“Anger got the better of me,” said Bill Peyser, who took what was meant to be a noise complaint to another level, when he brought the handgun with him. Back in April of 2017, he got so frustrated with his loud neighbors, that instead of just knocking on...
Two key ingredients came together for Shannon McCarty to get off drugs in late 2017: connections and timing. “The police showed up because they said they got a call that we were shooting up in the car,” Shannon said. Everett police officer, Inci Yarkut...
In 1998, Ichard Oden committed a crime that got him sent away for two decades. He was 19. He got out of prison in February. Today, he’s a 40-year-old man with very little job experience. As it turns out, Oden is coming back into society at a time when the...
The Marion County Sheriff’s Office, along with other community resource leaders, just received enough funding to take part in a nationwide planning initiative to create better care for anyone entering jail while addicted to opioids. Through this money, a group...
The Indiana Supreme Court once again granted transfer in two cases dealing with issues of modified fixed-plea sentences, hearing back-to-back oral arguments last week. Justices on Thursday heard the cases of State v. Stafford, 86 N.E.3d 190 (Ind. Ct. App. 2017)...
As our population continues to diversify, judges encounter an increased demand to provide language access in criminal court proceedings. Although the obligation to provide court interpretation for defendants may be readily apparent, the court’s duty can get murky when...
Faced with a flood of addicted inmates and challenged by lawsuits, America’s county jails are struggling to adjust to an opioid health crisis that has turned many of the jails into their area’s largest drug treatment centers. In an effort to get a handle...
As established by Judicial Conference of Indiana per I.C. 11-13-1-8, the 2020 schedule has been posted. See more information or contact Jenny Bauer with questions.
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...
On Feb. 16, Rachael Michelle Olson received a text message telling her that three days later she was expected at Hennepin County, Minnesota, court at 1:30 p.m. She had no idea what was going on. “I was freaked out,” she said. Olson described the text as a complete...
In partnership with the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration/Division of Mental Health and Addiction, the Indiana Office of Court Services is accepting grant applications to provide financial assistance to counties using a Sequential Intercept Model (SIM)...
A loving wife and mother of three young children. A woman with a strong faith in God. A woman who strived to be fair to everyone. A woman who left a legacy of love and courage. A woman who was a rising star in the community. Those are just some of the ways colleagues...
Chief Administrative Officer Justin Forkner has selected IOCS Justice Services Deputy Director Mary Kay Hudson to be the new Executive Director of the Indiana Office of Court Services.
The nation’s probation and parole systems, usually grouped under the category of Community Supervision, were designed to help people navigate the transition from prison back to civilian life—and become productive, law-abiding citizens. But they are more likely to make...
A man’s argument that the execution of a suspended sentence for a crime he committed while on probation was an unduly harsh sanction failed before the Indiana Court of Appeals. The COA on Monday affirmed a Bartholomew Circuit Court order requiring Nicholas L. Porter...
UPDATE: The Indiana Court of Appeals issued an opinion on March 19, 2019 affirming the trial court. Read the opinion here. On January 22, 2019, POPAI authorized the filing of an Amicus Curiae brief drafted by counsel hired by the Association in the...
Concerns surrounding the way Indiana adjudicates and rehabilitates its juvenile offenders has resulted in the proposal of a summer interim committee to address how adequately the juvenile justice system is governed. Authored by Republican Sens. Victoria Spartz and...
Latosha Poston says she made a lot of mistakes in her life. Her legal troubles began in her teens after her first child was born in Indianpolis. Over the years, bad decisions led to some arrests, some convictions. “Sometimes we get stuck in our past and let our...
Most people in Indiana’s parole program are finding jobs after their release from prison despite having felony convictions, the program’s director says. About 80 percent of Indiana residents on parole have found employment, and most of those who fail on parole haven’t...
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – In a decision that may curb the rise of financial penalties and property seizures in the U.S. criminal justice system, the Supreme Court on Wednesday for the first time ruled that the U.S. Constitution’s ban on “excess fines” applies to...
Leaders of state and national criminal justice organizations are declaring their support for the Indiana Public Defender Commission’s reform initiative, which the commission is presenting to the Indiana General Assembly this year in an effort to secure additional...
The new slate of Democratic judges have approved comprehensive revisions to Harris County’s bail system that could clear the way for thousands of people, regardless of income, to avoid spending time in jail while awaiting trial on minor offenses. The county judges...
Ten months into piloting a pretrial release program, Grant County officials are seeing the outcome they wanted – defendants showing up to their court date. Grant County was one of 11 counties selected to pilot a pretrial release program that helps judges make more...
A split Indiana Supreme Court denied a petition to transfer a homeless man’s probation violation appeal, with two justices writing in a published dissent that the litigant was an indigent man incarcerated for probation violations that resulted from his poverty, not...
With applause amplified from all corners of the Indiana General Assembly’s House Chamber, the leader of Indiana’s judiciary declared the state’s judiciary is “sound, steady and strong” in 2019. Indiana Chief Justice Loretta Rush shared the highlights of the...
Part Two In 2016, eleven counties committed to participate in local criminal justice reform initiatives through Indiana’s Evidence-Based Decision Making (EBDM) Initiative in collaboration with the Indiana EBDM policy team (state team). Since then, all eleven counties,...
Arizona probation chief envisions smaller, less punitive, more effective system Barbara Broderick has devoted most of her 40-year criminal justice career to improving state and local community supervision in Arizona and New York. Since December 2000, she has served as...
A juvenile probation officer has been named as the county’s chief probation officer. Angela C. Morris has been appointed chief probation officer for the Johnson County courts. She will supervise both adult and juvenile probation divisions. She starts her new job Jan....
What are the most addictive drugs? This question seems simple, but the answer depends on whom you ask. From the points of view of different researchers, the potential for a drug to be addictive can be judged in terms of the harm it causes, the street value of the...
An Indianapolis attorney charged with intimidation against a Marion County court and other offenses has been suspended from the practice of law after the Indiana Supreme Court granted a petition for his emergency suspension. The high court granted the Indiana Supreme...
Currently, per the Welfare Reform Act of 1996, individuals who are convicted of an offense that occurred on or after 8-22-96, and had an element of possession, use or distribution of a controlled substance, are ineligible for SNAP. Indiana passed legislation (IC...
Indiana Chief Justice Loretta H. Rush addressed the Governor and a joint session of the Indiana General Assembly for the annual State of the Judiciary. The formal update on the work of the judicial branch was held Wednesday, January 16, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. EST in the...
Johnson County is saving taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars by putting low-level offenders to work at an animal shelter. People who have been convicted of minor offenses, a misdemeanor or an infraction, qualify for the partnership between the court and the Johnson...
A Snapshot of New Social Media Challenges Judiciaries across the nation appear to have received the message from judicial conduct commissions regarding vitriolic posts on social media platforms. Such commentary has been condemned as indecorous and lacking the unbiased...
EVANSVILLE, Ind. — While the nearly three-week government shutdown has impacted more than 800,000 federal employees and various agencies nationwide, its local impact has been minimal. News reports surfaced over the weekend that one well-known federal initiative —...
Less than a week after the new jurists were sworn into office, Harris County’s misdemeanor judges on Monday withdrew their appeal in the landmark lawsuit over local bail practices that a federal judge said unfairly targeted poor people accused of crimes. The...
A man’s argument that the execution of a suspended sentence for a crime he committed while on probation was an unduly harsh sanction failed before the Indiana Court of Appeals. The COA on Monday affirmed a Bartholomew Circuit Court order requiring Nicholas L. Porter...
Finding the circumstances of an Orange County case to be “exceptional,” a majority of the Indiana Supreme Court has reduced a woman’s sentence and ordered that she be removed from the Department of Correction and instead placed in community corrections. A dissenting...
To the Bench, Bar and Public: The Indiana Judicial Conference Board of Directors and Court Alcohol and Drug Program Advisory Committee (CADPAC) seek public comment on proposed amendments to Rules for Court-Administered Alcohol & Drug Programs. CADPAC proposes...
Students in U.S. schools were less likely to be suspended in 2016 than they were in 2012. But the progress is incremental, and large gaps — by race and by special education status — remain. This data comes from an analysis of federal data for NPR in partnership with...
For most of his life when he was in between jobs, Tim Tulvey would toss his resume up on a hiring site like Indeed.com. He had decades of management experience working for landscaping companies, and even owned his own pest control business for a while. “I was...
The updates to the Probation Standards and Safety and Security Guide are now posted on the IOCS website. Please note that standard 1.25 requires probation departments to adopt policies on suicide awareness and prevention for adult and juvenile probation officers. ...
Studies are indicating fentanyl is causing more cases of deadly opioid overdoses than heroin. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that when overdosed usually results in the substance attacking areas in the brain that control respiration. Brad Ray is the Director of Indiana...
Officials in a central Indiana county says it’s more fiscally responsible to build a new jail than temporarily house some inmates in semitrailers. The biggest barrier for Hancock County continues to be funding the project. There were 242 people in the jail Thursday,...
Brad Ray, Director, Center for Criminal Justice Research and Associate Professor, IUPUI School of Public and Environmental Affairs authored the Recovery Works Evaluation: Phase Two Policy Brief with research support from Evan Lowder, PhD, Research Associate, IUPUI...
A man arguing that a trial court abused its discretion in imposing an advisory sentence without issuing a statement lost his case when the Indiana Court of Appeals found that under Indiana code, courts are not required to issue statements for advisory felony...
A new study reveals a long-suspected but previously-unproven truth in Indianapolis: Most opioid overdose deaths occur in just 5 percent of the city. And those are the same areas most wracked by violence, such as robberies and shootings. The study also provides...
Earlier this year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a stunning statistic. Seventy-two thousand people, it estimates, died of drug overdoses in 2017. The huge increase in deaths is largely due to heroin and powerful synthetic opioids like...
The sharp rise in opioid abuse and fatal overdoses has overshadowed another mounting drug problem: Methamphetamine use is rising across the United States. “Usage of methamphetamine nationally is at an all-time high,” says Erik Smith, assistant special...
At first glance, faith and law may not seem to mix. Faith, on one hand, requires one to be gentle and forgiving. Law, on the other, requires strength and firmness. Yet both deal heavily in questions of morality — in deciding what is right and wrong. Judge Marc...
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...
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...
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...
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 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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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....
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
“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...
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,...
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...
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...
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...
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,...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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
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...
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...
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,...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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....
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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,...
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...
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...
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 “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,...
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...
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...
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...
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...
(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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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....
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...
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...
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...
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.
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...
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...
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...
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.
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...
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....
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 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...
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...
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...
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,...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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,...
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...
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...
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
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...
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...
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...
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...
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. – – – – – – – – –...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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,...
Indiana’s Justice Reinvestment Advisory Council (JRAC) website goes live with agendas, grant information, and more. Indiana Justice Reinvestment Advisory Council website
CLARK COUNTY — He’s served in an interim role since July 1, but by about 4:15 p.m. Thursday, Lindon Dodd officially became the director of Clark County Community Corrections. Danielle Grissett left the director’s post and moved to the Clark County...
Indiana’s sweeping criminal justice reform is 2 years old. Is it working? Two years ago, Ashley Sorrel wore a hospital gown inside the Marion County Jail, with twigs and dirt snarled in her hair and 92 stitches stretched across her body. Hours before, Sorrel,...
Dear POPAI Members: The National Institute of Corrections (NIC) has been assisting justice system professionals to implement evidence-based programs for many years. In 2008, NIC developed the Evidence-Based Decision Making framework to describe a process and method...
POPAI Members: POPAI is a voting member of the statutorily created Justice Reinvestment Advisory Council (JRAC). I serve as our representative on JRAC. JRAC met on June 20, 2016. All of the meeting materials and Minutes have been posted in POPAI’s Members Only...
It has come to the attention of the Judicial Center that there is a typographical error on the 2017 Minimum Salary Schedule for Probation Officers. The salary amount for 10-14 years of experience was originally listed as $50,355, but the correct amount is...
Dear POPAI Members, The proposed minutes from the April 2016 meeting of the Justice Reinvestment Advisory Council may be found at the following link. April 2016 JRAC meeting minutes The next JRAC meeting will be held on June 20th from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the...
Howard County’s attrition ordinance continues to be enacted, this time within the probation department. During last month’s meeting, the Howard County Council removed a position from the county’s probation department. The move, made unanimously, resulted in the...
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...
JoAnn King Cronk, age 51, of New Castle passed away unexpectedly Saturday, May 7, 2016 at Henry County Hospital. She was born on May 29, 1964 to Owen and Betty Swinson. JoAnn met the love of her life, Timothy Cronk, on November 14, 1998 and they were married on May...
Indiana Department of Correction Commissioner Bruce Lemmon has approved community corrections grant awards for State Fiscal Year 2016-2017. The DOC is now in the process of sending out the award notifications and contracts to local programs. FY 2017 Funding Summary FY...
From: Deborah L. Braun (DLBraun@idoc.IN.gov) To: Community Corrections Directors Subject: Funding Recommendations Good afternoon, Directors! We just wrapped up the JRAC meeting, and I wanted to share with you the funding recommendations that were approved by the...
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...
The days of detaining arrestees solely because they cannot afford bail could be coming to an end in Indiana. A pilot project is getting ready to launch that will test the use and effectiveness of a risk-assessment tool in determining which offenders can be released on...
The first participants in Howard County’s Family Support Court successfully completed the program this week, effectively dismissing criminal charges against them for non-support of dependents. Family Support Court reviews cases where a parent faces a felony...
What is human trafficking? Does it happen in the U.S.? Why don’t victims come forward to get help? These questions and dozens more were addressed at a conference held at Indiana University Southeast on Friday. Local and state experts, as well as active social...
The following article was published in the Spring 2016 edition of Executive Exchange, a journal published by the National Association of Probation Executives (NAPE). Written by POPAI President Linda Brady who also serves as NAPE’s Central Region Representative....
VERSAILLES – The community corrections program is up and running very successfully in Ripley County, according to Superior Court Judge Jeff Sharp and Prosecutor Ric Hertel. The program was put into place Aug. 1, 2015. Since its inception, “we haven’t had a single...
With the high cost of incarceration and many lives wasted by incarceration, risk assessment tools, community supervision and technology that can support pretrial release into the community seems not only to be substantially cutting costs, but helping offenders too,...
FROM THE INDIANA JUDICIAL CENTER At the links below, you will find a memo from Indiana’s Interstate Compact Commissioner and an advisory opinion from the Interstate Compact national officer regarding community corrections. Out-of-state offenders sentenced to...
At the following link, you will find the minutes from the January 15, 2016 Justice Reinvestment Advisory Council (JRAC) meeting. January 2016 JRAC minutes The next meeting of the Justice Reinvestment Advisory Council will be held from 10:00 A.M. to Noon (EST) on...
AUBURN — The DeKalb County Commissioners will proceed with plans to house a proposed community corrections facility in a former strip mall at the south edge of Garrett. During Monday’s meeting of the DeKalb County Council, Commissioner Don Grogg reported that the...
Administrative staff and files now line the hallway of the crowded Shelby County Probation Department in the top floor of the old Court House. In some areas, two probation officers share a single office, making conversations with probationers awkward, especially when...
Take advantage of NIC’s new public forum focused on community corrections! The Community Corrections Collaborative Network (CCCN) is comprised of the leading associations for pretrial, probation, parole and drug courts. Each association has two representatives that...
The Indiana Supreme Court is preparing to test the viability of allowing certain offenders to be released pretrial without having to pay a bail. Ten counties are interested in participating in the pilot project that will test the effectiveness of a risk assessment...
Indiana’s drug crisis is flooding the state’s courts with a growing number of cases and sending a surge of children into its welfare system, state Supreme Court Chief Justice Loretta Rush told a joint session of the legislature Wednesday. During her second State of...
2016: “A Constitution Powerful in its Simplicity, Clear in its Mandate” On January 13, 2016, Chief Justice Loretta Rush gave the annual State of the Judiciary address. Video and photos of the event and a transcript of the speech are available below....
Photo: Gretchen Frazee The state voted last year to expand Indiana’s Lifeline Law to include drug overdoses. Six more bills to address drug addiction in Indiana were added to the legislative agenda on Monday. State Sen. Jim Merritt (R- Fall Creek) pointed to the...
A Lawrence County schoolteacher who lost her job after she fell victim to heroin addiction is emblematic of Indiana’s problem-solving courts that Chief Justice Loretta Rush said are helping communities statewide deal with a crippling drug crisis. “We cannot afford to...
Dear POPAI Members: It’s hard to believe it is time for the Indiana General Assembly to be in session again! Here is the link to the bills filed for far….http://iga.in.gov/legislative/2016/bills/ POPAI was asked to provide feedback re: HEA 1006 to Jane Seigel who was...
At the link below, you will find important information regarding Recovery Works. Please be sure to print Memo dated 12-22-15 and keep for your records. Recovery Works memo 12-22-15 If you have any questions or concerns, contact the Recovery Works Team. Happy...
When Curt Howard left prison in September 2014, he was doing OK. He moved in with his mother in Lafayette, and he found a job. Then Howard, a recovering addict, reunited with his former girlfriend, who still was using heroin, he said. “My boss is telling me, ‘Why you...
The 2015 Corrections and Criminal Code Interim Study Committee completed its work by the Nov. 1st deadline. The committee’s FINAL REPORT is filed online. 2015 FINAL REPORT Corrections and Criminal Code
TIPPECANOE CO., Ind. (WLFI) — Indiana Youth Services Association is driving the state’s first program to help the needs of youth human trafficking victims. A grant was recently funded to Tippecanoe County Youth Services to provide resources and rehabilitation. As News...
Michael J. Cassidy, age 69, of New Castle, passed away Sunday, November 8, 2015 at Kindred Rehabilitation Center in Greenwood. He was born January 11, 1946 in New Castle, to the late Mitchell and Martha Elizabeth (Craig) Cassidy. An ordained minister, he had pastored...
At the Probation Officer Regional Meetings this year, the Indiana Judicial Center (IJC) presented information on HEA 1006 grant funding. The attached Power Point presented by IJC includes highlights, application tips, collaboration examples, and information about the...
On September 4, 2015, an open house was held in Rensselaer, Indiana, to celebrate the dedicated service of Chief Probation Officer Michael E. Sinks, who recently retired from the Jasper County Probation Department. Sinks joined the Jasper County Sheriff’s Department...
Beginning Monday, November 2nd, 2015, Criminal Justice Providers in Indiana can begin making referrals to DMHA designated Recovery Works agencies to enroll participants in Recovery Works, Indiana’s Forensic Treatment Program. The Division of Mental Health and...
I am pleased to let you know that the 2014 Indiana Probation Reports are now available on the Indiana Courts website. 2015 Probation Reports The Probation Reports are prepared as required by Administrative Rule 1(C) of the Indiana Rules of Court and Indiana Code §...
Indiana Supreme Court Justice Steven H. David recently received national recognition for his work with children in court. Justice David was presented with the Annie E. Casey Foundation Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI) Distinguished System Leadership...
The 2015 POPAI Line Probation Officer of the Year Award was presented to Elizabeth Starck of Clark County Probation. Elizabeth has been with Clark County Probation for nearly 10 years. Her Chief Probation Officer Jamie Hayden stated, “Elizabeth has always been one...
The 2015 POPAI “Rookie” Probation Officer of the Year Award was presented to Rachael Jones of Clark County Probation. Rachael was hired by Clark County Probation in April of 2014 with the express purpose of conducting Pre-sentence Investigations. According to her...
At the POPAI Fall Conference in French Lick, the 2015 Founder’s Award was presented to Joe Hooker of Tippecanoe County Probation. The POPAI Founder’s Award recognizes individuals who have significantly contributed to the field of probation in general and specifically...
In advance of lower-risk offenders staying in local jails instead of going to state prisons, counties across Indiana have requested more than $17 million from the state. The counties are trying to get a slice of new grant funding coming from the Indiana Department of...
At the September 17, 2015 Annual POPAI Business meeting, the membership approved changes to the organization’s by-laws. The changes are primarily related to Life Membership; i.e., how to apply for Life Membership and clarification regarding Life Member voting...
While still a subject of some controversy, expungement, the process by which an Indiana citizen can seal past criminal records, has undergone significant revision since its inception. In 2012, Indiana lawmakers enacted legislation popularly known as the “Second Chance...
The law, the ever present reminder of right and wrong, presides over all citizens. However, those under the age of 18 who get in trouble with the law will receive a different treatment than adults. One distinct difference is what minors can be punished for doing....
Juveniles commit crimes for many reasons, and one of the most common is that the juvenile has been a victim. Victimization can include assault, homicide, bullying, robbery, hate crimes, sexual assault, stalking, sibling violence, property theft, family or neighborhood...
SOUTH BEND —When Wayne Kuritz enlisted in the Air Force in 1971, toward the end of the Vietnam War, he was among those U.S. troops who felt they had little support from their fellow Americans on the home front. But on Monday, as Kuritz became the first graduate of the...
Heroin use is increasing rapidly across the United States among all age, race, income and ethnic groups, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Tuesday. And the increase comes with a devastating price: Deaths from heroin-related overdoses nearly...
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. Any proposed alteration to the bylaws shall be submitted to...
After several months of trying to dig itself out of a financial hole, Tippecanoe County’s Court Services division is undergoing a massive reorganization. Four of the agency’s seven full-time positions will be eliminated at the end of June as part of a broader change...
The developer of a proposed justice center on Indianapolis’ Near Westside is offering a scaled-back version that would cut the price of construction by $17.5 million. But the leader of the Democrat-controlled City-County Council quickly dismissed the plan as an...
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...
From left: Judge Bradford, Rick Staresina, Judge Harper On March 20th 2015, the first day of “Spring”, Adult Probation Officer Richard Staresina “Sprung out” of the day to day hustle n bustle of the Monday-Friday life as a Adult...
Juvenile delinquency is down across the nation, state and locally, and it’s related to a new perspective on juvenile justice that focuses on alternative ways to discipline youth. The number of arrests of U.S. children younger than 18 has been decreasing for the last...
Dearborn/Ohio County prosecutor Aaron Negangard, Southeast Indiana Regional Community Corrections (SERCC) and the company Corrisoft are creating a new model in offender rehabilitation, according to an Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council, Indianapolis, news release....
On 1-22-15, after 25 years of hard work and dedicated service as a Adult Probation Officer in Porter County, IN., Robert (Bob) Hanaway decided, its time to retire and rid himself of the M-F “Shirt and tie” wear, in exchange for some much needed relaxation...
Governor Pence, Lt. Governor Ellsperman, Members of the General Assembly: What an honor it is for me to stand before you, the men and women of the Indiana General Assembly, in these historic chambers on behalf of my colleagues on the Supreme Court, Chief Judge Vaidik...
The Clark County Circuit Court Board of Judges has named Jamie Hayden as the county’s chief probation officer, effective Jan. 12. Hayden, a probation officer for 21 years who most recently worked as division chief of its adult probation division, will assume the...
INDIANAPOLIS | The nitty-gritty work of writing Indiana’s laws most of the time gets done not in the glittering House and Senate chambers, but in dreary, plain committee rooms scattered throughout the Statehouse. It is there representatives and senators go...
The American Bar Association has completed work on a national database that identifies the legal restrictions and prohibitions that individuals convicted of a crime face in addition to the sentence imposed by the court. The National Inventory of the Collateral...
Does the government use people’s cell phones to track their movements? For some people in Allen County, that soon could be true–and that’s a good thing, officials say. The Allen County Commissioners today were expected to approve a pilot program...
A new multipurpose computer lab aimed at helping young offenders was to open today at the Allen County Juvenile Center. “The computer lab is part of a larger strategy to get kids on juvenile probation back on track, in school and away from crime,” said Judge Dan...
Continued emphasis on fair and impartial justice as Dickson transfers leadership to Rush On June 11, 2014, Brent E. Dickson announced he would step down as Chief Justice of Indiana before September first and continue serving as an Associate Justice on the five-member...
Sam Houston State University Probation Executive of the Year Award Since 1989, the National Association of Probation Executives and the George J. Beto Criminal Justice Center at Sam Houston State University have recognized the Probation Executive of the Year by...
Bob Bennett turned 65 on Thursday, and on Friday retired with more than 37 years as director of the Lake County Juvenile Detention Complex with a sense of pride and accomplishment. “I’ve talked to thousands of kids over the years and I hope some of them heard me,”...
Indiana is at the forefront of providing mental health screening and services to juvenile offenders, but more efforts are needed to improve the services provided to detained youths, according to Indiana University School of Medicine research findings published in the...
INDIANAPOLIS – Seven new counties across the state will partner with the Juvenile Detention Alternative Initiative, which offers community-based alternative programs to the typical detention facility solution for juveniles. Allen, LaPorte, Bartholomew, Boone, Monroe,...
Kosciusko County Commissioners gave the green light Tuesday for the establishment of a new community corrections program. The new program will be for non-violent offenders. The county will receive a $356,000 grant from the state to start the new program. The two-year...
ALLEN COUNTY, Ind. (21ALIVE) — A plan is unfolding here in Allen County to reduce the number of juveniles housed in corrections facilities. It involves a strategy that a local judge insists can save money and protect public safety at the same time. On an average...
A group representing law enforcement, the court system, child services and education renewed their commitment to working with Howard County’s at-risk youth Wednesday. Those who contribute to the S.A.F.E. P.O.L.I.C.Y. services (which stands for School Administrators...
INDIANAPOLIS — Society has more effective ways to deal with juvenile crime than locking up children, experts told an Indiana legislative panel Monday. A parade of witnesses who testified before the Interim Study Committee on Corrections and the Criminal Code touted...
POPAI is honored to announce the 2014 Founder’s Award was presented to Justice Brent E. Dickson of the Indiana Supreme Court. The POPAI Founder’s Award recognizes individuals who have significantly contributed to the field of probation in general and specifically to...
POPAI proudly announces that the inaugural Line Probation Officer of the Year award was presented to Dave Williams of Hamilton County. Dave started as a PO with Hamilton County in October 1997. He supervised offenders and wrote Presentence Investigation Reports. The...
POPAI is proud to announce that the inaugural Rookie Probation Officer of the Year award was presented to Melanie Strode of Harrison County. Melanie joined the Harrison County Superior Court Probation Department in November 2013. The letters of support sent on...
Dear POPAI Membership: The POPAI Bylaws were amended at the POPAI Annual business meeting on September 4, 2014. The primary change to the by-laws involves the membership year. See below. It has become increasingly difficult for POPAI members, Chief Probation...
ANDERSON — Katherine Holtzleiter recalls when she took over as chief of the Madison County Juvenile Probation Department 20 years ago. Her staff was so overwhelmed with physical paperwork they could hardly spend time with their clients. When she leaves the department...
The Judicial Conference of Indiana Board of Directors voted unanimously at its March 2014 meeting to approve revisions to the Indiana Probation Standards. The revisions mark the first significant changes to the Probation Standards since 2001 and become effective on...
Carrie Napoleon CROWN POINT — The understaffed criminal courts will be getting five new probation officers, but how the county plans to pay for them remains up in the air. The Lake County Council on Tuesday approved hiring the five new probation officers for a total...
The fact that the new chief justice of Indiana’s Supreme Court took the oath of office in the court’s cramped but historic law library at the Statehouse was no coincidence. Loretta Rush, the first female to lead the state’s high court, said Monday...
The August Board Meeting Minutes are available and include information from Don Travis about AFCARS (Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System) Reporting.
Full Article (requires Log in, so the full text is included here.) Bluffton News-Banner August 12, 2014 JESSICA WILLIAMS If the Wells County Probation Department and Wells Circuit Court Judge Kent Kiracofe get what they want, a new program will be put in place next...
Full Article by Summer Ballentine 10:09 p.m. EDT August 10, 2014 Sam Motsay’s place as forward on the Center Grove junior varsity basketball team was on the line. Friends say he wanted to dip into the world of LSD, a drug of 1970s fame that users say bathes...
Full Article Justice Research, U.S. Department of Justice William J. Sabol, Acting Director, NIJ August 2014 Decades of study have revealed much about risk factors for delinquency and crime. Individual characteristics and various factors can increase the probability...
Full Article The Republic By Lauren Fitch-Slagter (Kokomo Tribune) KOKOMO, Indiana — One or two nights a week after wrapping up his work day for the Kokomo Police Department, Detective Mike Banush heads out to make some extra rounds. He and five other officers take...
Full Article ABC News August 6, 2014 Tom LoBianco, Associated Press Loretta Rush, a longtime juvenile court judge who joined the Indiana Supreme Court in 2012, was unanimously chosen as the state’s first female chief justice Wednesday, setting the stage for what...
Full Article Kokomo Tribune (CorrectionsOne.com) July 20, 2014 By Mike Fletcher KOKOMO, Ind. — Sentencing reform aims to reduce Indiana’s prison population, but the law may have the opposite effect on county jails. The reforms passed this year mean to divert low-level...
Full Article Indiana Court Times June 26, 2014 by Ruth Reichard Some cases are embarrassing for the parties involved—with free, easy public access to many court records via the Internet, some people rue the day they ever decided to go to the courthouse and file a...
Full Article @itvpresscentre July 22, 2014 This new documentary for ITV meets some of America’s youngest and most dangerous criminals growing up inside. To air: Tuesday August 5, 2014 on itv , 9:00 PM -10:00 PM Kids Behind Bars steps beyond the barbed wire into a...
Full Article Herldtimesonline.com July 23, 2014 BY MIKE LEWIS BEDFORD — People in court with substance abuse problems will get more help soon. The Indiana Judicial Center received $2 million from the Indiana Legislature to use in grants for courts. The money is...
Full Article WTHR Channel 13 July 25, 2014 INDIANAPOLIS -Federal agents and local police arrested four Indiana doctors for allegedly handing out prescription drugs for cash. Investigators accuse them of peddling powerful painkillers. The bust includes four doctors,...
Full Article Offenses committed after June 30, 2014 fall under the new credit time levels as outlined by IC 35-50-6-3.1. The Credit Time Calculator can be used to determine earned credit time based on the highest degree of offense or whether the defendant is a credit...
July 27, 2014 Dear 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. Any proposed alteration to the bylaws shall be...
WTHR.com 13Jul 25, 2014By Sandra Chapman INDIANAPOLIS -The DEA tells 13 Investigates an Indiana investigation could be the first case of its kind nationwide involving Suboxone. The drug has gotten the attention of Indiana law enforcement well before...
Full Article Evansville Courier & Press July 13, 2014 By Mark Wilson EVANSVILLE, Ind. — As Indiana’s criminal justice system has evolved in its approach to rehabilitating offenders the role of probation officers has also evolved. “It’s a lot different from it was...
Full Article Journal Gazette By: Vivian Sade July 12, 2014 Money helps county to find options for kids in court system FORT WAYNE – Coming up with alternatives for Allen County juveniles who have broken laws and are now involved in the court system will be a...
Full Article Pal-Item.com Bill Engle July 4, 2014 Kaarin Lueck has almost literally written the book on juvenile law in Indiana. Lueck, a Wayne County public defender since 2003, is the 2014 Gault Award winner for the state of Indiana, an award given by the Indiana...
July 11, 2014 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. Any proposed alteration to the bylaws shall be...
July 9, 2014 The POPAI Executive Board has created two new awards for 2014 to recognize outstanding probation officers in the state. The “Rookie” Probation Officer of the Year Award was established to recognize probation officers who, while at the beginning of...
Full Article June 14, 2014 Virgil Lee Seay, 70, of New Albany, Indiana passed away on Saturday, June 14, 2014. He retired from the Floyd County Probation Office after 35 years of service and was a United States Army veteran. Virgil enjoyed fishing, loved to go...
From the Indiana Judicial Center Dear Trial Judges and Chief Probation Officers: Since 1979, IC 11-13-1-8 has directed the Judicial Conference of Indiana Board of Directors to set minimum standards for compensation of probation officers. The Board fulfilled this duty...
by Linda Brady POPAI President The Probation Officers Professional Association of Indiana (POPAI) provides a scholarship in memory of probation officer Donald “Charley” Knepple. Charley lost his life on April 28, 1997, while performing his probation...
