Monthly Archives: May 2014

Sure, you’re drunk and annoying, but are you a criminal?

Full Article Indystar Tim Evans May 14, 2014 Get a few drinks in some people, and they can become a little annoying. But just when does that behavior cross the line from simply obnoxious to criminal? Indiana’s public intoxication law doesn’t make that clear, even though it allows for a criminal charge if a person […]

New Probation Standards Adopted for Indiana

Indiana Probation Standards Revised March 7, 2014 From the Indiana Judicial Center May 16, 2014 The Judicial Conference of Indiana Board of Directors approved revisions to the Probation Standards at their March meeting.  Attached you will find the revised Probation Standards which become effective on July 1st. Also, Jane Seigel announced at the Probation Annual […]

Evidence Based Decision Making: From Principle to Practice

Full Article ICCA Conference, Reno, NV September 2013 Indiana’s Grant County Participates in Framework Initiative “NIC partnered with the Center for Effective Public Policy to build a system-wide framework (arrest through final disposition and discharge) that when implemented will result in more collaborative, evidence-based decision making and practices in local criminal justice systems. The purpose […]

2015 Minimum Salary Schedule for Probation Officers

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 with adoption of the Minimum Salary Schedule for Probation Officers. The minimum salaries are adjusted […]

Your Story Made Here: Edge Manufacturing

Full Article Indianasnewscenter by Melissa Long-21Alive by Ian Hoover-21Alive May 20, 2014 BLUFFTON, Ind. (21Alive) — How many companies can say that one of their goals is to get their employees to leave? That’s what Edge Manufacturing of Bluffton is hoping for each time it reaches out to hire someone with a record. In today’s […]

Kentucky ag agency sues for release of hemp seeds

Full Article By The Associated Press Kentucky’s Agriculture Department has filed a lawsuit seeking the release of imported hemp seeds being held up by federal officials. Defendants in the suit filed Wednesday in Louisville include the U.S. Justice Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The Justice Department did not immediately […]

Meeting about curfew turned into conversation about much more

Full Article WISHTV By Teresa Mackin INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – It started as a conversation about curfew, but it ended in a conversation about much more. A meeting about a proposal that would amend the current curfew law in Indianapolis was packed Tuesday evening. The proposal would move curfew for those 15-17 years old, to 11 […]

Monroe County’s corrections programs receive high grade

Full Article Herald Times By Rachel Bunn May 12, 2014 Monroe County’s Community Corrections Department now has even more proof it’s one of the best in the state. For the second year in a row, the corrections department has earned a grade above 90 in a programming audit by the Indiana Department of Correction. This […]

Heroin Returns: Indiana sees 126 percent increase in cases

Full Article Publication Author Indiana leads the nation when it comes to meth lab busts, but the rise of another drug has law enforcement concerned. Heroin has already taken root in the Wabash Valley. It’s the most addictive of illegal drugs and its deadly effects are once again emerging from the shadows. “It’s extremely alarming,” […]

Police add texting to crisis negotiation arsenal

Full Article Associated Press By Carolyn Thompson Growth of texting as crisis negotiation tool challenges police accustomed to taking voice cues The suspect in a gas station robbery and 100 mph chase kept pointing his handgun to his head, and police negotiator Andres Wells was doing all he could to keep the man from committing suicide. […]

Violence sparks debate over gangs in South Bend

Full Article Associated Press Madeline Buckley SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) – In some cases, the crews wreaking havoc with guns on the streets are loosely affiliated bands of neighborhood teenagers and young adults, joining together in crime sprees one minute and then shooting each other the next, officials say. Other times, the violence and criminal […]

IU NORTHWEST, AREA POLICE DEPARTMENTS PARTNER TO CREATE UNPRECEDENTED DATA SHARING INITIATIVE

Full Article Indiana University Northwest News By sharing information, agencies can work together for public safety in a way that has never been done before In 2012, Gary Police Chief Wade Ingram wanted to begin using crime data analysis to help identify patterns of activity in the city and tailor responses and deploy personnel accordingly. […]

Law could alleviate prison overcrowding

Full Article By DENNIS BARBOSA | IDS A new law revamping the state’s criminal code for felony classifications could cause stress on local community jails in an attempt to alleviate prison overcrowding. Gov. Mike Pence signed House Enrolled Act 1006 in March. It will take effect July 1 of this year. Level 6 felons with less than 90 […]

Community Justice 2014 Draws International Audience Seeking Evidence-Based Strategies to Reduce Crime and Recidivism

Full Article SAN FRANCISCO, April 24, 2014 Center for Court Innovation Participants from more than 75 U.S. jurisdictions and 10 countries gathered in San Francisco for Community Justice 2014, an international summit on how to reduce crime and incarceration while improving public trust in justice.

Expungement law favors reformed criminals over victims, appeals court says

Full Article April 24, 2014 Tim Evans Indystar Judges must expunge old criminal convictions if a person meets all of the legal requirements even if the victim is opposed to the request, the Indiana Court of Appeals has ruled. The decision appears to help resolve widespread confusion over the original version of the state’s expungement […]

New POPAI Website

Dear POPAI Membership: In early 2013, the POPAI Board added a new member to our team, Karen Oeding, as our Website Administrator.  With the help of Karen’s 20 years of website experience and infectious enthusiasm, POPAI embarked on the project of updating our organization’s website design.  Our primary goal with this redesign is to better […]

Knepple Scholarship Awarded

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 officer duties in Allen County, Indiana. In an effort to honor an outstanding professional and to promote further professionalism, […]

POPAI Election 2014

Dear POPAI Members, It’s that time of year again!! Time to decide if you would like to become involved with POPAI as a District Representative or an Executive Board Member holding the office of Secretary or President!  The following positions are up for election in 2014:  President, Secretary, District 2, District 4, District 6, and […]

COA: Man not entitled to have restricted access to OWI conviction

Full Article Because a man committed another crime while on probation, he failed to satisfy the obligations imposed as part of his sentence, so he did not qualify to have access to his conviction records restricted under Indiana Code 35-38-8, the Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed.Austin Pittman was convicted of Class C misdemeanor operating a […]

Clark judges carry heaviest caseload in Indiana

Full Article The Courier-JournalBy Charlie White4/21/14www.courier-journal.comClark County’s circuit courts were the most overloaded with new cases of any Hoosier county last year, with judges handling more than double the state standard, according to Indiana’s latest caseload study.The average Indiana county’s courts had about 120 percent of the standard caseload last year, according to the study, […]

Crime & treatment: In her courtroom full of addicts, treatment works better than punishment

Full Article Indiana Daily StudentApril 29, 2014By Katie MettlerThe drug court judge peppered the addict with questions.“So who’s the friend you thought you could trust?” she asked him abruptly. Her stare was met by his downcast eyes.He had been accepted to drug court after a string of DUIs, but then his urine test came back […]

New sentencing laws prompt local worries

Full Article April 29, 2014 By Maureen Hayden CNHI Indiana Statehouse Bureau Pharos-Tribune INDIANAPOLIS — After 40 years in law enforcement, Franklin County Sheriff Ken Murphy knows what doesn’t work when it comes to reducing crime: Locking up non-violent offenders whose petty crimes are driven by addiction. BIG CHANGES QUESTIONS ON NUMBERS FEARS STATEWIDE Local […]

Indiana To Begin Treating Low Level Offenders At Local Level

Full Article by Jimmy Jenkins Indiana Public Media Changes made to the Indiana Criminal code set to take effect this summer will place a renewed emphasis on Community Corrections.