On Thursday, September 10, 2026, at the Probation Officers Professional Association of Indiana (POPAI) Fall Conference, Shelby-lain Brown with Clark County Probation and Supervision, was presented with the Founder’s Award.
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 to influence and promotion of professionalism in Indiana probation.
This year’s winner has over 10 years of service as a probation officer in and has been in leadership since 2020.
David Munden, Probation Officer of Clark County Probation and Supervision, wrote, “Shelby is a hands-on leader who actively trains, mentors, and supports her staff and its Pretrial mission, while remaining directly involved in daily operations. Her leadership has resulted in her team achieving he highest SRS performance metrics in our department."
"Beyond her supervisory responsibilities, Shelby also serves our department as the lead supervisor in developing and implementing office-wide policies and procedures. She also serves as the Secretary for the local JRAC committee and represents our department on the Indiana Pretrial Committee, where she contributes to the continued advancement of Pretrial services across the state."
"As one of her employees (and someone who has worked in this field for nearly 40 years) I can attest to her care and concern for her staff and its mission.
Shelby has fostered a workplace built on professionalism, competency, and comradery, where employees are encouraged to grow and succeed. Her dedication to excellence, her commitment to public service, and the respect she has earned from both her colleagues and the community make her an exceptionally deserving recipient of the POPAI Founder's Award .”
