer Franklin County Front office / Field Staff Owen County Probation Officer Owen County
Two men charged as pot, $69,000 in cash is seized ANDERSON — Even a man on in-home detention has to earn a living. But Madison County authorities drew the line Wednesday on what they say was a business enterprise that involved selling marijuana. Members of the Madison County Drug Task Force arrested 37-year-old Elliott Scott […]
The introduction of electronic filing has generated many questions regarding records. These questions tend to fall under the topics of “permanent records” and the use of the “destruction certification forms.” Guidance may be found in Administrative Rule 6—Court Case Records Media Storage Standards; Administrative Rule 7—Judicial Retention Schedules; and Trial Rule 77—Court Records. This article […]
Indianapolis, Indiana (June 14, 2017) – The Indiana Department of Correction (IDOC) Commissioner Robert Carter today announced the agency will close its Indianapolis Re-Entry Educational Facility (IREF), located at the corner of New York and Randolph streets in Indianapolis. IREF is a minimum-custody level facility with a 420 bed capacity, but currently the facility holds […]
The Indiana Supreme Court has created a one-stop shop for public information and other tools. Using the Indiana Courts Public Portal (https://public.courts.in.gov/home/portal) you can quickly find links to search trial court cases (myCase) and protection orders. You will also find links to helpful tools such as a criminal sentence credit time calculator and child support […]
Wednesday, July 26 – Wednesday, August 30, 2017 Apply tools and strategies from the Smart Pretrial framework to raise your Pretrial IQ. As the Smart Pretrial Demonstration Initiative nears completion, there is much to be learned about how the pretrial law and research are translated to effective and sustainable practice. The six-part series will explore […]
The ads have been popping up on billboards, buses and subways and in glossy magazines, with portraits of attractive men and women and a simple question in bold letters: What is Vivitrol? Five years ago, Vivitrol was a treatment for opioid addiction that was struggling to find a market. Now, its sales and profile are […]
As the nation’s opioid crisis worsens, the authorities are confronting a resurgent, unruly player in the illicit trade of the deadly drugs, one that threatens to be even more formidable than the cartels. The internet. In a growing number of arrests and overdoses, law enforcement officials say, the drugs are being bought online. Internet sales […]
A temporary replacement for the judge of the Wabash Superior Court has been appointed as current Judge Christopher Goff prepares to step down from the trial court bench and transition to the Indiana Supreme Court next month.
Indiana State Police released details Friday of a three-day effort dubbed “Operation Blue Rain” aimed at curbing the flow of narcotics into the state. The patrol, which ran from June 20 to 22 resulted in 99 arrests and 186 criminal charges. According to a news release, officers from Indiana State Police, the Miami County Sheriff’s […]
Aside from law enforcement, perhaps the front line to fighting the drug epidemic in Howard County is housed in the basement of the local courthouse. Every day the Howard County Probation Department deals with individuals in the throes of addiction, an issue that is taking lives at an accelerated rate locally this year. As such, […]
The Marion County probation department must reimburse an offender’s probation fees after the Indiana Court of Appeals held Tuesday the trial court erred by allowing the probation department, and not the court, to impose such fees. In Jose Arcia De La Cruz v. State of Indiana, 49A05-1610-CR-2417, Jose De La Cruz was charged with Class […]
VALPARAISO — As Stephen Meyer wraps 35 years this week with the Porter County Adult Probation Department, including just more than six years at the helm, he said his guiding philosophy has been simple. “If the person on (the) other side of your desk thinks you care about them, you can make a difference in […]
Describing himself as a constitutional originalist and textualist, Goff said his judicial philosophy is rooted in the doctrine of judicial restraint. Though he, at 45, will be the youngest person on the bench by roughly a decade, Holcomb said Goff has a “profound respect for the Constitu
(BEDFORD) – Officials and community members honored a 17-year-old female who has worked hard to graduate Lawrence County Juvenile Problem Solving Court. This young lady, known as S.T. to protect her identity, successfully completed the intensive requirements of the problem solving court in which she has been a participant for approximately fourteen months. The Lawrence […]
Indiana’s restructured Office of Judicial Administration will get new digs at a lower cost later this year, officials said. The agencies of the Indiana Supreme Court that oversee state court functions will move from current rented space in the Kite Realty Group Building at 30 S. Meridian St. in downtown Indianapolis to the Capital Center […]
Indiana has launched a registry that includes the names of people convicted of child abuse or neglect. Legislators passed Senate Enrolled Act 357, also known as Kirk’s Law, last year after the death of 19-month-old Kirk Coleman, who prosecutors say died in the care of a provider with a previous record of child abuse. Read more: 10 […]
An administrator with the Marion County Public Defender Agency has been named the first director of re-entry for the city of Indianapolis’ Office of Health and Public Safety. Brooke Daunhauer, currently social service administrator with the public defender agency, will fill the new position, Mayor Joe Hogsett announced Thursday. Daunhauer will work to connect those […]
Aside from law enforcement, perhaps the front line to fighting the drug epidemic in Howard County is housed in the basement of the local courthouse. Every day the Howard County Probation Department deals with individuals in the throes of addiction, an issue that is taking lives at an accelerated rate locally this year. As such, […]
It’s time for the annual POPAI Elections. Up for election in 2017: Vice-President Treasurer District 1 District 3 District 5 District 7 POPAI District 2 Representative Steve Keele is serving as the Election Committee Chair. Intent to Run Form The Intent to Run form must be sent to Steve by July 7, 2017 (postmarked, emailed […]
Dr. Roi Reed couldn’t always make it to his Suboxone clinic in the hills of Eastern Kentucky, but addicts still got their prescriptions — from his receptionist and maintenance man. The two stood in for the doctor when he wasn’t there, seeing patients and phoning in scripts, providing easy access to an opioid instead of the path to […]
Courthouse dogs join CASA programs to help kids in court The Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Program in Delaware County just added a new four-legged member to its staff. Frankie, a two-year old female black lab, started her job at the CASA program in April. Frankie is one of only two dogs in Indiana specifically […]
The following jobs are posted on the jobs page Chief Probation Officer, Pulaski County Submit your application by June 9 District Coordinator, St. Joseph County Submit your application by June 30
A Deadly Combination of Fentanyl, Carfentanil and Heroin Grey death, the latest in an ever-evolving landscape of dangerous street drugs, is being blamed for several fatal overdoses in Georgia. Named for its resemblance to concrete mixing powder, grey death combines several powerful opioids, including heroin, fentanyl, carfentanil and a synthetic opioid called U-47700 (also known […]
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (WDRB) — More potent street drugs are putting police K-9 officers in danger. Indiana State Police say they are concerned about their drug-sniffing dogs, as they find more drugs laced with fentanyl. “All they are doing is constantly inhaling – trying to smell and pin point,” says Master Trooper Chris Richey. He adds […]
Mobile app provides guidance on sharing children’s records Do you know how to obtain children’s educational, court, or health records? Do you know under what circumstances you can share these records with others? There is a mobile app to help you with these complex questions: the Information Sharing Guide. The Commission on Improving the Status […]
Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteers took part in a celebration at the State House on March 20, 2017, sponsored by the Indiana Supreme Court, Indiana Office of Court Services, GAL/CASA. More than 400 people from across the state clothed in blue t-shirts filled its north atrium, chanting “I am for the child” and “I […]
This is the final installment of the Legislative Update for the 2017 legislative session. This installment contains summaries of select bills of interest that were signed into law in the 2017 legislative session.
LINK to full Resolution NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the American Probation and Parole Association supports and encourages agencies to do the following: Emphasize the payment of restitution owed to victims over other assessments, fines, fees and surcharges; Obtain and provide payment ability information to the Court at the time release decisions are being […]
Monroe County Jail inmate Albert Jones served as the day’s valedictorian, of sorts. Wearing a white trusty jumpsuit, rather than a cap and gown, he stood at a lectern in the jail’s classroom and read aloud from the poem he penned last week, called “Learning.” It details growing up on the streets of Detroit, dismissing […]
A two day seminar on Brain Injury and the Criminal Justice system will be presented at the Indiana Government Center and via webinar. There is no cost for attending. For those attending in person, there will be different types medical and legal continuing education credits. June 27 – 28, Indiana Government Center Auditorium BI in […]
Each year, POPAI provides a scholarship in memory of probation officer Donald “Charley” Knepple. Charley lost his life on April 28, 1997, while performing his probation officer duties in Allen County, Indiana. In an effort to honor an outstanding professional and to promote further professionalism, POPAI selected a scholarship that would encourage continued education […]
Indiana’s Commission to Combat Drug Abuse Thursday laid out a strategic plan to combat the state’s opioid epidemic. Saving lives and expanding access to treatment are two of the highest priorities within the plan. Jim McClelland, the executive director for drug treatment, prevention, and enforcement, says it’s all hands on deck in this fight. “Substantially […]
The 2018 Minimum Salary Schedule for Probation Officers is posted to the Indiana Office of Court Service’s website in the probation section (under Salary Materials). http://www.in.gov/judiciary/probation/2343.htm The 2018 schedule reflects a 2.1% increase. 2018 PO Salary Schedule
Ask a member of the Indiana judiciary to describe former Indiana Supreme Court Justice Robert Rucker, and you’ll get answers such as “empathetic” or “compassionate.” And those who sat on either side of Rucker during his nearly 18 years on the state’s highest bench say the now-retired justice never let his sense of humanity outweigh […]
He says: Addiction shouldn’t be called “addiction”. It should be called “ritualized compulsive comfort-seeking”. He says: Ritualized compulsive comfort-seeking (what traditionalists call addiction) is a normal response to the adversity experienced in childhood, just like bleeding is a normal response to being stabbed. He says: The solution to changing the illegal or unhealthy ritualized compulsive comfort-seeking behavior […]
The Carroll County Community Corrections program will be moving out of a broom closet and into the lounge on the first floor of the county courthouse at the beginning of June. Although the county Board of Commissioners voted May 15 to allow the move right away, Community Corrections Executive Director Keyna Everett said later that […]
The dual goals of our criminal justice system are to maximize public safety and to ensure the fair and impartial administration of justice. The system operates with five components – law enforcement, prosecutors, defense attorneys, the judiciary and corrections. Each plays a key role in the process. Law enforcement agencies investigate allegations of acts determined […]
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) Six new Allen County juvenile probation officers were sworn in Thursday. Abigail Fuller, Robin Beasley, Dontaey Paige, Michael Starks, Gregory Coleman and Dallas Colley were sworn in in a ceremony at the Allen County Juvenile Center along Wells Street. The new probation officers were sworn in by Allen County Judge Daniel […]
The Indiana Supreme Court has agreed to answer the question of whether sending sexually explicit photos to 16- and 17-year-olds is permissible under state law after granting transfer to a case involving that issue last week. In its February opinion in State of Indiana v. Sameer Girish Thakar, 29S02-1705-CR-284, the Indiana Court of Appeals unanimously […]
JEFFERSONVILLE — Kevin Polly said he needed to get out of his hometown and stay out. Serenity House is not in Polly’s hometown. For John Barrientes, Serenity House is still farther away from old habits, from influences worse than bad. Yet he found it, hangs on to it for dear life. “I’ll be here for […]
Community Corrections Collaborative Network (CCCN)
The Community Corrections Collaborative Network (CCCN) is a network comprised of the leading associations representing 90,000-plus probation, parole, pretrial, and treatment professionals around the country, including the American Probation and Parole Association (APPA), the Association of Paroling Authorities International (APAI), the Federal Probation and Pretrial Officers Association (FPPOA), the International Community Corrections Association (ICCA), the […]
Editor’s note: Bloomington is not immune to the scourge of heroin and opioid addiction crippling the country. The epidemic has claimed the lives of 41 people in 2015 and 2016 in Monroe County. Two brave Bloomington residents have shared intimate details about the darkness of addiction and the hard work of sobriety with the hope that honesty […]
A man convicted of beating to death an Indiana University student in 2015 is asking for a new trial, arguing that the judge should not have allowed prosecutors to speculate about the murder weapon. A jury in August convicted Daniel Messel, 52, of murder and being an habitual offender in the April 24, 2015, death of […]
Editor’s note: Bloomington is not immune to the scourge of heroin and opioid addiction crippling the country. The epidemic has claimed the lives of 41 people in 2015 and 2016 in Monroe County. Two brave Bloomington residents have shared intimate details about the darkness of addiction and the hard work of sobriety with the hope that honesty […]
It’s time for the annual POPAI Elections. Up for election in 2017: Vice-President Treasurer District 1 District 3 District 5 District 7 POPAI District 2 Representative Steve Keele is serving as the Election Committee Chair. Intent to Run Form The Intent to Run form must be sent to Steve by July 7, 2017 (postmarked, […]
Dear Pretrial Committee Members, Indiana EBDM Policy Team Members, and Pretrial Pilot Site Participants: The Indiana Supreme Court recognizes your commitment to develop and implement an evidence based pretrial justice system. The 11 pretrial pilot counties are creating the framework for smarter and safer pretrial decision making in Indiana, and their progress over the […]
Original: Indy Star (Evansville Courier adn Press)
05/02/2017
Ryan Martin , ryan.martin@indystar.com
Indiana offenders have found some unusual ways to get their hands on drugs while in prison. Heads of lettuce have been hollowed and filled with drugs, and tennis balls have been thrown over fences into the yards. All have led to new procedures or inspections for the Indiana Department of Correction. A recent trend of […]
Georgia is among several states that are looking to reduce the time that offenders spend on probation to help them successfully re-enter society. In Georgia, one in 16 adults is on probation. That’s almost four times the national average. And offenders there spend more than twice as long on probation as in the rest of […]
Indiana Supreme Court, Office of Judicial Administration
Update to Level 6 Felons and DOC Commitments HEA 1010 was signed into law and effective on March 29, 2017. It amends Indiana Code 35-38-3-3 to clarify the criteria under which a court may commit a person convicted of a Level 6 felony to the Department of Correction, and applies to any offender sentenced after […]
At noon on Sunday, Tom Rhodes stood on the steps of the Indiana University stadium and surveyed the crowd in the parking lot. Around 150 young adults looked back at him, squinting— sometimes painfully — in the bright sunlight. “Small group today,” Rhodes said of the crowd, which he called the Little 5 Road […]
The Indiana Judicial Nominating Commission has picked the three finalists for the Indiana Supreme Court. The three, all judges, are seeking to replace Justice Robert Rucker, who will retire next month. The JNC has selected Clark Circuit Judge Vicki Carmichael, Wabash Superior Judge Christopher Goff and Boone Superior Judge Matthew Kincaid. The JNC made the […]
ATTICA, Ind. — Montgomery County probation officers surprised Robert William Bandy II with an unannounced check at his Attica apartment Friday morning, and Bandy surprised the probation officers with two bombs inside his white mini van, police said. “They weren’t pipe bombs. They were just homemade,” Attica Police Chief Bob Cole said Friday afternoon after the Indiana State […]
On April 21, 2017, Linda Brady, Chief Probation Officer of Monroe County and the President of the Probation Officers Professional Association of Indiana (POPAI), announced she is resigning as President of POPAI, effective April 21, 2017. The POPAI By-laws state, under Article VIII OFFICERS, Section 5. Vacancies: Should a vacancy occur in the office of […]
Indiana drug treatment centers will finally get the help they need. State officials just announced that Indiana will receive $10.9 million in federal grant funding to help fight the opioid epidemic. That grant was awarded to the state by the Department of Health and Human Services and was announced by Senator Joe Donnelly’s office who […]
MONROE COUNTY, Ind. – The Monroe County Jail is hoping to stop inmates from returning by implementing a mental health and addiction recovery unit. The hope is that putting people who want to get better together will help them block out bad influences. Tanner Langley, who’s struggled with addiction for years, is optimistic about beating […]
15th Annual Indiana Juvenile Detention Association Summit is May 9-19, 2017. For: Detention Administrators, Educators, Workers and Line Staff Juvenile Justice Professionals Juvenile Judges and Magistrates Juvenile Probation Attorneys Education Professionals Mental Health Professionals CASAs/GALs Sample Breakout Sessions Dealing with Difficult Staff Mental Health First Aid Staff Burnout PREA Tools and Resources Trauma Informed Care Human […]
For those of us who travel the state frequently, it’s no secret the our county courthouses and their adjacent squares exhibit some of the best architecture in the Midwest. Throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, the county seats in all 92 counties constructed some of the most magnificent monuments to the local rule of law. […]
Probation Officer Donald Knepple was shot and killed after being ambushed by a man at a counseling center on South Calhoun Street in Fort Wayne. The suspect, a former juvenile corrections officer who had been convicted of attempted child molestation, had arranged a meeting with his counselor and Probation Officer Knepple with the intent of […]
BROOKVILLE — A Franklin County judge and the Franklin County council once again find themselves at odds over a particular subject – money. Franklin Circuit Judge J. Steven Cox, this past week, filed an order for mandate of funds against the Franklin County Council, based on the council’s decision in March to only approve $67,940 […]
On Friday 4/7/2017 funding recommendations were reviewed, discussed, and voted on by the Judicial Reinvestment Advisory Council (JRAC) and approval was given by Commissioner Carter this afternoon, 4/10/2017. We are thankful and excited to be able to continue funding not only to community corrections, but also to the newest entities as described in HEA 1006. […]
Loved ones urged to attend April 22 One in four people know someone who is addicted to opioids. Between 4,000 and 6,000 people in Allen County are using heroin, and perhaps 40,000 altogether are addicted to opioids. In 2016, there were 804 overdoses in Allen County, including 82 in the first two months of the […]
The Marion Superior Court properly adjudicated an Indianapolis teenager as a delinquent on theft and trespassing charges, the Indiana Court of Appeals decided Thursday, holding the court’s true findings were supported by sufficient evidence. In December 2015, Lashawn Rogers was at an Indianapolis gas station buying cookies for her granddaughter when she tripped over a […]
HANCOCK COUNTY, Ind. — It’s no secret that opioid addiction is on the rise in Indiana, and Hancock County is joining the battle against the drug by offering inmates a new form of treatment that’s seen success in other parts of the state. Inmates in Hancock County who are on work-release or the probation department’s “heroin-protocol” […]
Miami County chief probation officer Susan Rice describes her department’s financial health in stark terms. “We’re poor,” she said. The poverty has been brought on by a money crunch linked to a decrease in user fee payments. These fees are charged for programs and services that offenders must participate in as part of their sentences. […]
Todd Leary knows the highs and lows. He was an Indiana All-Star and played in a Final Four game for Bob Knight. He spent time in prison for theft. And now he runs a thriving AAU basketball program called the Indiana Faith. The Chili Feed. His car trickles down the alley, and suddenly the city’s […]
Criminology majors participated in a simulation called Re-entry Correctional Simulation in which they had to assume the role of an offender going through the first month of reentering society after being incarcerated. The event was held Thursday in Dede II of the Hulman Memorial Student Union. Mary Ellen Doucette-Lunstrum, an instructor in the criminology department, […]
FRIDAY, March 24, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Substance abuse exacts a heavy toll on the American workplace, a new analysis shows. Employees who struggle with drinking and drug addiction miss many more days of work, have higher health care costs and are less productive than those without these disorders, researchers report. An analysis revealed that […]
A controversial bill that would have allowed victims of domestic violence to legally carry a gun without a permit was steered to a summer study committee Wednesday following testimony from victims and advocates on both sides of the issue. The Senate Judiciary Committee also assigned to study committee “constitutional carry,” which essentially would permit any […]
REGISTRATION for the 2017 POPAI Management Training is now open to Chief POs, Assistant CPOs, Probation Supervisors, and Probation Staff members who serve in a management capacity. POPAI is excited to be bringing in Melanie Lowenkamp from Core Correctional Solutions to present a full day of training on how to engage and motivate staff members […]
Nearly 14,000 cases heard in Indiana’s trial courts in 2015 required a court interpretation service, a 21 percent increase from the previous year’s services and a 73 percent increase over 2013, when just under 8,000 cases required an interpreter. Those services meet the needs of a variety of people, from Indianapolis’ Burmese population to Latino […]
Exec Director: It’s two different kinds of custody, housing Vigo County’s Community Corrections Center has available bed space, but that doesn’t mean those beds can be used to accommodate jail inmates. Rather, Executive Director Bill Watson said Tuesday, Community Corrections is obligated to serve several counties besides Vigo, and the legal and correctional standards for […]
INDIANAPOLIS (WANE) The Judicial Nominating Commission named 11 finalists for an open Supreme Court judicial position, including a judge from Wabash. On May 12, 2017, Justice Robert D. Ruck will retire from the five-member Supreme Court. The Indiana Constitution requires the seven-member commission to recruit and select candidates to fill the vacancy on the state’s […]
Submit your application to be considered for the Donald “Charley” Knepple Scholarship Award. The winner will be announced at the 2017 Annual Indiana Probation Officers Conference in May. The qualified candidate chosen for the Scholarship Award will be awarded $2,500.00 to help pay for their costs in continuing his or her education pursing a Masters […]
A man who pleaded guilty to child molesting cannot prove that he received ineffective assistance of trial counsel, the Indiana Court of Appeals held Wednesday, but the post-conviction court must still address the issue of whether his plea was voluntary. In Gary Hanks v. State of Indiana, 10A01-1604-PC-690, Gary Hanks was charged with one count […]
On Jan. 7, 2017, Jordan King drove with friends looking to buy heroin. Her body was found after she had been dragged from the car for 75 feet on Martin Luther King Jr. Street. Her parents reflect on her life. The former cheerleader loved her daughter, her family and her friends, but ‘the addiction was […]
REGISTRATION for the 2017 POPAI Management Training is now open to Chief POs, Assistant CPOs, Probation Supervisors, and Probation Staff members who serve in a management capacity. ROOM RESERVATIONS deadline at the hotel is 5:00 p.m. on Monday, March 13th. We are excited to be bringing in Melanie Lowenkamp from Core Correctional Solutions to present a […]
HAMILTON COUNTY, Ind.– Nine years ago, Hamilton County built an enlarged Juvenile Services Center at the county jail in Noblesville. The center has 76 beds, but judges aren’t locking up teenagers like they used to and Hamilton County has only 15 juvenile offenders in custody right now. Sheriff Mark Bowen has decided to move those […]
Fentanyl claimed the lives of 75 Ohioans in 2012, but by 2015 that number jumped to a staggering 1,155. Ohio is now the overdose capital of the United States in no small part because of the rise of fentanyl. Per the Drug Enforcement Agency, Ohio had 3,861 positive lab tests for fentanyl in 2015, more […]
MUNCIE, Ind. – For the first time in nearly a quarter-century, William E. Barnhouse on Wednesday walked outside, into the sunshine, a free man. Delaware Circuit Court 2 Judge Kimberly Dowling granted a joint motion – by local prosecutors and attorneys with the Innocence Project – to set aside Barnhouse’s 1992 convictions for rape and […]
GREENFIELD — An initiative aimed at getting opiate addicts treatment as they serve time for low-level crimes is marking its one-year anniversary amid a plea for funding help from the county leaders who coordinate it. Officials say the program — nicknamed “the heroin protocol” by those who manage it — has made a positive impact […]
Corrections in the United States Over the past three decades, the U.S. incarceration rate has increased to historic highs, while crime rates have dropped significantly. Today, the U.S. incarcerates more people than any other nation in the world. In addition to the 2.3 million people incarcerated in our nation’s jails and prisons, 4 million individuals […]
Linda Brady has posted a new Legislative Update (2-23-17) in the Members Only Area, User Login Required. Our Members Only Area requires log in from an account that is free to all POPAI Members. Contact me at website.administrator@gopopai.org and I’ll get one set up for you. Karen Oeding POPAI Website Administrator
City, county officials meet with Young Allen County health, criminal justice and law enforcement officials told U.S. Sen. Todd Young on Wednesday that they could use federal help in battling opioid abuse. “This really is an epidemic that has become so big in our county that we don’t know how to deal with it,” Superior […]
When the Indiana General Assembly passed the expungement law in 2013, Marion County Prosecutor Terry Curry was in favor of giving a second chance to ex-offenders who had turned their lives around. He knew the statute would help these individuals live more productive and stable lives. But he did not expect the large number of […]
Applications are now being accepted for the 2017-2018 class of the APPA Leadership Institute. Find complete information including forms at the APPA Website.
A man whose disciplinary actions resulted in the loss of good time credit in a county community corrections program was not entitled to have that credit restored when his probation was revoked and he was ordered to serve the balance of his sentence, the Indiana Court of Appeals decided Monday. In Richard D. Shepard v. […]
The House Judiciary Committee on Monday voted 11-0 in favor of a proposal to collect DNA samples from anyone arrested and charged with a felony. House Bill 1577 advanced to the full House after committee discussed concerns about how collection of DNA buccal swabs may be expunged from criminal databases in the event charges are […]
The heroin epidemic has spread to the suburbs, and a nightmare is playing out daily in hospital emergency rooms across the U.S. Two days in a row, I straightened the sheets so they would look perhaps not quite as dead as they were. My own child about the same age at the time sat in […]
The Indiana Probation Officer Professional Development Project is a collaborative project between the Indiana Office of Court Services and Executive Education at SPEA IUPUI to facilitate the professional development of Indiana probation officers and build greater capacity to implement evidence-based practices. We received a report (a work in progress) from the researchers and it is […]
The Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) has received $519,117 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to expand overdose prevention outreach in Indiana counties with high overdose rates. The award was announced on International Overdose Awareness Day, which aims to raise awareness of overdose and reduce the stigma of drug-related deaths. The […]
PUTNAM COUNTY, Ind. (WISH) — Indiana’s new first lady recently got to see how one of her longtime passions is getting a very different use in the Indiana prison system. Janet Holcomb grew up with horses, riding and showing the graceful animals for several years. “Caring for animals does something for your soul — particularly […]
With more than 1,000 bills flooding the Statehouse this legislative session, it can be difficult to keep track of them all. Here’s what you may have missed this week: •Legislatures undo some of former Gov. Mike Pence’s decisions: Representatives voted to override two of Vice President Pence’s vetoes Thursday. One bill would allow private university […]
HENDRICKS COUNTY – The Hendricks County probation department is cracking down on their clients and keeping a close eye on high-risk offenders. The team has already found multiple violations that sent two clients back to jail. FOX59 went along with the field team as they busted another sex offender for a violation. “There is going […]
Low-level offenders kept locally when possible Although state prison officials say a massive sentencing reform law that was supposed to save taxpayer money is actually costing more, Daviess County officials feel strongly the local community is doing its part in keeping low-level offenders close to home and costs minimal. Diana Snyder, director of the Community […]
A device that sends electric impulses to the brain to block pain signals is a key part of a new program being piloted in Greenwood meant to help drug users kick their addiction. The program isn’t the first to use Bridge, a device created by a company in Versailles in southern Indiana, but it is […]
Executive Session on Community Corrections, Harvard Kennedy School
Wendy Still, Barbara Broderick and Steven Raphael
Corrections in the United States Over the past three decades, the U.S. incarceration rate has increased to historic highs, while crime rates have dropped significantly. Today, the U.S. incarcerates more people than any other nation in the world. In addition to the 2.3 million people incarcerated in our nation’s jails and prisons, 4 million individuals […]
The 2017 POPAI Management Training will be held April 10th, 11th and 12th in Indianapolis, Indiana. NEW Chief PO Orientation – Monday April 10, 2017 at the Indiana Office of Court Services. Management Institute – Tuesday April 11, 2017. Open to all probation Chiefs, Assistant Chiefs, and Supervisors (including line POs who perform supervisory/management duties). […]
Inpatient opportunity could be a ‘game changer’ JEFFERSONVILLE — Excited, but worried. That’s how 42-year-old Michael Bowlin described how he felt about completing the first 90 days of an in-house drug treatment program with Clark County Community Corrections this week. Bowlin is one of four people to graduate from the first stage of the budding […]
The Center for Lay Ministries’ Bliss House will have its final Valentine Bliss charity event Saturday, Feb. 11. The event will include appetizers, dinner, a silent auction and brief ceremony (dressy-casual attire). Also during the event, the Harrison County Probation Office will be honored with the Sue LaRue Award for its continued support of the […]
Miami County Probation Officer Mandy Mavrick was acknowledged by the Honorable Loretta Rush, Chief Justice of the Indiana Supreme Court, during her State of the Judiciary address to the Indiana Legislature on January 18, 2017. Mandy is just one example of over 1,300 probation officers who work tirelessly every day to help protect our communities […]
INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Loretta Rush addressed ongoing judicial initiatives and recognized local court and law enforcement officials Wednesday during the annual State of the Judiciary at the Statehouse. Speaking to a packed House chambers, Rush began by recognizing current Supreme Court Justices Geoffrey Slaughter, the court’s newest appointee, and Robert Rucker, who […]
A new report from the Brennan Center for Justice concludes that “unnecessary incarceration” — imprisoning people for low-level offenses and keeping them there for years — is ruining hundreds of thousands of lives, wasting billions of dollars and having little effect on public safety. If you’ve been following the debate over mass incarceration in the United States, these […]
NEW ALBANY — It didn’t take long for three new Floyd County Council members to find out the complexities of dealing with budgets and incumbrances at the first meeting of the new year Tuesday. They also received a lesson in the needs of Floyd County courts in 2017 and beyond. Floyd County Circuit Court Judge […]
Midwest Gang Investigators Association Indiana Chapter Training: Successful Use of Online Social Networking for Violent Crime Investigations. March 8, 2017 Ivy Tech Community College/ Kokomo Event Conference Center 1500 N. Reed Rd. (Old US 31) Kokomo, IN 46901 Link to Training Information: A Training Registration 03-2017 Kokomo
Prison Planet.com » Wolf Blitzer Blames Indiana for Chicago Gun Crime During the January 2 airing of The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer on CNN, Blitzer brought up Chicago’s near-800 homicides during 2016 and blamed the deaths on Indiana gun laws. Representative Darrell Issa (R-CA-49) was the guest, and Blitzer looked at him and said, “There were […]
In Indianapolis, a person is more likely to die from a drug-related incident than a car crash. Chris Naylor, assistant executive director of the Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council, shared that statistic and other drug-related facts with the members of the Indiana House Courts and Criminal Code Committee at a meeting Wednesday. Representatives from the state’s […]
The 2017 Indiana General Assembly is slowly starting. The 2017 session is a “long” budget session. The Senate and House will resume their normal 4 days per week schedule on Monday January 9th, starting with a quick meeting then moving on to Governor Eric Holcomb’s inauguration at 11:00 AM at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum at […]
Judges would no longer be required to advise criminal defendants of the earliest and latest possible release dates under legislation introduced in the Indiana Senate. The legislation also would strike language that shields rejected plea agreements and proceedings from the official court record. Those are the provisions of Senate Bill 120 authored by Sen. Eric […]
Indiana ranks second for the most gun background checks per capita, according to a new report by security company GetSafe. Over a five-year span, only Kentucky finished ahead of Indiana for the amount of firearm background checks per 100,000 residents. Nearly 17 background checks were performed per 100,000 Hoosiers. That falls behind Kentucky’s 51. Background […]
We’re sharing a story of hope at a time when we hear too many devastating stories of opiate addiction in Indiana. Viewers have asked numerous times where they can get help for their addiction, so we spoke with Trinity Life Ministry and their huge success. For more information, watch this week’s segment of Angela Answers, sponsored by American […]
We have two listings on our Jobs page for your consideration. If you’re thinking of applying as an Adult Probation Officer for Tippecanoe County, act fast. Send in your application on or before January 4 online. There is an opening for an Adult and Juvenile Probation Officer in Marion County. Email a Cover Sheet, Resume […]
There’s one more tool in Howard County’s bag of tricks to help combat the opiate crisis. For about three months now the Howard County Probation Department has been issuing referrals to some of its clients suffering from addiction to opiates and alcohol. With that, they may take a monthly shot that not only lessens the […]
Indiana’s prison system has a new leader who hails from Clay County. Rob Carter has been appointed commissioner of the Indiana Department of Correction by Governor-elect Eric Holcomb. Carter, whose career has included two-terms as Clay County Sheriff and director of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, will take office on Jan. 9. “Rob has […]
An Obama administration Justice Department that emphasized the need to be “smart on crime” is being replaced with a Trump presidency that campaigned on being “tough on crime.” The difference between those two philosophies remains to be seen, but one area where the divide is likely to be felt most acutely is in the thousands […]
Two civil rights attorneys call for Indiana’s Supreme Court to oversee the state’s public defender system on the heels of a report that questions the “Indiana model” of hit-and-miss legal representation of poor people. Indianapolis lawyer Michael Sutherlin and Fort Wayne lawyer David Frank planned to file a “petition for rule-making” today. The petition asks […]
Although a Boone County man waived his right to object to the delay of the imposition of the sex-offender conditions of his probation, the Indiana Court of Appeals found Monday that a handful of those convictions were erroneously imposed. In September 2008, Antonio Waters went to a bar with S.C., then returned to S.C.’s home, […]
New Sentencing Tools available Plug in the current sentencing information, apply pretrial credit time, and calculate the remaining sentence along with a sentence end date. Access the new tools
Michelle Goodman, Staff Attorney, Indiana Office of Court Services
At the following link you will find the 2017 IRAS/IYAS Training information and registration. 2017 IRAS IYAS training registration Please note this training calendar is for initial certification only. If you have any questions or need further assistance with registering for 2017 trainings, please contact the Indiana Office of Court Services. Thank you, Michelle C. […]
John Laphier spent his first six months in the St. Joseph County Veterans Treatment Court continuing to abuse drugs and drink alcohol. A veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, Lamphier had tricked the system for years but he soon learned the problem-solving court was not so gullible. He got sent to jail for two days, […]
After introducing DNA-collection legislation that failed to even get a committee hearing in the two previous General Assembly sessions, Rep. B. Patrick Bauer will be getting boost in the upcoming session from a Republican Senator offering a companion bill in the upper chamber. Bauer has announced he again will author a bill that requires DNA […]
INDIANAPOLIS — Before he went to prison, Ernest killed his 2-year-old daughter in the grip of a psychotic delusion. When the Indiana Department of Correction released him in 2015, he was terrified something awful might happen again. He had to see a doctor. He had only a month’s worth of pills to control his delusions […]
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – From heroin to prescription pain pills, Hoosiers are dying from drug overdoses at an alarming rate and now the Governor’s Drug Task Force report is out with steps to fight back. The Task Force spent a year researching the deadly epidemic and put together 17 recommendations to tackle enforcement, treatment, and prevention. […]
As some of you are aware, the Probation Officers Advisory Board had discussed an online training event for December 2016. Angie Hensley-Langrel, Indiana Office of Court Services, sent an email to the PO Advisory Board and POPAI stating, “We have had to postpone that training and will notify everyone once the new date is finalized. If […]
The Community Corrections Collaborative Network (CCCN) Hope Probation Webinar from September 2016 can now be viewed at the following link. HOPE Probation Webinar
This is the second feature in Tech and Reentry, a series profiling organizations in the field of corrections and reentry that are using various forms of technology to improve participant engagement, streamline service delivery, and enlist volunteers. Low recruitment numbers. Poor attendance. Lackluster quarterly reports. These are concerns that burden many nonprofit, community-based outreach programs around the […]
Global Positioning System data can be used to create serious problems — even life-threatening ones — if control falls into the wrong hands, experts warn. (TNS) — With a plethora of location-based services hitting the market, GPS appears to be an essential feature in today’s digitally driven world. But Global Positioning System data can be used […]
Indiana Judicial Service Report Over 1.3 million new cases were filed in Indiana trial courts in 2015. Details on court operations at the county and appellate level for 2015 are available in the Indiana Judicial Service Report and the Indiana Probation Report which can be found online at courts.in.gov/admin/3520.htm. The following is just some of […]
A sharp increase in the number of case filings involving children in need of services comes as the number of juvenile delinquencies across Indiana is decreasing, which Indiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Loretta Rush attributes to the state court system’s focus on increasing resources to juvenile courts and assigning appropriate punishments to juvenile offenders. In […]
JEFFERSONVILLE — Olivia Hilton, a 17-year-old high school junior, sometimes thinks about where she might be if it weren’t for Family Time, a social service agency that helps hundreds of families across Southern Indiana. About two years ago, Hilton was charged as a runaway and placed on probation. As part of the terms of probation, […]
A Wayne County judge recently completed an in-depth education course for judges. Superior Court 1 Judge Charles Todd Jr. completed the Graduate Program through the Indiana Office of Court Services, which develops education programming for judges, probation officers and other court personnel. Todd was awarded a certificate by Chief Justice Loretta Rush of the Indiana […]
Good morning, all! I am very excited about 2017! Attached you will find the 2017 IDOC Community Corrections Training Calendar. The calendar can, also, be found on the IDOC Community Corrections website and will be on SharePoint in the near future. I will send out emails as we are requesting registrants for each of the […]
U.S. prisons are experimenting with a high-priced monthly injection that could help addicted inmates stay off opioids after they are released, but skeptics question its effectiveness and say the manufacturer has aggressively marketed an unproven drug to corrections officials. A single shot of Vivitrol, given in the buttocks, lasts for four weeks and eliminates the […]
When Kimmy Trotter left the funeral home more than a year ago, she knew that half the battle of crushing loss was still ahead. Her brother, Darren Cave, was accused of killing their father and there would be months, if not years, of criminal proceedings. Her father, 60-year-old Earl Cave, was found dead in his […]
A southern Indiana jail has made changes including additional officers and more resources for inmates after letting a cable television program film for four months inside its walls, a sheriff said. The Clark County Jail also has added two body scanners to better detect weapons, drugs and other contraband being smuggled into the jail, Sheriff […]
From the Indiana Department of Mental Health and Addictions: Dear POPAI Members: We sent out a link for an online survey for Recovery Works three weeks ago and have been slowly getting responses. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – […]
Yin Walker couldn’t take the abuse any longer. The 42-year-old Indianapolis woman called The Julian Center, a shelter and resource center for domestic violence victims. She left her husband and moved into the facility, where she stayed for several months before moving into transitional housing. Today, she is one of nine women enrolled in a […]
Three Indianapolis women were arrested and charged earlier this week in connection with a human trafficking investigation. Ciera Beauchamp, Brandi Beauchamp and Ashley Breedlove were charged Tuesday with one count of promotion of human trafficking of a minor and promoting prostitution, both felonies, according to court documents. Ciera was also charged with contributing to the […]
IU researcher awarded funding to evaluate criminal justice program: IU Bloomington Newsroom: Indiana University Bloomington BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — The U.S. Justice Department has awarded Indiana University criminal justice faculty member Natalie Hipple a $790,000 grant to evaluate the Byrne Criminal Justice Innovation program, a federal initiative that seeks to reduce crime and improve community […]
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Law enforcement agencies around central Indiana will be patrolling the streets this Halloween, making sure that sex offenders who are currently on probation or parole are staying away from children. Every agency has a different method, but they all are working to ensure that the hundreds of sex offenders in the area […]
While families and children begin to trick-or-treat outside, 30 men and women shuffle up the stone staircase of the Monroe County Justice Building on Halloween. These men and women are sex offenders, some paroled and others on probation. They are required to attend a three-hour meeting during Bloomington trick-or-treat hours. “This is a way to […]
The Community Corrections Advisory Board voted Tuesday afternoon to promote Megan Durlauf to Dubois County Community Corrections Assistant Director after she was recommended by a hiring committee and director William Wells. Wells called her “tremendously qualified” for the position and said they were lucky to have her in the department. Durlauf has been with Dubois County […]
A Greene County man whose home detention was revoked in favor of imprisonment will now be sent to a work-release facility after the Indiana Court of Appeals found that the man’s financial situation and documented mental illnesses were mitigating factors in his sentencing. In December 2014, Justin Johnson pleaded guilty to neglect of a dependent […]
A teen’s electronic ankle monitor led to the arrest of six suspects in a stolen vehicle case on Tuesday, Charlotte-Mecklenburg police said. Police responded to a home in the 6400 block of Monroe Road where the victim said his vehicle was stolen overnight. Through the electronic monitoring system, police determined that Emanuel Escobar, 18, had […]
Chris Cunningham, Grant County Community Corrections
IACCAC Fall Training Institute IMPORTANT INFORMATION!!!!! Hyatt Regency, Indianapolis, November 15-18, 2016 What Matters Most: “Impacting Influences- Research Based Programs, Measurable Results, and Robust Organizations” Some intensive session slots are available. FULL IACCAC Conference Registration and payment is required to attend the training. TWO DAY INTENSIVE TRAININGS –Register NOW! Tuesday, November 15th and Wednesday, November 16th Continuous Quality […]
2016 ANNUAL REPORT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Legislation establishing the Justice Reinvestment Advisory Council (JRAC) went into effect on July 1, 2015. The 9-member Advisory Council consists of leadership from both the executive and judicial branches of state and local government. Between October 1, 2015 and September 30, 2016, JRAC reviewed and made funding recommendations for Department […]
County officials see promise in program that reduces relapses Changes may be coming in the way Allen County treats its drug-addicted offenders. For years, opioid abusers have been arrested, gone through a painful detox in the Allen County Jail and been released on probation, only to wind up back in jail for another detox bout. […]
Voters’ top priority is keeping communities safe, but large majorities also believe that the nation imprisons too many people for too long. A body of national- and state-level public opinion research dating to 2010 has found overwhelming support across political parties, regions, ages, genders, and racial/ethnic groups for policy changes that shift nonviolent offenders from […]
The Justice Reinvestment Advisory Council (JRAC) met on October 20, 2016. The $2 million Community Corrections grant applications were discussed. Summary of CC Grant Requests 38 Counties/Regional Agencies applied for funding. All Indiana Evidence Based Decision Making (EBDM) sites applied and received priority recommendation as outlined in the grant coversheet. 57 Eligible Entities Applied for […]
Indiana’s e-filing project is at full steam just two years after the Supreme Court announced it would pursue a uniform, statewide system. By the end of 2018, all Indiana courts will have voluntary e-filing available, and attorneys will be required to electronically file most pleadings. Twenty-first century pioneers Change is difficult; progress is even harder. […]
Dear POPAI Members: I attended the State Evidence Based Decision Making (EBDM) Policy Team meeting on October 19, 2016. It was our last official EBDM meeting with National Institute of Corrections (NIC) consultant Mimi Carter for Phase V. Indiana has been approved for NIC’s Phase VI EBDM project, along with Wisconsin and Virginia, for only […]
PAOLI — The Orange County Probation Department is one of 34 probation departments that received a grant from the Indiana Department of Correction. The grant is for $62,500 and was awarded in July. Dee Pedigo, chief probation officer, said the grant was awarded as part of a collaboration with Hoosier Hills PACT. Pedigo said grants were […]
When he got arrested for a DUI almost 10 years ago, Scott Klaverkamp was living in Boulder, Colorado, and self-medicating what he would soon learn was a debilitating form of depression. His was an exhaustive cycle of stale-beer barrooms, late nights and harried hangovers that came to a crashing end with flashing red lights by the […]
The United States is in a fentanyl crisis. I don’t use the word crisis lightly. Between 2013 and 2014, fentanyl submissions to the DEA lab from Ohio increased by a whopping 1,043 percent. Along with those submissions came a 526 percent increase in fentanyl related overdose deaths. This all happened while fentanyl prescriptions dropped. There […]
Corissa Strader MICHIGAN CITY — In addition to the already-announced award to Detective Marty Corley as Officer of the Year, the Indiana Criminal Justice Association gave two surprise awards to people from La Porte County on Wednesday. The association gave these and others awards to criminal justice professionals from across Indiana at its 83rd annual […]
The Indiana Supreme Court granted transfer and affirmed Wednesday a trial court’s decision to dismiss a complaint seeking unpaid wages brought by inmates who claim they were underpaid while working for a private company while they were in prison. During their incarceration at the Indiana Department of Correction’s Correctional Industrial Facility, inmates Chuck Adams and […]
The rash of “clown” sightings around the state and the country finds Knox Boro police not clowning around. According to our newspartner exploreclarion.com, Knox Boro Police have issued a warning following several reports of clown sightings within the borough. They note they have received several complaints of clowns within the borough and have issued a […]
‘We keep this issue of domestic violence as if it was a lover in our bedrooms. No one wants to talk about it.’ The speaker asked for a show of hands. How many in the audience had suffered abuse? First, one hand, then another and another. A quick glance around the room revealed maybe 20 […]
Bell v. State, No. 49S02-1609-CR-00501, __ N.E.3d __ (Ind., Sept. 29, 2016). A trial court must consider a defendant’s ability to pay before entering a restitution order after hearing testimony of inability to pay without rebutting evidence. Indiana Code § 35-38-2-2.3(a)(6) allows a trial court to order a defendant to pay restitution to a […]
NOBLESVILLE, Ind. – Due to severe overcrowding, inmates are pouring out of the Hamilton County jail. As a result, inmates are being housed now down the road, in the virtually-empty juvenile justice center. The nearly $30 million, state-of-the-art Hamilton County Juvenile Detention Center, built in 2007, is virtually empty today. “You cannot sit around and […]
Twenty-five states and the District of Columbia currently allow marijuana use either for medicinal and/or recreational purposes.1 As marijuana use becomes more prevalent in states and legalization gains more popular support, states are addressing the myriad issues arising out of marijuana legalization, such as banking, environmental impacts and driving.2 In light of a new report […]
The photos from the Conference are now online. You’ll be able to look through them faster in the thumbnail gallery. Do you have an image that belongs in this gallery? Please send it to Karen (or attached to an email to website.popai@gmx.com).
A Missouri policy has lightened the caseload for probation and parole officers by allowing individuals convicted of lower-level felonies to shorten their probation or parole sentences. Pew Charitable Trusts researchers recently reviewed the impact the Missouri policy change from 2012 has had on probation and parole. Adam Gelb, director of Pew Charitable Trusts’ public safety […]
Sept. 22, 2016, marks the 30th anniversary of the most tragic day in the history of the Southern District of Indiana. At 8:15 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 22, 1986, United States Probation Officer Thomas E. Gahl went to the Indianapolis home of Michael Wayne Jackson, an offender who had been added to Tom’s list of […]
The biggest assessment of Indiana trial court caseloads and resources ever conducted reveals state trial courts need 17 more judges, magistrates and judicial officers than currently allocated. A study conducted for the Indiana judiciary by the National Center for State Courts surveyed judges and judicial officers in every county of the state who tracked the […]
The trial for a northern Indiana woman accused in her newborn son’s death has been postponed until February. The Elkhart Truth reports that 21-year-old Mikayla Munn’s trial now is scheduled for Feb. 6 in Wabash Circuit Court. She’s charged with felony counts of murder and child neglect. The former Manchester University student gave birth in […]
Vicki Davis, Deputy Director, Indiana Office of Court Services Office of Judicial Administration
Subject: Register for a Regional Stakeholder Training on the Indiana Risk Assessment System and the Indiana Youth Assessment System The Indiana Office of Court Services (formerly the Indiana Judicial Center) will be conducting regional Stakeholder Trainings on the Indiana Risk Assessment System (IRAS) and the Indiana Youth Assessment System (IYAS) late October and […]
Indiana Association of Community Corrections Act Counties
9/21/2016
You’re invited to a training opportunity: 2016 IACCAC Fall Training Institute Hyatt Regency Indianapolis November 16-18 “What Matters Most: Impacting Influences – Research Based Programs, Measurable Results, and Robust Organizations” Keynotes: Wednesday (Opening Session) Seven Deadly Sins and Seven Breakthroughs: Reflections on 35 Years of Change in the Field of Corrections Mark Carey, The Carey Group Thursday […]
The proposed minutes from the August meeting of the Justice Reinvestment Advisory Council (JRAC) are now posted along with attached documents in our Members Only Area. You will need to log in first here. Then find the post under the Justice Reinvestment Advisory Council Forum, specifically here. Our Members Only Area requires log in from an account […]
WHITLEY COUNTY — Ed Beber is not your average probation officer. After serving eight years with the Whitley County Probation Office, Beber was named the top probation officer in the state at last week’s conference of the Probation Officers Professional Association of Indiana in French Lick. Beber was nomiated by Chief Probation Officer Amy Motter, […]
When kids get into trouble at school, traditional forms of discipline often lead to more trouble. Is there a more productive way to change behavior? In December 2013, Colleen Walsh, a social-studies teacher at Leadership and Public Service High School in Manhattan’s Financial District, called one of the school’s four deans in charge of discipline. […]
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indiana is adopting new risk assessments to determine when people who have been arrested should be required to post bail while awaiting trial. Under the rules the Indiana Supreme Court announced Wednesday most arrestees only would have to post money before being released if they’re deemed a flight or public safety risk. […]
As part of an effort to reform the state’s bail system and reduce recidivism rates, the Indiana Supreme Court has adopted a new criminal rule to encourage the prompt release of arrestees who do not pose a significant threat to public safety. Through Criminal Rule 26, which can be read here, the Supreme Court is […]
The Line Probation Officer of the Year Award was established to recognize line probation officers who have performed their duties in an outstanding manner and/or made significant contributions to the field of probation at the local, regional or national level. The recipient may also have brought credit or honor to the profession of probation through […]
The “Founder’s Award” is a way of recognizing individuals who have significantly contributed to the field of probation in general and specifically to the POPAI organization. The recipient need not be a Probation Officer or POPAI member. The selected person however, shall be characterized by his/her commitment of influence and promotion of professionalism to Indiana […]
The same qualities that make libraries ideal for studying and reading — unfettered public access, quiet corners and nooks, minimal interaction with other people — also make them appealing places to shoot up heroin, librarians are finding. In Norfolk, Virginia, a 47-year-old man died after a patron found him in a library restroom. In Batesville, […]
9:28 AM UPDATE: ITT Tech announced Tuesday it was shutting down all it’s campuses. Earlier: Matthew Pecoraro doesn’t know how ITT Technical Institute got his phone number. But he was glad to take the call. Pecoraro had left the U.S. Marine Corps in 2007 and had military education benefits to use. He was looking for […]
BLUFFTON, Indiana — An Indiana State Police trooper is being credited with saving the life of a man who allegedly was overdosing on heroin Wednesday. Trooper Anthony Repass and Wells County Sheriff’s Department deputies responded to a call at 3:28 p.m. after Wells County Dispatch broadcast about a fight going on in a home in […]
