At least 20 states haven’t included homeless shelters in vaccine plans. Frank Galloway falls into the most vulnerable categories for COVID-19: He is 87, he is Black, and he is experiencing homelessness. “It ain’t no joke,” Galloway said of the coronavirus, which has killed some of his friends in Greensboro, North Carolina. “I don’t mind […]
The Management Institute is just around the corner. Updated 3/16/2021: the agenda and registration links have been removed from public view. You can prepare for the conference by watching the Whova step by step set up instruction video or contact Karen by ContactUsatPOPAI@gmail.com for individual assistance.
APPA is offering two free webinars. Officer Safety, Wellness, and Leadership in the 21st Century: Tools, Strategies, and Solutions When: Thursday, March 11, 2021 · 10:00:00 AM · Eastern Time (US & Canada) Duration: 1 hour https://www.bigmarker.com/appa-webinars/Officer-Safety-Wellness-and-Leadership-in-the-21st-Century-Tools-Strategies-and-Solutions Lessons Learned – Using Mobile Technology During a Global Pandemic When: Tuesday, March 16, 2021 · 03:00:00 PM […]
Harrison County Prosecutor Otto Schalk signed up for probation in an attempt to expose the breakdowns plaguing the criminal justice system in his community. HARRISON COUNTY, Ind. — The Indiana Constitution mandates that the criminal justice system is built upon reformation, including opportunities for defendants to chose a better path forward. But, are the penalties […]
A juvenile justice bill that addresses expunging records, detaining young offenders and competency passed out of the state Senate Tuesday, and heads to the House for consideration. The bill, authored by Sen. Karen Tallian, D-Ogeden Dunes, allows for automatic expungement of juvenile records, unless the child commits a felony, and a court has discretion in […]
Mar 5, 2021 CONNERSVILLE — An eastern Indiana man who became lost after entering a storm drain to avoid his probation officer was rescued early Friday after spending at least three days in the chilly drainage system, police said a Connersville police officer heard the 35-year-old man crying for help about 2 a.m. Friday and followed […]
EXit is sponsoring a free webinar: From Pandemic Reforms to Systematic Change: How COVID-19 Housing and Financial Supports Can Permanently Alter Probation and Parole One year ago, as the COVID-19 outbreak hit our nation, many probation and parole officials throughout the country sought to limit the impact of the coronavirus. The pandemic spawned several emergency […]
Indiana Department of Correction Commissioner Robert Carter has ordered flags to be flown at half-staff at all IDOC facilities in honor of Lieutenant Eugene Lasco, who lost his life after a stabbing incident at Indiana State Prison. Governor Eric J. Holcomb will direct flags to be flown at half-staff in LaPorte County on the day […]
Submit your application to be considered for the 2021 Donald “Charley” Knepple Scholarship Award. The winner will be announced at the 2021 Annual Indiana Probation Officers Conference in April. The qualified candidate chosen for the Scholarship Award will receive $2,500.00 to help pay for their costs in continuing his or her education pursuing a Masters […]
On February 24, 2020, the Court of Appeals of Georgia decided Montgomery v. State, which serves as an excellent review regarding the law related to consent searches of residences. The relevant facts of Montgomery, taken directly from the case, are as follows: [T]he evidence shows that Montgomery has multiple prior felony drug convictions, including sale […]
Scenario: An Officer pulls over a vehicle for traveling 65 in a 55 mile per hour zone. The officer suspects the driver is impaired and administers field sobriety tests and a PBT, which results in a reading of .00. The officer then tells the driver that the next roadside test is an oral fluid test […]
Article 1 of the Indiana Constitution proclaims that “all courts shall be open,” that “in all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall have the right to a public trial” and that victims of crime have the right to be “present during public hearings.” How does a court accommodate the rights bestowed by our Constitution during a […]
INDIANAPOLIS — Mayor Joe Hogsett’s office has finally released a report it has had since last May on how to reduce violence in Indianapolis. In late 2019 and early 2020, the National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform visited Indianapolis and spoke with government and law enforcement leaders and community stakeholders to create the “Indianapolis Violence […]
Aaron Burch, Communications Specialist at American Probation and Parole Association (APPA)
NADCP’s National Drug Court Institute (NDCI) has partnered with APPA to launch a ‘probation communities of practice’ project. This project is for adult drug treatment courts that wish to lead the field in applying the skills of core correctional practices and integrated case management to improve operations and enhance positive outcomes for clients. Three programs […]
Compiled by the Office of Communication, Education & Outreach
On June 5, 2020, Chief Justice Rush released the statement on race and equity, charging the judiciary to take action in providing equitable justice to our communities. The statement implores judicial officers to acknowledge and confront the reality that justice remains elusive for many persons of color. Chief Justice Rush emphasized five points that judicial officers […]
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indiana’s attorney general says the state will receive more than $12.5 million as part of a multistate settlement with a consulting firm that worked with opioid manufacturers to promote addictive painkillers. Attorney General Todd Rokita said Thursday that Indiana’s share of McKinsey & Company’s $573 million settlement with 47 states, the District […]
The panel addressed how trauma is often a pathway to criminalized behavior, and the real consequences of the prison environment on human biology, which results in lasting impacts on offenders. Highlighting the fact that Black, Indigenous, and People of Color are more at risk for experiencing multiple traumas in their lives, and have significantly higher […]
The 2021 POPAI Management Institute will be entirely virtual this year in the interest of Public Health and Safety. While we are disappointed that we will not be able to be together in person we are excited to bring you two full days of training. Chief Probation Officer and Supervisor Orientation – March 17th Management […]
North Carolina is the latest state to offer incentives—commissary credits, bonus visits and early release—to motivate inmates to receive vaccination shots. Most inmates in North Carolina’s state prisons will be eligible for a sentence reduction that would shave five days off their remaining time if they opt to receive the Covid-19 vaccine, officials said Friday. […]
State and local officials weigh in on what they’re taking from—and leaving behind in—the dumpster fire that was last year. The first month of a new year is typically a time of reflection and recalibration—a chance to consider what went well in the past 12 months and what could go better in the next. That […]
Two-thirds of employees report that poor mental health has undercut their job performance during the COVID-19 pandemic, and 40% of employees are battling burnout, according to a survey by mental health benefits provider Lyra Health and the National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions. Employees may be working relentlessly amid economic uncertainty with few social outlets, […]
EVANSVILLE, Ind. — It’s the classic dilemma of law and code enforcement: Large groups of people can violate Indiana’s COVID-19 safety mandates anywhere in the state, in any rockin’ joint big enough to hold them, any time it’s open. Enforcers have to be everywhere all the time. For those charged with enforcing the mandates, it’s […]
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Allen Superior Court Judge Charles F. Pratt, whose career in the judiciary focused on the betterment of families and children, will retire from the bench effective May 1, 2021. Over the past two weeks, Judge Pratt informed Indiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Loretta Rush and Governor Eric Holcomb of his intent […]
DEBUT NOVEL: “THE RANKINS OF PRATT COUNTY” AUTHOR : ROBERT L. BINGHAM FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: JANUARY 29, 2021 A coming-of-age story, “The Rankins of Pratt County,” tells the story of an Illinois teenager attempting to survive a severely dysfunctional family in the early 1980s. In the midst of the struggle, a faulty decision lands 15 ½ […]
Legitimacy is the currency of policing and democracy. There will never be enough police to be on every corner, but most Americans believe our government is legitimate and our laws are at least mostly just, and hence they follow them even when no one is looking. Most are also inclined to report crime and cooperate […]
State lawmakers on Wednesday passed a sweeping overhaul of the state’s criminal justice system that would end cash bail and eventually require every police officer in the state to be equipped with a body camera. The measures, approved by narrow margins in the final hours of the Illinois General Assembly’s lame-duck session, were spurred on […]
The coronavirus pandemic has had devastating mental health effects on Americans, and drug abuse is hitting record levels. New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revealed that over 81,000 drug overdose deaths occurred in the U.S. in the 12-month period ending in May 2020. That’s the highest number ever recorded by […]
Jackie Ré, who runs a substance-use disorder facility in New Jersey, gathered the 12 female residents of her center in the living room on March 27 and told them that the coronavirus outbreak had forced the center to limit contact with the outside world. There was an immediate outcry: The women already felt disconnected and […]
The Integrated Justice Information Systems (IJIS) Institute
The Corrections Tech 2020 white paper (link downloads a pdf document), developed by the Corrections Advisory Committee, is a survey of technological trends, current and potential, which are likely to impact the corrections environment in the next 3-5 years. The aim is to provide a ‘one-stop’ high-level overview for the leadership of correctional agencies and […]
Casey Cawthon, 32, of Fishers was doing OK when she started working from home in March due to the pandemic. She was productive, enjoyed the flexibility of working from home, developed a routine and was spending more time with her 15-year-old son, Caiden. “It just felt like working from home for the day or like working from a client […]
The POPAI Virtual Management Institute will be in March 2021: New Chief Probation Officer Orientation Wednesday March 17 Management Institute Thursday March 18 CPO Summit Friday March March 19 We have a platform to make signup and participation easy and are contacting speakers. More information coming soon!
The federal stimulus bill signed by President Donald Trump includes additional funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) that will provide a temporary boost for families struggling with food insecurity. Beginning Jan. 1 and running through the end of June, those receiving SNAP benefits will see an increase of 15% in the maximum amount […]
New federal data shows the coronavirus pandemic has contributed to the country’s deadliest 12-month period for drug overdose fatalities, including a sharp increase in overdose deaths in the Ohio Valley. According to the latest data by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 81,000 people died due to drug overdoses in the 12 months from […]
Gun Violence Surged in 2020 The teenagers who attend VOICES in Fountain Square don’t need to read the headlines about Indianapolis’ latest homicide. Many of them live those stories, whether it’s losing a friend to violence or living in a neighborhood riddled with it. In the most devastating scenario, they become the statistic. “I’m always holding my […]
On October 28, 2019, President Donald Trump signed Executive Order No. 13896, which directed the department of Justice to establish the “Commission on Law Enforcement and the Administration of Justice.” The purpose of the Commission is to conduct a modern study of the state of American policing and determine specific measures to reduce crime and […]
An expert in human trafficking intervention said the numbers reported nationally may not accurately represent the current situation. LOUISVILLE, Ky. — (If you or someone you know is a victim of human trafficking, call 1-888-373-7888 or text 233733 to get help) January is Human Trafficking Awareness month, so we wanted to look at the state […]
EVANSVILLE, Ind. — It’s been nine years since Bridgett Tate’s son, Derrick Brian Jackson, was murdered six blocks from their home. She still calls the Evansville Police Department every week seeking answers in the unsolved homicide. “If I didn’t stay on it, he would just be forgotten,” Tate said. “And that’s not – that was […]
The following is a brief summary of the bills POPAI is tracking for our membership. If you have any questions or concerns about pending legislation, please contact a member of the POPAI Board. For the current status and full text of each bill please go to: http://iga.in.gov/legislative/2021/bills/. This page was last updated on 1-7-2021 at […]
Every day, thousands of young people in the United States are held in juvenile detention facilities while their cases are handled in court. Despite steady declines over the past two decades, more than 15,000 young people were held in detention centers on any given night in 2017, the latest year for which federal data are […]
In July 2020, Dr. Edward Latessa retired from the School of Criminal Justice at the University of Cincinnati. Although he remains the Director of the University of Cincinnati Corrections Institute (UCCI), we wanted to take a moment to highlight some of his many achievements. The following was written by one of our Research Fellows who […]
The government eased access to drug addiction treatment during the pandemic. Now that could go away. When the Covid-19 pandemic forced much of the US to lock down in the spring of 2020, officials and experts worried the necessary social distancing measures would make another public health crisis — the opioid epidemic — worse. Addiction […]
The compromise also includes language to simplify the application for federal financial aid and grant more than $1 billion in loan forgiveness for HBCUs. Congressional leaders have struck a deal to reinstate Pell grants for incarcerated students more than a quarter century after banning the aid for prison education programs, top Democrats and Republicans announced […]
APPA’s 5th COVID Roundtable was recorded on Dec 15, 2020. It featured an array of researchers discussing the effects of the pandemic on agency staff and clients and identifying the lingering issues that agencies will face as we enter 2021. We’re diving deep with national and state survey data to provide a portrait of community […]
Death can attract a crowd. That’s been proven several times since the Trump administration relaunched federal executions over the summer. Crowds of people have gathered in or near the U.S. Penitentiary in Terre Haute to either witness the deaths, protest them or help carry them out. Since July, eight people have been put to death about […]
EVANSVILLE, Ind. — As the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic rolls across Indiana and the nation just in time for the holiday season, experts say it’s important to pay attention to mental health as well as the physical. “We are seeing a lot of people coming in for help,” said Janie Chappell, a nurse and Senior […]
I’ve created a new page for paying group renewals: https://gopopai.org/group-membership-payments/ You can add a membership type, enter the names of your members of that type, then add it on to a cart-type page where you can change the numbers. Does your staff include both Officers and Associates? No problem: just add one then use the […]
Graphs about Adult Admission Trend: Old vs New Felony Levels, Facility Population: New Felony Levels, Distribution of New Felony Levels by Most Serious Offense, January 2018-YTD Admission and Release Totals, and Facility Capacity by Security Level are in the December 2020 Indiana Department of Correction HEA 1006: Supplemental Report Find the more detailed Indiana Department […]
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) – Used needles, spoons with drug reside and a bag from a drug transaction were all scattered in the parking lot of a hotel located on the northwest side of Fort Wayne. Despite it’s small size, detectives told WANE 15’s Briana Brownlee that they receive the highest amount of drug abuse […]
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) — November is National Adoption Month, and while the Indiana Department of Child Services is reporting a drop in total yearly adoptions for the first time in at least 8 years, officials believe this is just a bump in the road for kids still in our foster system. The Indiana D.C.S […]
James Austin, Ph.D., JFA Institute; Sarah L. Desmarais, Ph.D., North Carolina State University; John Monahan, Ph.D., University of Virginia School of Law
Re: Response to PJI’s Position on the Abolition of Pretrial Risk Assessment Instruments Recently the Pretrial Justice Institute (PJI) re-issued its former statement that argues that all pretrial risk assessment instruments (PRAIs) be abolished. Their rationale is understandable but fails to account for the state of the scientific evidence on PRAIs. Abolishing PRAIs and allowing […]
POPAI’s Membership year runs from January to December. Anyone who did not already pay for 2021 may do so now by noting “paying for 2021” on the application. Otherwise I will assume the payment is for the year in which it is received. Department/Group Invoices are ready by request. Just email me: ContactUsatPOPAI@gmail.com. I’ll be […]
Efforts including isolation upon intake and limiting arrests are keeping COVID-19 from returning to the Porter County Jail and the Juvenile Detention Center even as the number of cases continues to rise in the community, officials for both facilities said. The jail reported its first cases of the virus in the spring after a cook […]
Indianapolis, Ind. – The Indiana Department of Correction (IDOC) today announced it will make the opioid reversal agent naloxone available to each offender upon release from an IDOC facility. “Expanding the availability of naloxone to all offenders upon release from one of our correctional facilities is one way we can ensure these individuals a smooth […]
Even with at least three in-person jury trials under his belt since coronavirus-related suspensions were lifted in July, Lake Superior Civil Division Judge Bruce Parent still feels uncomfortable. The Indiana Supreme Court permitted the first in-person jury trial to take place during the COVID-19 pandemic in Parent’s Lake County courtroom last month. Indiana trial courts […]
POPAI Members are welcome to attend this week’s Board Meeting via Zoom. Contact your District Representative or email Karen at ContactUsatPOPAI@gmail.com for the link. Meeting minutes are available on our minutes page.
The theme of this edition of Perspectives, “Transforming Probation”, is near and dear to my heart. From the time I began my career in the field of juvenile probation, I’ve always believed that I was an agent of change. Tim Hardy, APPA President
Over 140 current & former prosecutors, probation & parole chiefs agree: it’s time to transform Mass Supervision into a system that’s downsized, less punitive, & equitable. Read Columbia University Justice Lab’s Executives Transforming Probation and Parole statement: https://bit.ly/ExitStatement
(INDIANAPOLIS) – Gov. Eric J. Holcomb announced his three appointments to the Marion County Superior Courts for the upcoming retirements of Judges Barbara Crawford Cook, David Dreyer and Marilyn Moores. Marshelle Dawkins Broadwell currently serves as a magistrate judge in the Marion Superior Court, where she hears criminal, civil and family law matters. Before beginning […]
INDIANAPOLIS – For people struggling with homelessness, addiction, and poverty, finding meaningful work can be a huge barrier to getting their lives in order and back on a productive track, especially for those just released from prison. But Indianapolis-based Purposeful Design has made it a mission to help by giving them training, skills, and a […]
US Probation and Pretrial Services District of Minnesota
Kito Bess
To All Criminal Justice Students, Legal and Community Correction Practitioners: Are you looking to start or elevate your career with the U.S. District Court, U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services Office? Interested in learning more about what we do; how we positively impact the lives of others; and what it takes to become a U.S. Probation […]
(INDIANAPOLIS) — The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration’s Division of Mental Health and Addiction today announced a series of pilot programs designed to increase access to mental health care for inmates in Indiana county jails. The pilot programs will focus on individuals found incompetent to stand trial who are awaiting placement in the state […]
The Indiana Department of Correction (IDOC) today announced it will make the opioid reversal agent naloxone available to each offender upon release from an IDOC facility. “Expanding the availability of naloxone to all offenders upon release from one of our correctional facilities is one way we can ensure these individuals a smooth transition back into […]
Across the country, a rapidly increasing number of states, counties and cities have undertaken ambitious efforts to improve the way decisions are made about who is released and who is detained before trial. Their sense of urgency is driven by the fact that our nation’s jails are filled with people charged with low-level offenses who […]
Americans were still waiting for clarity on the presidential race Wednesday morning. Perhaps lost in the frantic haze of election night was the legalization of recreational marijuana in four states. Arizona, New Jersey, South Dakota and Montana all passed legislation Tuesday permitting the possession of weed by adults, which means 15 states have legalized recreational […]
From Executives Transforming Probation and Parole (EXiT): California’s Probation and Parole Reform Successes California Reform Webinar: California has passed legislation that addresses several of EXiT’s policy aims, including shortening supervision terms (both at sentencing and via earned time credits), and eliminating supervision fees. This public-facing webinar will highlight those legislative efforts, discuss why such reforms […]
INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Department of Child Services said Thursday that contracted employees may have falsified drug-screening records. Drug screenings are used for many types of court cases involving DCS, including juvenile matters, Child in Need of Services (CHINS), and termination of parental rights. It’s not yet clear how many cases may be impacted or […]
Criminal Justice Network @intcjnetwork shared a podcast with Michael Nail, commissioner @GeorgiaDCS about the challenge of leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic. This podcast is the fourth of a series about the challenge posed to leaders by the COVID-19 crisis. The people working in the criminal justice system at the frontline across the world are facing […]
The maker of OxyContin painkillers has reached an $8.3bn (£6.3bn) settlement and agreed to plead guilty to criminal charges to resolve a probe of its role in fuelling America’s opioid crisis. Purdue Pharma will admit to enabling the supply of drugs “without legitimate medical purpose”. The deal with US Department of Justice resolves some of […]
The Michigan Poison Center at the Wayne State University School of Medicine wants the public to be aware of recent reports involving “purple heroin” identified in Michigan. “Purple heroin” has been linked to several overdose cases in the Upper Peninsula and one overdose-related death in Van Buren County. Samples sent to the Michigan State Police […]
In 2014, Abt Associates began work on a grant from the National Institute of Justice to evaluate the effectiveness of home and field contacts in community supervision. The study was designed to describe the varying practices of home and other field contacts in community supervision, to document their use nationwide, and to evaluate their effectiveness […]
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) — A high number of overdoses in Fort Wayne are now being blamed on a counterfeit drug. Residents believe they’re taking oxycodone but it’s actually fentanyl. 15 Finds Out went looking into where the drugs came from. Police told WANE 15 that overdoses more than doubled in September compared to the […]
In 2014, Abt Associates began work on a grant from the National Institute of Justice to evaluate the effectiveness of home and field contacts in community supervision. The study was designed to describe the varying practices of home and other field contacts in community supervision, to document their use nationwide, and to evaluate their effectiveness […]
For several days in a row, Sgt. Lance Dardeen’s squad car was the only transportation an Indianapolis man was comfortable riding in. The two went to the grocery store, doctor’s appointments and errands around Central Indiana, making small talk, side by side in the front. Dardeen said the man, who he said suffered from schizophrenia, […]
We have spent a lot of time in this series discussing the myths and misconceptions commonly held about alcoholism and addiction. But we have not spent time talking about the myths – or lies – that the alcoholic and addict tell themselves. Curious, I asked numerous recovered alcoholics and addicts for insight, and their responses […]
You are cordially invited to attend the Executives Transforming Probation and Parole Virtual Membership Meeting Please save the date for the next EXiT Virtual Membership meeting, which will be held Tuesday, December 8, 2020 1:00pm-4:00pm, ET. It will be a half day filled with training and idea sharing. Learn more, including a full agenda in […]
The closure of school buildings in response to the coronavirus has been disruptive and inconvenient for many families, but for those living in homeless shelters or hotel rooms — including roughly 1.5 million school-aged children — the shuttering of classrooms and cafeterias has been disastrous. For Rachel, a 17-year-old sharing a hotel room in Cincinnati […]
Video by Mary Kay Hudson, Executive Director of Office of Court Services with guests Allen County Court Administrator John McGauley and Judge Frances Gull Some Indiana problem-solving courts have found innovative ways to adapt to COVID-19. Allen Superior Court Judge Fran Gull and Court Executive John McGauley discuss the importance of strategic planning and creativity […]
In addition to the ongoing challenges presented by the COVID-19 global pandemic, the nation’s opioid epidemic has grown into a much more complicated and deadly drug overdose epidemic. The AMA is greatly concerned by an increasing number of reports from national, state and local media suggesting increases in opioid- and other drug-related mortality—particularly from illicitly […]
The short guide from CISA offers quick tips and links to deeper resources for employees at every level. The mass teleworking required by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is creating new cybersecurity vulnerabilities and exacerbating old ones. In response, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency released a quick guide to help organizations address these issues at […]
INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Commission for Higher Education says the state has received another $25 million in CARES Act funding to continue efforts to upskill more Hoosiers through expanded Next Level Jobs programs. The money is used to help provide training to people who lost their jobs during the pandemic. It can also be used […]
Rachel Barnard, a public artist-in-residence, works to provide a safe space for deep listening while inspiring hope through the creation of whimsical, unconventional art space called “Wisdom Pavilions” in a NYC Probation office. The goal of this project to positively shift the departments culture and transform relationships between NYC Department of Probation officers and their […]
Here’s the grim way the Vanderburgh County Health Department described a recent event. Few people wore masks. They didn’t socially distance. And as a result, several attendees tested positive for COVID-19, adding to the mountain of cases lording over the Evansville area. The VCHD referenced that event in a statement to Eyewitness News over the […]
On Wednesday, October 21, APPA and SCRAM Systems will host a webinar discussing advancements in #smartphone application technology as it relates to probation and parole. What new developments are we seeing? How can it improve your community supervision? Register for this free training at 3 p.m. EDT!
By Nancy Wever, Director | Indiana Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative
Almost overnight, Indiana’s youth justice systems went from business as usual to remote supervision, virtual interactions, and attending court hearings online. What may have been considered something that would never happen six months ago did happen and will likely permanently shape the operation of youth justice systems. Those who work in youth justice systems—in addition […]
James T. Knight (“Knight”)—who is a licensed Indiana attorney and who pled guilty to Class A misdemeanor battery in exchange for the dismissal of two felony criminal confinement charges, a felony domestic battery charge, and a misdemeanor domestic battery charge—appeals the trial court’s order amending the conditions of his probation pursuant to INDIANA CODE § […]
Community Corrections has been on a journey to transform our practice of probation and parole. We interviewed parole officers as well as clients of Dodge/Fillmore/Olmstead (DFO) Community Corrections to get stories about their experiences. This short video (8 minutes) shows the impact Olmsted County is making.
Alexis Stogdill, a Probation Officer in the Monroe Circuit Court Probation Department was nominated for an award as an Outstanding Mental Health Provider by Mental Health America of Monroe County (BLOOMINGTON) – Mental Health America of Monroe County presents an online virtual event to recognize our Mental Health Champions and stand-out members of the community. […]
Paige Newland, Learning Consultant/Program Coordinator | Office of Court Services
An emergency like flood, fire, power outage, mold, active human threat—or, as we all now realize, a pandemic—can adversely impact the court system in ways we may not expect. Employee absence, loss of records, technology failure, or facility damage can greatly diminish the effectiveness of the court system and result in the delayed administration of […]
The Honorable Earl G. Penrod, Senior Judge | Indiana Judicial Outreach Liaison, IOCS Education Division
Scenario: A police officer sees a vehicle pass by, but doesn’t see the driver. The officer doesn’t observe any traffic or improper driving violations, but runs the license plate and learns the registered owner has a suspended operator’s license. The officer stops the vehicle and immediately notices a strong odor of alcohol and multiple signs […]
The Children’s Commission’s preliminary review of Indiana’s juvenile justice system is set to begin with a task force meeting on September 30. Read the Announcement to Counties and Stakeholders (PDF file)
After a 40-year accomplished legal career, General Counsel Brenda Rodeheffer is retiring from the Office of Judicial Administration on October 2. The Supreme Court and staff will thank Brenda for her service with a brief, remote ceremony. You are welcome to watch the live webcast at noon ET on September 22. Congratulations on a well-deserved […]
The Judicial Conference of Indiana has published a new strategic plan to drive improvements to the state’s justice system. The 20-page blueprint urges reform in 7 key areas: access to justice, security, technology, clerk functions, court structure, judicial selection, and centralized funding. Learn more about the Strategic Planning Committee.
Centerstone recently received a Comprehensive Opioid Recovery Center grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration worth $3.4 million over the next four years. Only one of two organizations nationwide to receive the federal grant, Centerstone plans to use the funds to establish the center, which will provide a full spectrum of treatment […]
The Rookie Probation Officer of the Year award was established in 2014 to recognize probation officers who, while at the beginning of their career, have shown the attitude, aptitude, and desire to improve themselves and to develop into leaders among their peers. Judge Lance Hamner describes this year’s winner as a bright, enthusiastic and hard […]
Virtual Convening: The New Juvenile Probation: Lessons from the Frontlines convening will examine cities and counties across the United States that have revolutionized their approach to juvenile probation. The event will be held on Tuesday, September 29, 2:00-3:30, ET, pm. It is sponsored by the Stoneleigh Foundation and the Columbia University Justice Lab. You can […]
During the POPAI Annual Meeting on September 16, 2020: Board Members were elected President-Adam McQueen Secretary-Cherie Wood District 2-Heather Malone District 4-Mike Small District 6-Lindsey Villalpando District 8-Mignon Ware POPAI Job Opening announced: Conference Coordinator. Details including essential duties and responsibilities in a PDF document. Send cover letter and resume to Adam McQueen, POPAI President […]
POPAI will hold its annual business meeting via Zoom on Wednesday, September 16, 2020 at 12:00 p.m. EDT. All members are encouraged to log on to the meeting to learn about the status of the Association and vote on proposed bylaw changes posted here. We’ll also be conducting some random drawings to give away several […]
Join The Carey Group Wednesday, September 30, 2020, from 1:30 pm to 2:45 pm ET for a free webinar series on the use of cognitive tools to improve the success of those on supervision. These webinars will feature national colleagues who have reengineered their policies, practices, and organizational culture to incorporate the use of cognitive tools […]
The number of children in the U.S. foster care system has dropped for a second year in a row. That’s according to new federal data which also show that a record number of children in the child welfare system were able to find adoptive homes in 2019. The annual report from the Department of Health […]
The POPAI Board is seeking letters of intent and resumes from qualified individuals for two jobs at POPAI. The POPAI Conference and Recruitment Coordinator is responsible for planning, scheduling, coordinating, and implementing training, conferences, and educational opportunities for POPAI. Additionally, this position is responsible for recruiting new probation officer, associate, and corporate members. Download a […]
In September, the House will vote on removing cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act as well as erasing some marijuana criminal records, The Hill reports. The bill would not legalize cannabis. That choice would still be left up to states. Even though the vote will not legalize the drug, it will still be a historic […]
AUBURN – Two men from Kosciusko County, who have battled their own drug addictions, are part of a first-for-northeast Indiana detox treatment center in Auburn. Mickey Ashpole, a Wawasee High School graduate, is the co-founder and executive director of Allendale Treatment. Tommy Streeter, a Warsaw Community High School graduate, is the community outreach coordinator with […]
Young adults and adolescents who are prescribed opioids for the first time may be at a slightly greater risk of developing a substance-related problem later in life, according to a new study co-authored by Indiana University researchers. However, the risk may not be as high as previously thought. The study was published Monday in JAMA Pediatrics and […]
In December 2019, Stephen Owens retired from the position of State Public Defender, after serving for eight years as leader of the office. His full career in the State Public Defender’s Office lasted for over 33 years. The State Public Defender’s Office is a judicial branch agency. The Public Defender is appointed by and serves at the pleasure of […]
Deficient data on the incidence of human trafficking offenses reflect pervasive issues with incident identification and reporting, a study combining stakeholder interviews and data analysis shows. Crime statistics on human trafficking are only as solid as the crime data informing them. Recent NIJ-supported research reveals that labor and sex trafficking data appearing in the FBI’s […]
TERRE HAUTE – The United Way of the Wabash Valley has received a three-year $1 million grant from the federal Health Resources and Services Administration. The nonprofit says the funding will be used to expand service delivery for substance use and opioid use disorders in rural areas of Sullivan, Parke and Vermillion counties. The United […]
This expansion will add access to trained peer support recovery professionals throughout the Hoosier state. (Indianapolis, Ind.) – Governor Eric J. Holcomb today announced a partnership between the Indiana Division of Mental Health and Addiction and Mental Health America of Indiana to expand access to trained peer support recovery professionals through the Indiana Recovery Network. […]
A rigorous evaluation of a well-grounded pilot program to boost the school performance and behavior of at-risk youth and improve safety in Palm Beach, Florida, schools revealed few positive or negative effects. NIJ sponsored the research. On paper, a “wraparound” approach to managing student delinquency while improving school safety makes perfect sense. The idea is […]
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
7/14/2020
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has created an environment that is particularly problematic for individuals with alcohol and substance use disorders (ASUD), according to physician scientists at the National Institutes of Health. In a commentary now online in the American Journal of Psychiatry, the researchers liken the global coronavirus emergency to a “perfect storm,” with dire […]
Albion Fellows Bacon In 1909, it would be another 11 years before women gained the right to vote in Indiana. But Albion Fellows Bacon was waiting for the ballot. Her two daughters had contracted scarlet fever that was spreading from Evansville’s overcrowded and dilapidated tenements. Bacon began campaigning for housing reforms and other changes, and […]
My writing on the freelance revolution usually starts with a story about an interesting startup, a challenge facing freelancers, or a skill set that characterizes highly successful independent professionals. But, in this last piece of the year, I’m taking liberties by recommending that your 2020 agenda include at least one new responsibility. Mentor someone. Would it […]
This research brief offers an initial analysis of newly-released data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS), which report on the number of people under probation and parole supervision in 2017 and 2018. This brief seeks to put the data into the context of historical and international community supervision trends and to examine supervision rates […]
POPAI is offering a virtual training opportunity in an attempt to assist everyone in obtaining EBP specific training hours this year. Dr. Brian Lovins, Principal at Justice System Partners, will be presenting his workshop Rethinking Community Supervision: Moving from a Referee to a Coach Model on Wednesday, September 16th and Thursday, September 17th from 9:00 […]
New norms are being established in community corrections amid the rapid changes related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many agencies have balanced their public safety mandates with the emerging public health threat by decreasing in-person officer-client interactions. Tele-supervision, as we have dubbed it, is the technology-enabled contact between staff and clients, whether during a sustained period […]
FLOYD COUNTY — Longtime Floyd County Prosecutor Keith Henderson has died, his office confirmed Saturday. Henderson, who served nearly two decades as prosecutor following an eight-year career as an Indiana State Trooper, died peacefully at his home Friday, according to a news release from Floyd County Chief Deputy Prosecutor Chris Lane. Henderson was surrounded by […]
The following candidates have been slated for the 2020 POPAI General Election with no contested positions. Adam McQueen, President Cherie Wood, Secretary Heather Malone, District 2 Representative Mike Small, District 4 Representative Lindsey Villalpando District 6 Representative Mignon Ware District 8 Representative
Practically overnight, the COVID-19 pandemic has forced community corrections agencies to fundamentally change their supervision practices to adapt to remote supervision. With the need to adapt swiftly, agencies’ leadership teams have not had the benefit of the methodical process that usually accompanies significant shifts in operations. As a result, we don’t have all the answers […]
Even with the expanded benefits for out-of-work people, millions of families had to sign up for food stamps during the early months of the pandemic. Now even more people are expected to need the assistance. More than 6 million people began receiving food stamps during the first three months of the coronavirus pandemic—a number experts say is […]
The day was March 16, 2020, in St. Paul, Ramsey County, Minnesota. The event was the COVID-19 global pandemic. The task was instantly transforming our department’s probation supervision practices from traditional to almost exclusively remote. This task, while challenging, was not unique to us in Ramsey County Community Corrections. We hope you will find this […]
Facebook messages exchanged between a man wanted on warrant and a fake profile created by police were not wrongly admitted during his jury trial, the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled in a Thursday decision. When Lafayette police learned that Michael Parker was wanted on a warrant from another jurisdiction and that he was possibly in […]
Abt Associates Holly Swan, PhD, Walter Campbell, PhD
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the United States (U.S.) justice system—from policing to reentry— has been profound (Chapman, Irazola, and Swan, 2020). Appropriately, much of the focus in media and scholarly outlets has been on the impact of the pandemic on prisons and incarcerated populations (Akiyama, et al., 2020; Busanksy, 2020; Burki, 2020; […]
Over 300 individuals registered for the NIJ webinar: Pretrial Risk Assessment in Practice Lessons & Research from Indiana on July 15th, 2020 to learn about implementation of the Indiana Risk Assessment System – Pretrial Assessment Tool (IRAS-PAT) in Indiana. This webinar is now publicly available on YouTube and can be found here:
When in-person legal education events became virtually impossible during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic chose to go virtual. The clinic, out of necessity, decided to implement a new way of reaching the communities it serves through a social media platform that has recently taken off, Facebook Watch. “The concept of […]
Every 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 and […]
The lawsuit alleges three private companies that provide telecom services in prisons lied to state and local governments about the cost of doing business. A new lawsuit filed in federal district court is taking aim at the high cost of making phone calls from prison. Families of incarcerated people are calling the prices charged for […]
The Caution Against Racially Exploitative Non-Emergencies Act would create penalties for those who make false emergency reports. On Memorial Day in New York City, a white woman named Amy Cooper called the police on a Black birdwatcher, Christian Cooper (the two are not related), and falsely reported that he was threatening her. A video of the […]
Nominations are being accepted until August 17, 2020 for three awards traditionally presented during our Annual Meeting. 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 […]
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 the President of the Executive Board at least sixty (60) days prior to the annual […]
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — The pandemic has taken a toll on day-to-day life for most people, including those in the recovery community. From the loss of in-person recovery meetings, to unemployment and furloughs, to a general sense of disconnect, recovering addicts are faced with several COVID-19 related hurdles as they navigate through the […]
As viral videos of shoppers’ tirades and confrontations over being asked to wear face coverings during the COVID-19 pandemic erupt, major retailers are urging governors to make it a requirement for everyone to wear a mask. The Retail Industry Leaders Association, which represents Walmart, Target, Best Buy, Walgreens, Home Depot and other major chains, says different local mandates across […]
(BEDFORD) – The Lawrence County Commissioners gave their approval for Lawrence County to be a Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI) county. Juvenile Referee Anah Hewetson Gouty told the commissioners Tuesday morning that the county has received a grant for around $50,000 to participate in the initiative. “The increased and unnecessary use of secure detention exposes […]
The authors examine the relationship between supervision intensity and probation outcomes (i.e., increase in supervision level and rearrest) among low-risk individuals. Results show that individuals placed on the low-risk caseload were less likely to have probation revoked than low-risk probationers placed on regular caseloads. There was no significant relationship between low-intensity supervision and rearrest. Download […]
CLARK COUNTY — A Clark County board voted Tuesday to modify an in-patient addiction program for inmates to an outpatient-only program — a change some say is needed to protect against COVID-19 and others say will dampen the program’s effects. The Clark County Community Corrections board — which has representatives from multiple county departments and […]
The National Judicial Opioid Task Force (NJOTF) has created excellent tools to assist courts in addressing the addictions crisis. Many of these tools are “deliverables” or “bench-cards” for a judge to quickly reference, e.g. a Substance Use Disorder Dictionary for State Courts and a guide to treating pregnant women with opioid use disorder. The NJOTF’s […]
Registration is open for APPA’s 45th Annual Training Institute – Value and Vision: A Virtual Experience Date(s): August 24 — 28, 2020 Venue: Virtual Website: coming soon! student rate: $99 early, non-member rate: $230 late, non-member rate: $290 early bird discount available through 7/30/20. APPA Individual Member discount available, just sign-in. APPA Agency Member discount […]
It wasn’t quite the retirement he expected. With COVID-19 forcing most of the population to work from home, Court of Appeals Judge John Baker quietly visited the Indiana Statehouse in early June to pack up his chambers. He’s been working from his Bloomington home, and even though he won’t officially retire until July 31, he […]
A new report says the CARES Act has offered an important boost to low-income families. But aid will dry up as the year goes on. Cash payments and the expanded unemployment benefits many Americans qualify for under the coronavirus relief package that Congress passed this spring will help to prevent a sharp rise in poverty […]
MGIA Indiana Chapter 2020 State Training August 18 & 19, 2020 Hosted by Indiana Chapter of MGIA Location Embassy Suites by Hilton South Bend at Notre Dame 1140 E. Angela Blvd., South Bend, Indiana 46617 16 hours of ILEA Certified Training Lunch is on your own. Refreshments will be on-site. Training Schedule Registration: Starts at […]
Footage captured on Ring, the video doorbell sold by Amazon, is available to over one thousand law enforcement agencies nationwide. Ring, the “smart” video doorbell owned by Amazon, is no stranger to controversy. Since it began partnering with police departments in 2018, critics have decried Ring as helping create a “surveillance state” in cities where […]
The presiding judges of the Lake Circuit and Superior Courts have issued a statement against racism and in support of due process and equal protection. The joint statement issued Friday was signed by Lake Circuit Judge Marissa McDermott and Lake Superior Chief Judge John Sedia and echoes Indiana Chief Justice Loretta Rush’s June 5 Statement on Race and […]
A woman who was found driving in violation of the lifetime forfeiture of her driver’s license could not convince the Indiana Court of Appeals on Wednesday that her sentence was inappropriate. After being pulled over for improperly changing lanes, Alicia Prince was charged and ultimately convicted of Level 5 felony operating a motor vehicle after […]
The Supreme Court of the United States is for now declining to get involved in an ongoing debate by citizens and in Congress over policing, rejecting cases Monday that would have allowed the justices to revisit when police can be held financially responsible for wrongdoing. With protests over racism and police brutality continuing nationwide, the […]
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — An innocent inhale? The occasional puff? If you’re smoking weed these days to ease COVID-19 anxiety, you might want to reconsider. Smoking marijuana, infrequently as it may be, puts a person at greater risk of severe coronavirus complications. The negative side effects the psychotropic drug has on the lungs has been studied intensively for […]
If you want to run for the POPAI Board in one of the following positions: President Secretary District 2 District 4 District 6 District 8 please return the Intent to Run Form (docx) to Michael by Sunday July 12, 2020 (postmarked, emailed, or faxed).
Memo from Adam McQueen, President of the Probation Officers Professional Association of Indiana, The widespread disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic have forced Probation Departments across the State of Indiana to make compromises and sacrifices in order to protect the health of their staff members, as well as the general public. While the State has […]
As we all grapple with the incredible stressors brought on by the COVID-19 Pandemic, high-risk impaired drivers, the population most likely to be dealing with alcohol/substance use and addiction, can be particularly impacted. With social distancing comes isolation and increased challenges in getting to support groups and treatment, as well as the desire to drink […]
Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson won attention for marching in solidarity with protesters in Flint Township, Michigan. He says he knows it will take more efforts to really improve many people’s perceptions of law enforcement. On May 30, Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson and a handful of law enforcement officers reported to a Target parking lot in […]
June 4, 2020 The American Probation and Parole Association (APPA) is stunned and saddened by the circumstances surrounding the death of George Floyd. We strongly condemn the actions of the officers involved and call for all pretrial, probation, and parole agencies to join us in stating that this type of behavior is reprehensible and must […]
May 4 2020 interview with Chief Justice Rush: Dear Readers, Like all of you, we had plans for March, April, and May that were quickly cast aside. Our focus instead has been COVID-19. Our communication office turned its full attention to the growing public health emergency, and we put a number of projects on hold—including […]
Citing failures of courts and justice systems to address racial inequities, Indiana Chief Justice Loretta Rush on Friday issued a statement promising change as protests over the death of George Floyd continued in streets in the Hoosier state and across the nation. Rush issued a Statement on Race and Equity that begins, “The gravity of […]
Stanley DeKemper: February 24, 1948 to June 3, 2020 Vice President for Education, Training & Credentialing; Executive Director, ICAADA It is with great sadness that I must convey Stan DeKemper’s passing yesterday. This is a tremendous loss to our field, our community–and to me, as I considered Stan a close and trusted friend. As I have reflect […]
Law enforcement officers from the Columbus Police Department and Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department have teamed up with JDAI (Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative) and Viewpoint Books to assist with a summer reading program. Beginning today, students and their families who have received books from JDAI will be able to go online and read along with law […]
An Indiana State Bar Association online program geared toward newly admitted attorneys is hoping to prepare and equip new lawyers on how to begin their legal careers in the midst of uncertain times posed by COVID-19. New lawyers are encouraged to learn about navigating the challenges of beginning a legal career during a pandemic and […]
(Editor’s Note: See POPAI’s Mentorship Program for Chiefs, Assistant Chiefs, and Probation Supervisors.) The research on the power of mentorship is pretty clear: People with mentors perform better, advance in their careers faster, and even experience more work-life satisfaction. And mentors benefit, too. After all, “to teach is to learn twice.” Despite all these benefits, and even though 76% of […]
Judges side with Zoom as their top choice of platforms for remote court hearings during the COVID-19 crisis, a National Judicial College survey found. An unscientific poll received more than 700 responses from jurists nationwide, 48% of whom said Zoom is their go-to platform for remote video court proceedings. The WebEx platform was a distant second […]
Julie L. Whitman, MSW, Executive Director | Commission on Improving the Status of Children in Indiana
The Commission on Improving the Status of Children in Indiana hosted the Indiana Youth Institute’s “State of the Child” presentation at the State House on February 25. The State of the Child has become an annual event to launch the most recent version of the Indiana KIDS COUNT Data Book. Every year IYI publishes this compilation of the […]
COMMENTARY | Many small businesses won’t survive, and that will change the landscape of American commerce for years to come. Outside of Boston, a marketing company is struggling to figure out how to cover its bills. In Indiana, a dance studio is waiting on three emergency-loan applications. In Baltimore, a deli is closed and desperate […]
A man who confessed to burning down two Indiana covered bridges has had his guilty but mentally ill verdict reversed by a divided Indiana Supreme Court. The 3-2 majority cited unanimous expert opinion that the defendant is legally insane in overturning a jury’s conclusion. In 2005, Jesse Payne was charged with two counts of arson […]
MGIA Indiana Chapter 2020 State Training August 18 & 19, 2020 Hosted by Indiana Chapter of MGIA Location Embassy Suites by Hilton South Bend at Notre Dame 1140 E. Angela Blvd., South Bend, Indiana 46617 16 hours of ILEA Certified Training Lunch is on your own. Refreshments will be on-site. Training Schedule Registration: Starts at […]
Leaders in at least a handful of states have made clear there will be limits on who can claim unemployment and general worker concerns about safety likely won’t pass muster. As some states begin to reopen their economies beyond just essential businesses, many workers remain leery about the prospect of returning to work due to warnings from […]
The Indiana Supreme Court, in concert with other state officials, is closely monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic and has responded with guidance for state and local courts. This page is updated daily with information about how courts are continuing operations while maintaining safe practices and complying with the Governor’s executive orders issued March 23. Latest Updates […]
New Castle, Ind. – Like so many other employers across Indiana, the Indiana Department of Correction (IDOC) has been impacted by members of the workforce contracting the COVID-19 virus. While other businesses may be able to operate with a reduction in their workforce, the unique duties performed by correctional staff must continue with proper staffing levels. […]
Indiana Supreme Court justices have permitted the expansion of remote proceedings until further order amid the coronavirus public-health emergency. “Pursuant to Indiana Administrative Rule 17 and this Court’s inherent authority to supervise the administration of all courts of this state, the Court finds that the trial courts’ efficient and effective operation to hold timely hearings […]
Carlisle, Ind. – Several facilities in the Indiana Department of Correction (IDOC) have joined in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic by making fabric masks for both inside the facilities and in the community. However, facilities are starting to run out of the needed supplies to continue the production of masks. That’s where you come […]
We are now accepting Intent to Run Forms from POPAI Members ready to serve on the Board. Up for election in 2020: President Secretary District 2 District 4 District 6 District 8 Intent to Run Form (docx) The Intent to Run form must be sent to Michael by Sunday July 12, 2020 (postmarked, emailed, or […]
A framework to improve probation and parole Overview Since 1980, the nation’s community supervision population has ballooned by almost 240 percent. As of 2016, 1 in 55 U.S. adults (nearly 4.5 million people) are on probation or parole, more than twice the number incarcerated in state and federal prisons and local jails. Historically, probation and […]
As flare ups between states and localities over the coronavirus response get attention, one scholar says it may be a good time to reexamine the relationship between the two levels of government. Whether it’s plastic bag bans, minimum wage hikes, paid sick leave or a host of other issues, localities around the U.S. in recent […]
I’ve added two resources to the COVID-19 page. The new operations resource is a PDF document to help you order PPE from the DOC: PPE Supplies from IDOC (PDF document includes products and ordering information) Aspire Indiana is offering a free Psychological First Aid Course. “The Psychological Footprint of COVID19 will last longer and have […]
(The article is free as part of The Daily Beast Coronavirus coverage) Authorities nationwide are reporting an uptick in fatal opioid overdoses during social distancing. Lynn sat in the parking lot of her opioid treatment clinic in Columbus, Ohio, for hours on a recent Tuesday. Like in other parts of the country, the coronavirus pandemic […]
Indianapolis Business Journal Staff and Lindsey Erdody
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb said he will ease social distancing restrictions in all but three counties starting Monday. In a new executive order released Friday that goes into effect Monday and lasts through May 23, retailers — including malls — will be allowed to open at 50% capacity; manufacturers not currently operating will be permitted […]
So, special “care packs” are being sent. BLOOMINGTON — At the Monroe Circuit Court Probation Office, Juvenile Division, there is no “business as usual” these days. Chief Probation Officer Linda Brady says virtual and telephone appointments have replaced face-to-face connections between probation officers and the juveniles they are assigned to. Because of that, Brady says […]
(BEDFORD) – In early February 2020 Justice Steven H. David of the Indiana Supreme Court, Chair of the Executive Committee for the Juvenile Detention Alternative Initiative (JDAI), sent a letter to Indiana judges seeking interest and commitment to the JDAI initiative. Lawrence County Juvenile Referee, Anah Hewetson Gouty, submitted a Statement of Interest for Lawrence […]
Early one morning in March, Madison McIntosh showed up on his day off at the Scottsdale, Arizona, driving range and restaurant where he worked. The 24-year-old sat in his car until the place opened, then wandered around all day, alternating between gibberish and talk of suicide as co-workers tried to keep him away from customers. […]
Probation Officer Donald Knepple was shot and killed on April 28, 1997 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 […]
Indianapolis, Ind – On the day IMPD Officer Breann Leath was laid to rest Governor Eric Holcomb announced the Wee Ones Nursery at the Indiana Women’s Prison would be renamed as the ‘Officer Breann Leath Memorial Maternal & Child Health Unit.’ The announcement was made by Gov. Eric Holcomb at the beginning of his daily […]
Homeless shelters are running out of money, supplies and staff. For years, the Harbor House shelter had a routine for feeding and sheltering the hundreds of homeless people in Thousand Oaks, California, many of them elderly. Each evening, one of a dozen local churches, temples and mosques would host a dinner, and afterward, lay out […]
POPAI Vision: To champion probation as a vital part of the criminal justice system. POPAI Mission: To promote, support, and grow the profession of probation in Indiana by collaborating with criminal justice partners, advancing and protecting the interests of our membership, and providing education and professional development opportunities in the use of evidence-based community supervision […]
In the effort to release people from jails to stem coronavirus outbreaks behind bars, those jailed for probation and parole violations have been an obvious choice. They’re locked up not for committing new crimes but for breaking the rules of their supervision, like drinking alcohol, traveling without permission, or missing appointments. In New York alone, Governor Andrew Cuomo last […]
The move to share the home addresses of people who have tested positive for the coronavirus is meant to protect police and emergency workers, but some say the disclosures could give them a false sense of security. State and local governments are beginning to share the addresses of people who test positive for Covid-19 with […]
Recent days have seen spending reductions and downbeat revenue forecasts. The mark the coronavirus is leaving on state budgets became more apparent in recent days, as governors took action to reduce spending and gloomy new revenue estimates emerged. Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt on Friday said his state is now expecting a revenue shortfall of about […]
What evidence do we have that our post-incarceration programs are working to their fullest? There are so many difficulties facing those returning to their communities that continued review of best practices is essential. Our latest issue takes an in-depth look at the links between Evidence-Based Practices and reentry to better understand how we can serve […]
As the lives of community corrections professionals have been upended by the threat of coronavirus, the American Probation and Parole Association (APPA) has received numerous requests for online training resources that officers may access while working from home. First, we’re proud to announce that beginning in late April, APPA will host a series of brand-new […]
In response to the rapidly evolving events surrounding COVID-19, APPA will regularly share our resources, updates from the CDC and WHO, as well as material specific to our industry. We will overcome this challenging situation through continued education and collaboration with our members, colleagues, and friends. “Hope is important because it can make the present […]
Wed, Apr 8, 2020 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM EDT As the COVID-19 outbreak continues to grow, more and more community corrections professionals have concerns about how this is currently impacting their work and questions about how it will shape their future. To address those concerns, APPA will host a virtual roundtable facilitated by Dr. […]
On this page, the Justice Lab will gather and share examples of measures that probation and parole agencies are taking to slow down the COVID-19 pandemic. This page is designed as a growing resource for executives actively managing the crisis. Read the Statement from community supervision executives on the importance of using best practices during […]
“Disruptive innovation, a term coined by Clayton Christensen, describes a process by which a product or service takes root initially in simple applications at the bottom of a market and then relentlessly moves up market, eventually displacing established competitors.” The worlds of addiction treatment and recovery mutual aid are on the brink of being radically […]
Lauren Lee White (text) and Joseph Rodriguez (photos)
Working for the county probation department, the largest in the nation, means being equal parts social worker and law enforcement On a Tuesday morning in October, Los Angeles deputy probation officer Booker Waugh made his way down a nearly sheer hillside, just a few feet from the entrance to the 10 freeway heading east. Waugh, […]
Some say that well over 200 years ago, Sir William Curtis coined the phrase “the three Rs: reading, writing and arithmetic,” which are the basic skills that should be taught in schools. To this day, I can still hear my grandmother talking about the importance of reading, writing and arithmetic. It has been said that […]
Editor’s note: This story is being regularly updated with the latest law-related responses to COVID-19. POPAI Note: This article was captured on 3/13/2020 and will not be updated. Please see the original article for most up to date edits. The Marion County Prosecutor’s Office is encouraging its employees to telework beginning Friday in response to […]
The Trump Administration Friday released a new tool to assist rural community leaders in building an effective local response to drug addiction. The Rural Community Action Guide is another tool from the administration to help local leaders address drug addiction in their community. Anne Hazlett, Senior Adviser for Rural Affairs in the White House Office […]
Applicants for the Knepple Scholarship should act quickly and apply on or before 12:00 noon EST on Monday, March 23, 2020 Download the application that contains Full Information including qualifications (updated 2/15/2020) Questions? Contact Bob Schuster, Chair of Awards and Recognition Committee at 219-326-6808 Ext. 2511 or your POPAI District Representative.
ASHLAND, La. (AP) — A Louisiana woman was arrested on drug charges after police determined the $5,000 cash she used to post an inmate’s bail had a “strong odor of marijuana.” Authorities began investigating Stormy Lynn Parfait, 33, on Friday, shortly after she showed up at the Ashland jail to pay the bond fee for […]
INDIANAPOLIS (WANE) — The Indiana Department of Correction has suspended visitations at all of its facilities around the state due to concerns about the coronavirus pandemic. The department said Wednesday that visitations would be suspended beginning Thursday and last “at least two weeks.” The DOC said the decision to suspend visitations was “precautionary,” and made […]
EVANSVILLE, Ind. — The Vanderburgh County Council was handed jail expansion alternatives about four months ago, and it’s time for the council to act, County Commissioners President Jeff Hatfield said. Hatfield delivered a letter to councilors Friday saying the county must address its “critically overcrowded” jail. The jail on Harlan Avenue operates above capacity, with […]
Overdose deaths have increased across the country over the last couple of years, but Hancock County in Indiana is choosing to combat the problem in a new, and controversial, way. In an article in the Indy Star, they lay out the size of the problem in Hancock County: “According to Indiana State Department of Health […]
Hiring Hoosiers is an initiative from RTV6 that works to connect Hoosiers to employment opportunities, career development resources, training programs and educational paths. Learn more about Hiring Hoosiers and see new stories weekdays at 6 a.m. on RTV6. HAMILTON COUNTY — A criminal record can impact someone’s ability to find a job, which can […]
Related: Indiana confirms first case of coronavirus Indiana State Health Commissioner Kris Box has this message for Hoosiers worried about the prospect of an outbreak of the novel coronavirus: The state has been taking the necessary steps to prepare for this eventuality, using a blueprint drawn up for the prospect of a pandemic such as […]
LEBANON, Ind. – Boone County is now administering suboxone to inmates to help control their cravings for opioids, a first of its kind addiction treatment program in a Hoosier jail. At least two inmates are now taking the narcotic. The goal is to get people on a treatment plan while they are behind bars so […]
Dr. Darla Hinshaw walks up to the podium in the Indiana Senate chamber. She’s there to tell lawmakers about the children she treats as a psychiatrist and the issue standing between kids and effective treatment. She tells a story of a foster care teenager who was admitted into a facility on a Friday. “He continued […]
The intensity of feelings generated by friendship in childhood and adolescence is by design. Early in 2010, the year we moved to Hong Kong, our three boys were 11, eight, and six. When we sat them down to tell them we’d be moving there for a few years, we tried to sell it as a […]
CINCINNATI (WKRC) – Drug abuse continues to leave a tragic trail. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 70,237 people died from drug overdoses in 2017 alone. Drug abuse is also expensive, The Council of Economic Advisors estimates the cost of the opioid crisis in 2018 cost $696 billion in the value of […]
Many people in the throes of opioid addiction are struggling to live another day without facing the pain of withdrawal. Their top priority is finding another fix, which often means sacrificing their health and safety. That’s why Baton Rouge officials are bringing addiction services where they’re needed most. Local leaders hosted an open house Monday […]
(CNN)If overdose deaths don’t slow down in Franklin County, Ohio, a temporary morgue may be needed to store the bodies. The county has seen 23 overdose deaths from January 31 to February 7, Dr. Anahi Ortiz, the county’s coroner, said in a statement on her Facebook page. The next day, the county had five more. […]
Washington (CNN)President Donald Trump campaigned on ending the opioid crisis in the United States. He highlighted stories of those affected in his State of the Union addresses. The first lady has made visits to neonatal clinics treating addiction recovering babies a key part of her time at the White House. And according to new federal […]
The basic concept of indigency is well-understood in the law. A low-income defendant who can’t afford a lawyer will be appointed one, and their court fees also may be waived. But across Indiana, lawyers say judges in different counties often take different approaches to making an indigency determination. That’s led to what some call “justice […]
Submit your application to be considered for the 2020 Donald “Charley” Knepple Scholarship Award. The winner will be announced at the 2020 Annual Indiana Probation Officers Conference in April. 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 pursuing a […]
The number of homeless students in the US is the highest in more than a decade according to a new study. Most of the 1.5m homeless children stayed with other families or friends after losing their homes. But 7% lived in abandoned buildings or cars, the report by the National Centre for Homeless Education showed. […]
Companies say helping employees access quality child care is ‘just good business.’ Access to quality, affordable child care is a widespread problem across the country and in the state of Indiana, where it affects parents and children across the socioeconomic spectrum in all 92 counties. But, in addition to the challenges Indiana families have accessing care, […]
Bartholomew County and Columbus law enforcement, including school resource officers, invited local junior high and high school students to get to know them on the ice of Hamilton Center. The officers skated with 121 youth from area schools and enjoyed food and refreshments. There were also prize giveaways during the event. The two-hour event, sponsored […]
The purpose of this article is to review systems-level factors that impact implementation of evidence-based practices (EBPs) in corrections which are often less understood in the research. I provide a brief overview of the National Implementation Research Network’s (NIRN’s) core implementation components I use as my framework for this discussion, and then go through two […]
(Opinion) In September, the FDA stepped in to limit abuse of Imodium and other anti-diarrhea drugs. Apparently it’s a growing problem. This lends itself to way more questions than answers, a friend of mine wrote on Facebook the other day above a weird photo. It showed three boxes of Imodium A-D — that trusted anti-diarrhea […]
NEW YORK — By 8 a.m., the line already snaked all the way around the side of the South Bronx probation office, and more people were arriving, dragging metal shopping carts ready to receive canned vegetables, Thanksgiving turkeys, cat food, and boxed mac-and-cheese. The eager, polyglot crowd, most of whom are not under court supervision, […]
The Indiana Supreme Court will consider this week whether to grant transfer to a wrong-way-driver case focused on a post-accident blood draw. Arguments on petition to transfer will be heard at 9 a.m. Thursday in State of Indiana v. Wesley Ryder, 18A-CR-02325. In that case, Wesley Ryder was charged with several felonies after he allegedly […]
A probation officer fell ill while frisking a probationer Tuesday, prompting a hazardous materials alert at the agency’s offices in Westminster. The probation officer was searching the probationer and his items in the department’s offices at 14180 Beach Blvd. about 2:45 p.m. when the officer fell ill, said Carrie Braun of the Orange County Sheriff’s […]
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — State lawmakers are continuing to push a proposal that would allow undocumented immigrants in Indiana to legally drive. It is an idea that has been introduced seven times, but the bill has never received a hearing. Yet, some representatives believe it is an important issue to take on. During her first term, […]
At the Gwinnett County Jail in Georgia, inmates who previously served in the military can choose to join a veterans-only housing unit that offers structure and tailored programming. Filling out intake paperwork at the Gwinnett County Jail, Dylan Antoine marked “yes” on a form that asked if he had served in the military. Weeks later, […]
March 12 and 13, 2020 at the Drury Plaza Hotel, Indianapolis. The Probation Management Institute is designed to provide supervisory level staff with ongoing training opportunities in topics related to managing your department. This year, the POPAI Chief’s Executive Committee has chosen to focus on a variety of topics including : • Community Correction Grant […]
Lawyers in southwest Indiana who would like to be considered for appointment to the Vanderburgh Superior Court bench have a few weeks remaining to make their interest known to Gov. Eric Holcomb, who will select the successor for a longtime jurist. Holcomb announced last week that applications will be accepted through Feb. 12 from qualified candidates seeking […]
When he was 20 years old, Crown Point resident Ricky “Ricochet” Chandler broke his pelvic bone into nine pieces. He was prescribed opioids to help with the pain. But, to avoid the negative side effects of opioids, Chandler said he decided to take cannabidiol-based products instead. “CBD helped me get off opioids and it saved […]
An order that a juvenile delinquent be committed to the Indiana Department of Corrections until his 18th birthday has been remanded for correction after the Indiana Court of Appeals concluded the trial court abused its discretion in ordering the determinate commitment. Juvenile F.H.’s troubles began in May 2018 when he was alleged at age 14 […]
New rules for bonding out of jail are in effect under Criminal Rule 26. The Indiana Supreme Court signed CR 26 into law to take effect in all courts Jan. 1, 2020, after two years of pilot programs in 11 counties. The rule is intended to improve pretrial practices in the state by encouraging trial […]
ANDERSON, Ind. (WTHR) — Police in Madison County are searching for a DCS caseworker indicted by a grand jury. It found Spencer Day Osborn should have never returned a 4-year-old boy to his mother. He’s now facing felony neglect of a dependent charges. Osborn had his initial hearing Wednesday afternoon. Osborn’s attorney Philip Sheward responded […]
A new Indiana rule requiring that booked inmates be assessed to determine risks or benefits of releasing them before trial is expected to eventually reduce overcrowding at the state’s county jails, criminal justice officials say. Criminal Rule 26, which set Indiana’s new pretrial release protocols, was adopted by the Indiana Supreme Court in 2017, but […]
The Miami Valley Regional Crime Lab will soon be analyzing drug evidence for the Indiana State Police — the first contract with an out-of-state agency and one that may dramatically increase the lab’s caseload and benefit its bottom line. The contract approved by Montgomery County Commissioners on Tuesday calls for the lab to conduct solid-dose […]
When the opioid problem hit rural Indiana it appeared that it would have a limited impact on Daviess County. The hit was nothing like the scourge that methamphetamine produced when it rolled into southwestern Indiana in the 1990s. Still, officials say the opioid problem did have an impact. “About two or three years ago we […]
Today, our 2020 Bills to Follow page went live. You’ll find a list of bills that have been identified as interesting to follow by the POPAI Board. Members will no longer need to log in to view this information. It is now conveniently available to you with a single click from the far right side […]
“No one is embarrassed to call 911 for a fire or an emergency,” said the CEO of a suicide-prevention nonprofit. “No one should be embarrassed to call 988 for a mental health emergency.” Federal regulators are setting up a new three-digit number to reach a suicide prevention hotline in order to make it easier to […]
New data released by Uber showing almost 6,000 sexual assaults in last two years is prompting some officials to call for new requirements on ride-hailing companies to improve safety. Stories of people assaulted in ride-hailing vehicles have made frequent headlines in recent years, prompting calls from policymakers for companies to release data on the number of riders […]
He still has the last name of a woman who adopted him in grade school — then gave him back. From the time he was 3 until he turned 14, Dominic Williamson was bounced to 80 different foster homes. When he turned 18, he found himself alone and homeless, and resorting to a life of […]
INDIANAPOLIS (WTHR) – Recreational marijuana is now legal in Michigan, with Illinois to follow January 1. That brings the number of states allowing recreational use to 11, with 33 states allowing for medical marijuana. Indiana is among the 16 states where marijuana use remains illegal in any form. But State Rep. Jim Lucas (R-Seymour) thinks […]
The Bloomington Housing Authority is looking for contractors to help complete a $7 million renovation project for more than 100 public housing units. Over the course of 18 months, 116 units in the Rev. E.D. Butler and Walnut Woods complexes will be renovated. Rhonda Moore, capital assets manager for the Bloomington Housing Authority, said the […]
NEW ALBANY — The day in Floyd County Circuit Court started off like any of the other annual swearing-in ceremonies for the county’s probation officers. More than a dozen officials renewed their oaths before judges Terrence Cody, James Hancock, Maria Granger and Magistrate Julie Fessel Flanigan on Monday. But at the end of the proceedings, […]
Whitney Randolph goes into work every day knowing her job is coming to an end in a few months. Her Franklin County courtroom office has expansive windows that overlook the city. “Technically, it’s my department that’s going,” Randolph says with a laugh. “If you choose to stay and reapply for the new positions, you know […]
Reduced smoking rates, not much violent crime and low reports of sexually transmitted diseases make Vermont the healthiest state in the country, according to rankings released this week. Vermont is the healthiest state in the country thanks to decreased rates of smoking and mental distress, along with low incidences of violent crime and certain sexually […]
LAGRANGE — Indiana State Supreme Court Justice Steven David returned to LaGrange County Monday, a guest of JDAI program director Randy Merrifield. David came to speak with local students in programs supported by the JDAI office and meet with local Amish businessmen. David has been to LaGrange County three times in the last two years […]
Ohio imprisons 567 people per 100,000 residents, 15th most in the country, while spending $181 for every resident of the state to do so, a new analysis reveals. The review from HowMuch.net found Ohio spends less on a per capita basis than other nearby states, even as the number of people in prison in the state is higher than […]
INDIANAPOLIS—The Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) recently launched a public awareness campaign to educate youths about the dangers of e-cigarettes, or “vaping.” The “Behind the Haze” campaign is part of a $2 million effort announced by Governor Eric J. Holcomb and State Health Commissioner Kris Box, M.D., FACOG, to reduce vaping among Indiana youth. […]
La PORTE — In January, La Porte County officials will flip the switch on some significant overhauls to the criminal justice system — changes leaders hope will result in a smaller jail population. At its meeting Monday, the La Porte County Council approved the hiring and training of two new pretrial service officers at the […]
Liz Benton recently quit weed after smoking it at least once a day for seven years — and the first week was especially brutal. Within two days of quitting, she experienced a panic attack. She struggled to fall asleep, and when she did, she’d have horrifying nightmares, or wake up in the middle of the night, […]
A federal judge on Wednesday afternoon ordered a former probation agent to pay seven figures to a Casper woman whom he sexually harassed while she was on probation. The probation agent, Jaret Maul, no longer works for the probation office, which is a part of the Wyoming Department of Corrections. The government agency was never […]
Matthew Menendez. Michael Crowley, Lauren-Brooke Eisen, Noah Atchison
Executive Summary The past decade has seen a troubling and well-documented increase in fees and fines imposed on defendants by criminal courts. Today, many states and localities rely on these fees and fines to fund their court systems or even basic government operations. A wealth of evidence has already shown that this system works against […]
EVANSVILLE, Ind. –- Vanderburgh County government officials face a list of difficult questions this week as they dive back into jail expansion discussions. How many more jail beds does the county need? How many might be required in 10 years, 20 years? What can taxpayers reasonably afford? Could temporary structures become part of the solution? […]
A growing number of smaller companies are adopting a four-day workweek. Now the results of a recent trial at Microsoft suggest it could work even for the biggest businesses. The company introduced a program this summer in Japan called the “Work Life Choice Challenge,” which shut down its offices every Friday in August and gave […]
William Troutman Jr., 46, got his second chance at a recycling center. He started as a picker on the presort line, then he got his forklift certification. He was recently promoted. He makes $10.50 per hour working the floor where recycled material gets compressed and shipped away. “This place opened the doors when they didn’t […]
The Justice Reinvestment Advisory Council’s report, Indiana Criminal Justice Institute Annual Evaluation of Indiana’s Criminal Code Reform December 1, 2019 was posted to their website.
VALPARAISO — Porter County’s innovative pretrial release program is being held up as a potential model for all Indiana counties to follow, especially those with bulging jail populations. On Wednesday, the Indiana Jail Overcrowding Task Force, led by Supreme Court Justice Steven David, visited the Porter County Jail and Ivy Tech Community College in Valparaiso […]
Email from Katie McCall, CEO 3rd Millennium Classrooms
Did you know that “transient” people are more vulnerable to human trafficking? This includes the homeless, runaway youth, and those transitioning through the foster system. Traffickers often use promises of shelter, food and money as a lure for the homeless or other vulnerable populations into the horrendous world of trafficking. Recently, traffickers have been taking […]
Tom Rhodes, who has served as the Monroe County Community Corrections Director for almost 30 of the program’s 37 years of existence, is retiring. Rhodes also has served concurrently as the assistant chief probation officer for the Monroe Circuit Court Probation Department. There [was] a retirement reception in courtroom 313 of the Charlotte T. Zietlow […]
Trine student assisting with assessment at Allen County Juvenile Center ANGOLA — Sydney Stephan hopes to one day become an attorney specializing in family and elder matters. She is preparing for that now by seeing how things work on the other side of the law. Stephan, a Trine University freshman from Fort Wayne, is working […]
“Children are the living messages we send to a time we will not see.” — author Neil Postman The Indiana Youth Institute, with the assistance of a $1.25 million grant from the Office of Juvenile and Delinquency Prevention, is developing programs to assist children impacted by the opioid crisis. The pilot projects, in partnership with […]
State Sen. Darryl Rouson, a Democrat from St. Petersburg, filed a bill which would set a framework for judges to re-sentence inmates who are serving outdated sentences no longer in state law. The problem was highlighted in a Times/Herald investigation published Wednesday. The story showed how Florida’s continued changes to its drug sentencing laws have […]
Can education about bias and institutionalized racism help improve child welfare throughout Indiana? Nonprofit organization Child Advocates, with support from the Central Indiana Community Foundation, is betting that it can. Child Advocates has been leading educational workshops for hundreds of local businesses and community leaders since 2010, but it only recently launched a highly localized version of […]
About 64 Franklin County Juvenile Court probation department employees will be affected next year when their jobs are eliminated and and they have to seek positions with vastly different, more complex responsibilities as part of a plan to transform the way juveniles are supervised. The new Community Restoration Services Department will operate under the idea […]
Carmel Clay Schools passed Indiana’s first school safety referendum, asking voters to approve a new type of property tax increase to pay for improved security measures. Carmel, the first district to test the new tool created by lawmakers earlier this year, was one of 10 school districts around the state asking voters for more money. Six of those districts […]
CROWN POINT — More than two dozen people packed a small conference room Monday at the Lake County Juvenile Center to begin the process of fine-tuning a tool officials use to decide when children accused of delinquency should be detained. Lake Juvenile Court Judge Thomas Stefaniak echoed Indiana Supreme Court Justice Steven David when he […]
EVANSVILLE, Ind. — Mayor Lloyd Winnecke and other city officials announced Wednesday afternoon that Evansville was awarded a $1 million federal grant to help youth affected by opioid and substance abuse connect to local services. Winnecke, as well as other speakers, informed the crowd at Youth First Inc. about the grant, which was awarded to […]
Reactions have been mixed to the recent announcement that the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office will no longer prosecute cases of simple possession of less than 1 ounce of marijuana. Then-acting Prosecutor Ryan Mears announced the policy change Sept. 30 after what he said was about two years of discussion within the office and with other […]
SOUTH BEND — Children at the Juvenile Justice Center in South Bend could see some big changes in their stays. The JJC is close to settling a lawsuit. That lawsuit centers around an 11-year-old boy. His parents say the JJC frequently kept their son in solitary confinement and offered him no special education or support. […]
The Indiana Office of Court Services will be providing trainings in Indianapolis to kick off 2020! All trainings will take place at our offices, located at 251 N. Illinois Street, Indianapolis, IN 46204. Below is the list of the trainings, including registration links. IOCS will not provide lunch or hotel for these trainings. Case Management: […]
(PENDELTON) – Correctional Industrial Facility (CIF) hosted a tour of their Joni & Friends Wheels for the World wheelchair refurbishment shop. Senior Manager for Domestic Operations Paul Dorthalina was joined by Joni & Friends outreach staff from Chicago, program donors and volunteers, along with correctional staff from Ohio who are interested in starting this program […]
Methamphetamine use appears to be making a comeback as the country continues to grapple with the opioid epidemic. Methamphetamine use appears to be making a comeback as the country continues to grapple with the opioid epidemic. But unlike the period marked a decade ago by hodgepodge labs hidden in rural communities in Indiana and elsewhere, the reemergence appears […]
Human trafficking and domestic violence both desire the same thing: power and control. They can manifest themselves in very similar ways — coercion, manipulation, force. These crimes against humanity affect millions, both women and men, of every race, religion, culture and status. It’s not just punches and black eyes or voluntary work and nights out […]
“Monroe Circuit Court to give new ‘drug court’ a try,” said a June 1999 headline in the Herald-Times. The story described a pilot project that former Monroe Circuit Court Judge Kenneth Todd and then-Prosecutor Carl Salzmann had proposed to the county council that would redirect resources to a court focused on helping the addicted break […]
HARTFORD CITY, Ind. (AP) — A 49-year-old Indiana man on probation has been charged with new drug charges including possession of synthetic urine. The Star Press reports Kirk Allen Boughman was charged Friday with felony possession of methamphetamine and three misdemeanors. The Hartford City man was out on probation when authorities conducted a “compliance search” […]
The Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI) is making up to $837,156.00 in FY19 Federal Title II funding available for calendar year 2020 programs. Applications for the FY19 Federal Title II Funds are due by Monday, November 25th 2019. Only Indiana state agencies and units of local government are eligible to apply for Title II program […]
INDIANAPOLIS (WTHR) — Marion County is now using technology to help streamline the check-ins some criminal offenders on parole. New kiosks have been installed at the City County building downtown. The kiosks allow some offenders on probation to check in instead of meeting directly with a probation officers. The kiosks only work with low-level offenders […]
Purpose The County Jail Overcrowding Task Force was established in 2019 (IC 11-12-6.8) to conduct a statewide review of jail overcrowding and identify common reasons and possible local, regional and statewide solutions. The task force will also study the issue of reducing recidivism for convicted felons in county jails by offering programs that address mental […]
WESTVILLE – The La Porte Circuit Court’s annual Juvenile Symposium dealt with some of the most sensitive topics in law enforcement today: race, equity and inclusion. On Saturday, more than 160 stakeholders took part in the symposium at Purdue University Northwest’s Westville campus. The purpose was to “provide a venue whereby participants from varying disciplines […]
With 23 million Americans recovering from addiction and 20 million still seeking treatment, Google decided to use its power to help out, resulting in its new Recovery Resource Hub Only 10% of people who struggle with addiction receive treatment, according to the Addiction Center. Sometimes it can be difficult for those wanting help to find it, […]
Perhaps as a reflection of his time in the U.S. Air Force, Cass Superior Judge Richard Maughmer ran his court in a no-nonsense manner, and lawyers practicing before him knew they had better be on time, be prepared and follow the rules. “I respected him dearly,” said Yamir Gonzalez Velez, president of the Cass County […]
Nick Philbeck has witnessed repeatedly how the anger crime victims can feel will melt when they sit across the table and see the offender is a 15-year-old kid. Since 2004, Philbeck has worked at the Community Justice & Mediation Center in Bloomington, where he has mediated in the restorative justice program. Now as the restorative […]
A case that split the Indiana Supreme Court last December over a criminal defendant’s mental capacity to appreciate the wrongfulness of her actions dovetails into a larger question looming before the U.S. Supreme Court — whether states have to provide laws that allow for an insanity defense. Cases raising the issue of how much evidence […]
The Indiana Court of Appeals on Friday asked the Indiana General Assembly for guidance as it sharply divided over whether minor felonies reduced to misdemeanor convictions should trigger new five-year waiting periods for people seeking to expunge their criminal records. The majority ruled they should, a result the dissenting judge called “unjust and ill-advised.” The […]
CJ Miller, District 5 was re-elected as Treasurer Melanie Pitstick, Marion County was re-elected as District Five Representative Due to not receiving any nominations for Districts 1 and 3, the Board filled the vacancies. Robert Schuster (District 1) Sarah Lochner (District 3) were nominated by the Board and accepted the positions/terms. The full Board Member […]
A week after he became acting Marion County prosecutor, Ryan Mears announced the office will no longer be prosecuting defendants accused of possessing 30 grams or less of marijuana. “Too often, an arrest for marijuana possession puts individuals into the system who otherwise would not be,” Mears said at a press conference Sept. 30 announcing […]
The Indiana Commission on Judicial Qualifications is investigating the May 1 shooting that left two Clark County judges wounded and one convicted of misdemeanor battery, the Indiana Supreme Court confirmed Wednesday. A court spokeswoman said the JQC is investigating the shooting outside of a downtown Indianapolis White Castle that put Clark County Judges Andrew Adams […]
The Midwest Gang Investigators Association Indiana Chapter invites you to attend: 2019 Gang Trends & Updates November 6th, 2019 In conjunction with the Indiana State Police (ISP), Indiana Department of Corrections (IDOC), and the Indianapolis Metro Police Department (IMPD). LOCATION: Monroe Convention Center ADDRESS: 302 South College Avenue, Bloomington, IN 47403 8-hours of ILEA training […]
New York, New York – Today, Arnold Ventures and the CUNY Institute for State and Local Governance (ISLG) announced the selection of 10 jurisdictions to participate in the Reducing Revocations Challenge, a national initiative dedicated to transforming probation supervision and reducing the number of unnecessary failures. The Challenge was launched in response to the growing […]
In celebration of the 2019 Pretrial, Probation and Parole Supervision Week, the Monroe Circuit Court probation department staff completed a service project for veterans. The department collected donations to provide gift bags to local veterans in collaboration with the Department of Veterans Affairs Bloomington Community-Based Outpatient Clinic and the VA’s Bloomington Mental Health Clinic. The […]
The man who fired 15 times at his probation officers inside his Billings home in 2018 was given the maximum prison term Tuesday. Michael Jeffrey Anderson, 62, was sentenced to 40 years in the Montana State Prison, as prosecutors had sought. Yellowstone County District Judge Donald Harris also imposed a 20-year parole restriction. Defense attorney […]
It was a rewarding night’s work for two Washington probation officers when they saved a woman’s life while conducting a routine home check. WOODLAND, Washington — The Washington State Department of Corrections is commending two community corrections officers who helped save a woman’s life. It happened in Woodland during a routine home check. “Some days […]
On Thursday, September 5, 2019 at the Probation Officers Professional Association of Indiana (POPAI) annual fall conference, Lindsay Long, a probation officer with Miami County Probation, was presented the Line Probation Officer of the Year Award. The Line Probation Officer of the Year Award was established in 2014 to recognize line probation officers who have […]
On Friday, September 6, 2019 at the Probation Officers Professional Association of Indiana (POPAI) annual fall conference, Troy Hatfield, Deputy Chief Probation Officer of the Monroe Circuit Court Probation Department and vice president of POPAI, was awarded the “Founder’s Award”. The “Founder’s Award” is a way of recognizing individuals who have significantly contributed to the […]
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 and advanced degrees […]
LANSING – An all-white jury in Genesee County awarded $11.4 million Monday to two black Corrections Department workers in a case alleging racial discrimination and retaliation. The jury found that Lisa Griffey, a probation officer, was discriminated against and harassed because she is black. The jury found that her husband, Cedric Griffey, was retaliated against until […]
(CNN) A sixth person in the United States has died from lung disease related to vaping, Kansas health officials said Tuesday. The woman was older than 50 and had a history of health problems. She became seriously ill shortly after she started using e-cigarettes and her symptoms progressed rapidly. It’s not clear what type of […]
KINGMAN, Ariz. — An Arizona appeals court has ruled a defendant whose trial is pending cannot be forced to either pay hefty fees for GPS monitoring or wait in jail. The ACLU of Arizona challenged before the Arizona Court of Appeals the case of a man who was released while awaiting trial, couldn’t afford to pay hundreds […]
Overview Recent research from The Pew Charitable Trusts found that about 4.5 million people in the United States are on community supervision as of 2016. Probation and parole provide a measure of accountability while allowing those who would otherwise have been incarcerated or have already served a term behind bars to meet their obligations to […]
Meth – this is the drug the Indiana Commission to Combat Drug Abuse says needs more attention. The commission met Thursday to discuss the emerging drug, in a shift that comes after years of statewide focus on the opioid epidemic. A recent preliminary Centers for Disease Control report shows promising signs that the opioid epidemic may be […]
Overview Incarceration has long dominated the national conversation on criminal justice, because the U.S. prison population skyrocketed between the 1980s and late 2000s. Starting in 2007, policymakers seeking to protect public safety, improve accountability, and save taxpayer dollars initiated a wave of bipartisan reforms that has reduced the number of people behind bars in many […]
Federal health officials proposed Thursday to revamp stringent patient confidentiality regulations from the 1970s to encourage coordination among medical professionals treating people caught in the nation’s opioid epidemic. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said the goal is to make it easier to share a patient’s drug treatment history with doctors treating that person […]
In upholding a decades-old rule recently codified through a legislative amendment, the Indiana Supreme Court has ruled in companion cases that trial courts can only modify a sentence entered as part of a fixed-plea agreement if the modified sentence would not have violated the plea agreement at the time the sentence was originally imposed. The […]
A juvenile court’s rulings in a murder case implicating a 15-year-old boy who had gone to the police station to answer questions after he had been treated for stab wounds were upheld Monday by the Indiana Court of Appeals. The panel affirmed the Lake Superior Court’s finding that there was probable cause to find O.E.W. […]
The Kosciusko County Probation Department will get a new officer in 2020 after Judge David Cates further explained Thursday to the county council how Criminal Rule 26 will affect the county. During a budget hearing Monday, he asked the council to reconsider their decision to not approve any additional probation officers for 2020 because of […]
Effort aims to get low-level offenders out of jail faster GOSHEN — People facing lower-level criminal charges who pose little risk to re-offend may get out of jail quicker under new rules that go into effect next year. The state guideline, called Criminal Rule 26, was piloted in 11 counties after the Indiana Supreme Court […]
ELKHART, Ind. (WNDU) – Officials in Elkhart announced an innovative rehabilitation program on Friday to help juvenile offenders get back on their feet. “Working together is the only way we are going to solve juvenile delinquency,” Elkhart Juvenile Court Magistrate Deborah Domine said. It’s a nationwide problem that officials are trying to solve locally in Elkhart. […]
Tommy Rieman is a decorated Army Veteran, Silver Star Recipient, AND a member of the first graduating class of a Veteran’s Treatment Court in North Carolina. Tommy served 15 years in the US Army as an infantryman and was deployed three times. His favorite job in the Army was his time on a LRS (Long […]
The Fall Conference is just around the corner. Remember to register and book your stay since the hotel fills up quickly. Plan to arrive around 11 am on Wednesday September 4th so you can check in and attend the Opening Session and Keynote with Harvey Alston at 1 then find a breakout session. On Thursday […]
The denial of a prisoner’s petition for post-conviction relief has been upheld after the Indiana Court of Appeals concluded the man’s guilty plea that included a habitual criminal offender enhancement was not involuntary. After Alandus James was charged with Class D felony battery on a child, Class D felony strangulation and Class D felony residential […]
In a published dissent to a denial of transfer, two Indiana Supreme Court justices had sharp words for the Department of Child Services and the lower courts that, according to the dissent, did not take advantage of an opportunity to “make things right” for a father and his two children. Majority justices Mark Massa, Geoffrey […]
Considered one of the most dynamic, “high octane” speakers in America, Harvey Alston has been a full-time speaker since 1989. He has spoken to millions of people throughout the United States who have benefited not only from his knowledge, but also from the wisdom that Harvey Alston brings to the finish line. Harvey Alston has […]
This summer and spring have been by all accounts the worst summer and spring for farming in quite a while, and not just here in the county. Corn and soybean farmers across Indiana, Ohio and Illinois suffered delayed planting caused by record-setting spring rains. Hoping for the wet to recede but not vanish, some farmers […]
CROWN POINT — Five boys being held at the Lake County Juvenile Detention Center listened intently Monday as Ivy Tech Community College instructor Alicia Hampton walked them through the basics of welding. “I don’t know what to do,” said one boy, the first to try a welding simulator Hampton brought with her. “I’m going to […]
HOUSTON—A settlement that ensures most misdemeanor defendants are quickly released and don’t languish in jail has been reached in a federal lawsuit over the bail system in Texas’ most populous county, officials announced Friday. The bail system in Harris County, where Houston is located, had been deemed unconstitutional by U.S. District Judge Lee Rosenthal, who […]
I am pleased to announce that Angie Hensley has been appointed to serve as the IOCS Justice Services Deputy Director. Angie has worked at IOCS as a program coordinator within the Justice Services Division since 2011. Her duties have included developing and conducting evidence-based practice trainings for probation officers and problem solving courts; developing distance […]
POPAI’s own Susan Rice has been elected Vice President of the American Probation and Parole Association. The good news was announced in an email: Election Results The American Probation and Parole Association is pleased to announce the election of new officers and members of its Board of Directors. The newly elected officers are Brian Lovins, […]
An Indiana sheriff’s office took a “bite out of crime” Monday when they caught a woman wearing a set of dentures “that clearly were not hers” at her own probation meeting. Earlier that day, someone reported that a woman, identified as Joann Childers, from Jennings County, stole her teeth and accused her of wearing them around. A probation officer who […]
Opioid drug abuse continues to plague the state, particularly with populations who are or have been incarcerated. Nearly 20 percent of people sentenced to state prison or jail report regular opioid use according to the Substance Abuse and Mental health Administration. This is dangerous because people’s tolerance to opioids goes down while they are incarcerated, […]
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – Illinois’ new governor delivered on a top campaign promise Tuesday by signing legislation legalizing small amounts of marijuana for recreational use, the 11th state to do so and the first to implement a comprehensive statewide cannabis marketplace designed by legislators. Legalization in Illinois also means that nearly 800,000 people with criminal […]
The due date for Fall Awards nominations is August 5, 2019. Remember, if emailing the form and documentation, use cwood@vanderburghgov.org. Full Details
Despite recent changes to the Indiana Code of Judicial Conduct meant to aid pro se litigants’ ability to be heard in court, an appellate panel ruled Friday that an inmate’s suit against a judge, a clerk and others was so confusing and repetitive that it was rightly dismissed. The Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed the […]
BOONE COUNTY, W. Va. (WFLA/CNN) – Police in West Virginia say they’re seeing a dangerous trend in Boone county. Authorities say some drug abusers are using wasp spray as an alternative form of meth and the practice may have contributed to several overdoses. On Friday, stores in Boone County reported selling nearly 30 cans […]
Organizations team up to bring awareness to child sexual abuse in southwest Indiana See original article for video. EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WFIE) – Several organizations teamed up to bring awareness to the rising issue of child sexual abuse in southwest Indiana. Authorities, survivors, and organizations that work to help victims all listened to each others stories. […]
(Video in original article.) FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. – Victims of domestic violence often have little more than a piece of paper to protect them from their attackers. But some local agencies — like the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office — are working to change that. Flagler County has been using a GPS ankle monitoring system for […]
A new report said Indiana’s numbers are down more than 35% since 2013. Nationally, that average number is only at 33%. INDIANA, (WLFI) – After years of a constant uphill battle against the opioid epidemic, Indiana is seeing some positive change. New numbers from the American Medical Association show Indiana’s opioid prescription drug rates are going down faster than […]
Across the country, the number of youth who are incarcerated is down. In 2017, 43,580 minors were incarcerated, a 4 percent drop from 2016. Compare those numbers with 2001, when 104,219 juveniles were detained – 58 percent more than in 2017. Juvenile incarceration peaked in 2000, according The Sentencing Project, and has been on a downward decline […]
VALPARAISO, Ind. (AP) – Officials in Porter County and 10 other Indiana counties are testing a risk-assessment program to determine whether people who have been arrested should be required to post bail while awaiting trial. Melanie Golumbeck, Porter County’s chief adult probation officer, said Indiana’s pretrial release program that launched in March 2017 evaluates jail […]
AUBURN — DeKalb County has received grant funds totaling $142,579 for the DeKalb County’s Veterans’ Treatment Court and Family Recovery Court programs, the DeKalb County Council heard Monday. Assistant Chief Probation Officer and Veterans’ Court coordinator Ryan Hull announced the grants and outlined how the funds would be used during Monday’s county council meeting. The […]
Hendricks Superior Judge Robert W. Freese has been suspended from judicial office without pay for 45 days after appointing a friend as a trustee of an estate case he was presiding over and failing to take action when the friend did not fulfill his duties, resulting in a “massive theft.” Freese’s judicial suspension will take […]
A malware attack on LaPorte County’s system has rendered email sent on or after July 5, 2019 (and continues at the time of the writing of this article) to our Board Member and Chair of Awards and Recognition Committee Bob Schuster unretrievable. Knepple Scholarship Applications returned via email on or after July 5 must be […]
Last week, LaPorte County was the target of a Malware Attack. All email sent since July 5, 2019 to our Board Member and Chair of Awards and Recognition Committee Bob Schuster is unretrievable. Knepple Scholarship Applications returned via email on or after July 5 must be resubmitted to Cherie Wood cwood@vanderburghgov.org. We are extending the […]
In the 1980s, France went through a heroin epidemic in which hundreds of thousands became addicted. Mohamed Mechmache, a community activist, described the scene in the poor banlieuesback then: “To begin with, they would disappear to shoot up. But after a bit we’d see them all over the place, in the stairwells and halls, the […]
Current and former inmates at the Henry County Jail will proceed as a class in a federal lawsuit broadly alleging overcrowded, unconstitutional and inhumane conditions at the facility in New Castle. Indiana Southern District Senior Judge Sarah Evans Barker on Tuesday granted a motion for class certification on behalf of more than 100 current inmates, […]
Nominations are being accepted until August 5, 2019 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 […]
The Council of State Governments Justice Center Staff
New data released today by The Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center reveal the startling extent to which probation and parole violations contribute to states’ high prison admissions and populations, as well as the subsequent cost to taxpayers. The report — Confined and Costly: How Supervision Violations Are Filling Prisons and Burdening Budgets […]
A Clark County judge and the two men initially suspected of shooting two judges in May have been charged with felonies related to the shooting. Charges against Clark Circuit Judge Andrew Adams and Indianapolis residents Brandon Kaiser and Alfredo Vazquez were filed Friday. Adams is charged with two counts of felony battery, four counts of misdemeanor battery […]
Applicants for the Knepple Scholarship should act quickly and apply on or before July 12, 2019 More information including the downloadable application Questions? Contact Bob Schuster, Chair of Awards and Recognition Committee at 219-326-6808 Ext. 2511 or your POPAI District Representative.
Please submit your Intent to Run in the 2019 POPAI Elections soon, the deadline is Sunday July 7, 2019. Up for election in 2019: Vice-President Treasurer District 1 District 3 District 5 District 7 POPAI District 6 Representative Andria Geigle, is serving as the Election Committee Chair. Intent to Run Form The Intent to Run […]
Finding the disclosures provide information that any law enforcement agent “would love to have,” the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled Indiana’s requirement that sex offender inmates give detailed accounts of their past actions violates the Constitution’s protections against self-incrimination. Donald Lacy, a sex offender inmate in the Indiana Department of Correction, filed a class […]
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Friday announced that it granted final approval to the first generic naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray, which can be used to reverse opioid overdoses. The approval is part of the FDA’s wider effort to make tools for stopping or preventing opioid overdoses more accessible and widely used. The agency […]
SEATTLE — Police officers sprang from a black patrol van on a recent day, surrounding two men smoking crack on a gritty downtown block. The officers asked for ID and confiscated a homemade pipe fashioned from glass and surgical hose.. Such stops have played out for decades on the front lines of the war on […]
HANCOCK COUNTY — If the sentencing is handed down the way deputy prosecutor David Thornburg believes it should be, a couple who were involved in a drug overdose in a Greenfield motel room will face jail time. Grant Hoefener, 33, Indianapolis, and his wife, Crystal Lee, 28, Anderson, were scheduled to be sentenced on multiple […]
American Probation and Parole Association Technology Committee
Social media platforms allow users to engage with each other using the Internet to participate in, comment on, and create content, including photos and videos, as a means of communication. Examples of social media include blogs, social networking sites (such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Google+, Tumblr and Instagram), and other location-based networks. Social media […]
Senate Enrolled Act 33 and House Enrolled Act 1175 will make it easier for Hoosiers with drug addiction to receive treatment. (Indianapolis, Ind.) – A bill recently signed by Governor Eric Holcomb is expanding the number of opioid treatment centers in Indiana. In 2017, nearly 1,800 Hoosiers died of opioid overdoses, an all-time high for the […]
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California, Hawaii, Maine and the District of Columbia filed lawsuits Monday against the maker of OxyContin and the company’s former president, alleging the firm falsely promoted the drug by downplaying the risk of addiction while it emerged as one of the most widely abused opioids in the U.S. The lawsuits were […]
Indiana could soon have another next-door neighbor that allows recreational marijuana use. Illinois is on the verge of legalizing marijuana with major new legislation that also would expunge criminal records of people with minor pot possession convictions. The Illinois legislature gave final approval to the bill last week, and Gov. J.B. Pritzker has said he […]
New resources, including important state workforce recovery guidelines and a supporting video toolkit to assist in their implementation, are now available for Indiana employers dealing with drug use in the workplace. In addition, a new statewide survey finds many employers underestimating the impact on their own organizations and are not seeking tools to help them […]
When a defendant is convicted and sentenced to prison, it’s expected that they will be required to work while incarcerated. But a group of inmates at the New Castle Correctional Facility, Indiana’s only privately run state prison, have brought a unique legal challenge that could limit the scope of what inmates at private prisons are […]
The state’s high court will not partake in arguments that laws criminalizing marijuana violated a man’s right to the pursuit of happiness, snuffing out his challenge to Indiana’s pot prohibition. Justices of the Indiana Supreme Court last week denied transfer in John L. Solomon v. State of Indiana, 18A-CR-2041, which posed to the court the novel question […]
Attorneys interested in receiving training on modest means and pro bono representation of domestic violence victims will have an opportunity to do so at the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana next month. The Southern District Court announced the “Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence Satellite Attorney Recruitment & Training Program” on Friday. […]
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Crissie Brault is a Bloomington woman whose journey to sobriety has been fraught with arrests, the loss of her children, relapse and for now, sobriety. Brault entered a rehab facility in Anderson during the summer of 2018, where she agreed to document her daily struggle to remain sober. In the videos, she […]
One Indiana county remains to voluntarily implement electronic filing in its circuit and superior courts, wrapping up a years-long effort to make all 92 Indiana counties compliant with a statewide e-filing system. E-filing became available in Clinton and Pike counties Friday, leaving just Sullivan County to make the digital switch before the year’s end. Clinton […]
NEWARK – The DiSario family has filed a civil lawsuit against several officials in Licking County Municipal Court, alleging their actions led to the death of Kirkersville police chief Steven Eric DiSario two years ago Sunday. According to Licking County court records, a complaint was filed in Licking County Common Pleas Court on Tuesday. Plaintiffs […]
Submit your application to be considered for the Donald “Charley” Knepple Scholarship Award. The winner will be announced at the 2019 Annual Indiana Probation Officers Conference in August. 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 pursuing a Masters […]
Two Clark County judges are recovering from gunshot wounds in Indianapolis after being shot in downtown Indianapolis earlier this month. Meanwhile, two men accused in the shooting have been released from their bonds after the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office declined to file charges. Clark Circuit Judges Andrew Adams and Bradley Jacobs sustained injuries during an […]
The people who arrive at Magistrate Judge Tim Baker’s courtroom the first Thursday of every month are realizing that the path to redemption requires learning to trust, changing their mindset, sometimes turning away from family and friends, and securing the ordinary things of everyday life like clothes, food and toothpaste. These people are working to […]
While acknowledging Indiana’s efforts to reform its criminal justice system has slowed the growth of the state’s prison population, a new report by the ACLU of Indiana asserts that additional reforms, including expanded access to treatment for mental health and substance abuse, could reduce the number of incarcerated by 50 percent and save Hoosier taxpayers […]
The U.S. Surgeon General has recommended that all individuals who may come into contact with opioid abusers carry and know how to use naloxone, an opioid overdose reversal drug that saves lives (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2018). Because community supervision agencies regularly interact with opioid abusers, it is important they consider equipping […]
For several decades, supervision agencies have been leveraging a variety of technological innovations to better manage justice-involved individuals in the community. Perhaps no tool has captured the imagination of the criminal justice professionals and the public alike as much as location tracking system (LTS) technology, first introduced in 1996. The ability to track an individual […]
LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) – An undercover operation by Louisville Metro police resulted in at least four arrests of men accused of promoting human trafficking over Derby weekend, according to newsgathering partner WAVE3 News. Arrest reports for three of the suspects — Mohith Akula, 27, of Santa Clara, California; Jackson Jones, 54, of Radcliff, Kentucky and […]
The Bureau of Labor Statistics “Employment Situation” data for April appeared to contain nothing but good news. Unemployment dropped to the lowest level since December 1969, as it fell to 3.6%. Jobs added in the month totaled 263,000. Notably, however, the jobs situation for black Americans remains substantially worse than that of almost any other […]
The Sentencing Tools Application has been updated to reflect the proper Credit Class P calculations based on Thompson v. State, where a person placed on pretrial home detention earns accrued time (calculated at a day for a day). For all Credit Classes except P, a defendant incarcerated in jail for even 6 to 8 hours prior to posting […]
BUNKER HILL – An inmate at Miami Correctional Facility, who said he was using self-defense when he punched and injured a prison guard who pushed him, is getting a new trial. In February 2018, Michael Hickingbottom was found guilty by a jury of battery resulting in bodily injury to a public safety officer, a Level […]
It’s time for the annual POPAI Elections. Up for election in 2019: Vice-President Treasurer District 1 District 3 District 5 District 7 POPAI District 6 Representative Andria Geigle, is serving as the Election Committee Chair. Intent to Run Form The Intent to Run form must be sent to Andria by Sunday July 7, 2019 (postmarked, […]
Across 50 Indiana counties, 100 courts are operating under a nontraditional judicial model. The proceedings in these courts aren’t adversarial, they’re collaborative, allowing judges, litigants and lawyers to collectively work toward a desired outcome. And the parties aren’t limited to judges, attorneys and clients – community stakeholders are also integral. As Indiana’s 100th problem-solving court […]
Dr. Brian Lovins – Assistant Director for Harris County Community Supervision and Corrections Department – joins the podcast to talk about the state of community corrections and probation officers as coaches. In many agencies, probation officers have been encouraged or been permitted to follow the job role of “referee.” Because research links supervision effectiveness to officers […]
In the 2½ years since the Sixth Amendment Center released a report strongly condemning indigent criminal defense in Indiana, public defenders have pressed for reforms. Now, those efforts are beginning to bear fruit as the Indiana General Assembly takes action on reform legislation. The process has been admittedly slow. The Indiana Public Defender Commission presented […]
Since 2015, the North Dakota Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation has moved into improving staff and inmate interaction and community involvement as ways to prepare inmates for life outside the prison as well as reducing recidivism. North Dakota prisons have a recidivism rate of 35 to 40 percent, according to Chad Pringle, warden of the […]
Mary L. DePrez, Director and Counsel for Trial Court Technology, Office of Judicial Administration
Text messaging has become an important tool for judges who continue to look for ways to improve customer service and bring the courts into the 21st century. Victim Safety Trial courts began using text reminders in April 2011. At that time, the statewide Protection Order Registry, a Registry of all protection orders developed by the […]
The United States has the highest incarceration rate in the world, and while there are many disturbing factors that have contributed to this trend, one of the least-discussed is the complex system of parole and probation that continues to ensnare convicted individuals long after they have paid their debt to society. An Economically Unjust and […]
SOUTHERN INDIANA — Indiana recently reached a milestone when it added its 100th problem-solving court, a system Clark and Floyd counties have been leading the way in for nearly a decade. The Indiana Supreme Court released a complete list of the courts in early April, announcing Pulaski County’s newly certified veterans treatment court as the […]
Indiana, which places a greater percentage of its children in the foster care system than almost any other state, must take steps to close educational shortcomings for children in the system, according to a first-of-its-kind report released recently that details a wide achievement gap. Only 64.6 percent of high school seniors who were in foster […]
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.
The revocation of a Madison County man’s probation was upheld after the Indiana Court of Appeals found the evidence presented to the trial court of his continued drug activity met the test for reliability. Mark Lee Votra was determined to have violated the terms of his probation on two occasions in early 2018. Elwood Police […]
CLARK COUNTY, Nevada (FOX5) – Detention Alternative for Autistic Youth (DAAY) is the only court of its kind in the nation with the goal to help those on the autism spectrum get out of the juvenile system. DAAY’s goal is to keep those kids from becoming adult offenders. “Most of youth that we see have […]
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 […]
This is the 106th year of the drug war since the passage of the Harrison Narcotics Tax Act in 1914. It’s fair to say that we’re still losing. Our losses, both in human life and financial costs, are so staggering that they are incomprehensible. To many, it looks like we’ve stopped fighting to win. The […]
Police also said they found 50,000 vape cartridges in the cargo storage area of the truck Two men are facing felony charges after being found with $3.5 million worth of marijuana and THC-filled vape cartridges during a traffic stop last week in central Indiana. Danny J. Luttrell II and Brandon M. Pierson, both 27, were […]
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Indiana Supreme Court is hearing the case of a woman who refused to unlock her cellphone for police in a stalking investigation. Attorneys in the case say the court’s decision could undermine privacy interests and constitutional rights, or public safety and law enforcement. The Supreme Court will hear arguments next month […]
‘Active-shooter’ trainings are becoming a remarkable new normal. An active-shooter training in Indiana took a gruesome turn earlier this year when sheriff’s deputies shot elementary school teachers in the back with plastic pellets, mock-execution style. The teachers union detailed the incident this week, highlighting the extreme and potentially ineffective measures many schools have undertaken to avert […]
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — A man who pleaded guilty to the 1988 beating death of a pregnant mother in South Bend, Indiana, has died in jail. The St. Joseph County prosecutor’s office says 78-year-old George Kearney was found unresponsive Saturday night in the county jail’s medical unit. He was pronounced dead early Sunday. Authorities […]
Lake County has sued Indiana in a long-running dispute about who is responsible for defending probation officers accused of wrongdoing in their official capacity. Filed late March in Porter County Superior Court, the lawsuit names the state of Indiana, the office of the Indiana attorney general and the Lake County Probation Department as defendants. It […]
Your local perspective on violence in schools reflects a global concern. When you think about violence in schools, what immediately comes to mind? Maybe you remember an incident of bullying that you or a child you know has experienced, or a school shooting that has devastated a local community. These are certainly two significant kinds […]
What does it mean to listen? Is it the passive process of taking in sound waves? What about absorbing the context of words and the feelings behind them? Listening has layers of meaning that stretch beyond the inert and into the active. Working at the Crisis Prevention Institute, I often hear the term “Empathic Listening.” […]
Drug court, it pays off. An Indiana University School of Social Work professor’s evaluation of Monroe County’s 20-year-old Drug Treatment Court found that participants are much less likely to commit other crimes than drug offenders who do not participate in drug court. While 54 percent of non-drug court participants got arrested again, just 18 percent […]
Probation officers seek safety; sheriff fears introducing firearms into equation Officials within the Howard County Community Corrections Advisory Board are debating allowing those who make home visits to citizens on probation or in-home detention to carry firearms, and the prospect drew mixed opinions. The discussion of whether to allow probation officers and field officers within […]
The jittery, delusional potheads of the old movie “Reefer Madness” have prompted eye rolls and chuckles over the years, but a new study argues that the cult classic might contain a kernel of truth. Smoking pot every day could increase your risk of a psychotic break with reality, particularly if you have access to high-potency […]
Young adults born after 1995 are experiencing more mental health issues. Researchers point to lack of sleep and the rise of social media. Mental health issues have risen significantly over the last decade and the rise of digital media may be one reason why, according to a national survey released Thursday. The research, published by […]
LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) – One of Kentucky’s Probation and Parole offices in Louisville was shut down after an officer came in contact with fentanyl, WAVE 3 News has learned. According to the Department of Corrections, the suspect, Wade Carr, was reporting to the District 18 Probation and Parole Office on Stephen Drive off Dixie Highway […]
WEST ORANGE, N.J., March 19, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — As the addiction epidemic continues to spread, it is ensnaring more women. 19.5 million women over age 18 (15.4%) used illicit drugs in the past year; 8.4 million misused prescription drugs; and, the growth rate of addiction to heroin for women has outpaced that of men since 2003. Dr. Indra Cidambi, […]
An inmate ordered to serve the reminder of his sentence after violating his probation lost his argument against several probation officers involved in his case when the Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed the officers were protected under quasi-judicial immunity. After Randy Thornton pled guilty to Class C felony possession of cocaine, he was ordered to […]
Related Article: POPAI Submits an Amicus Curiae Brief with Court of Appeals Holding that probation officers as court employees are entitled to cash payouts of unused paid time off at the time of their separation of employment, the Indiana Court of Appeals upheld a judgment in favor of a former Hendricks County probation officer. The […]
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Stranded and in need of life saving support – imagine wanting to get addiction help, but simply not having a ride to get there. That’s one of the biggest challenges Hoosiers with addiction face. A new program is hoping to change that. Indiana 211 is now a green light to vital care. […]
The Noble County woman was using drugs – “pretty much anything,” but mostly meth. It was 2009, she’d just had a daughter, and another baby, a boy, was on the way. The Indiana Department of Child Services took custody of her son before she could leave the hospital with him. “That’s how bad it was,” […]
Hendricks County – Wednesday, March 13, at 11:33 a.m., an Indiana State Trooper stopped a vehicle on Interstate 70 eastbound, near the 66 mile marker, for a traffic violation of following too closely. The driver of the vehicle was identified as Danny J. Luttrell II, 27, Indianapolis, Indiana, and a passenger in the vehicle was identified […]
Kristen Banschbach, Director of Community Corrections
(Website Administrator’s note: Board Members received the following email this week and I am publishing it here for your information. Karen) The Indiana Department of Correction has received many challenges with the current timeline of the grants. We have analyzed the concerns and will begin a grant cycle based on a calendar year beginning in […]
I posted an article with a list of books recently and Members responded with some more. I thought you’d be interested in them. Never Split the Difference, Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It Amazon Summary Check your local library. I found physical, electronic, and audio versions through Monroe County. “Although not about probation officers, […]
On Saturday for the first time in its roughly two-year history, e-cigarette company Juul shared some limited data from a clinical trial with the press. In general, that kind of research is considered a key way to protect public health by ensuring a product does not cause undo harm. As a startup, Juul developed a […]
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 are […]
(POPAI Website Administrator’s note: based on the Amazon summary and reviews I’m not all for #2 but the rest are worth checking out. Update: I’ve started to hear from members with more titles you might enjoy. I’ll add as I hear more. ~ Karen) To be a good officer, you need street smarts; to be […]
Opioid abuse in the U.S. is a crisis, so much so that President Trump declared the epidemic to be a public health emergency under federal law in October 2017 and signed bipartisan legislation to address the issue in October 2018. Dr. Raeford Brown, a pediatric anesthesia specialist at the UK Kentucky Children’s Hospital and chair […]
The POPAI Membership Year runs from January through December. If you haven’t had the opportunity to renew your membership you may do so in several ways. Online Individuals Corporate Members By mail Download and print the Application then mail a check to Probation Officers Professional Association of Indiana, Inc. P.O. Box 44148 Indianapolis, IN 46244 […]
La PORTE – For the second consecutive year, La Porte County has ranked among the top six Juvenile Detention Alternative Initiative (JDAI) counties in the state. And for consistently exceeding JDAI standards, La Porte Circuit Court has been awarded $49,000 in performance grant funds, up from the $38,000 it was awarded in 2018. “It’s been […]
NIJ is committed to realizing the full potential of artificial intelligence to promote public safety and reduce crime. “Intelligent machines” have long been the subject of science fiction. However, we now live in an era in which artificial intelligence (Al) is a reality, and it is having very real and deep impacts on our daily […]
Hon. Vicki Carmichael | Judge, Clark Circuit Court #4 and Hon. Charles F. Pratt | Judge, Allen Superior Court
A Cultural Shift Historically, two distinct and separate paths were followed in the provision of services to children who came to the attention of the juvenile justice system. The selected path was generally not determined as a result of an assessment of the totality of the child’s circumstances and needs. Rather, the path was determined […]
An agreement reached in federal court in February will allow Indiana Medicaid recipients infected with Hepatitis C to receive direct-acting antiviral medications, or DAAs, sooner rather than having to wait until the disease has significantly damaged their livers. An order signed Feb. 12 by Senior Judge Sarah Evans Barker of the U.S. District Court for […]
We’d be happy to officially “Like” our Member Department and Corporate Member Facebook Pages. Our Facebook Page is at https://www.facebook.com/POPAIProbationIndiana/ Help me locate and like your page by sending your Facebook Page link to me through Facebook Message on our page. I need to let you know I am going to be checking to make […]
It’s a Friday night and roommates Jason Jones and Tamiko Panzella are hanging out in the Oakland, Calif., apartment they share, laughing about an epic gym workout misfire. “I get there and we have to take our shoes and socks off. And I’m like, oh no, she got me into yoga. She tricked me,” Jones […]
Permitting pot is one thing; promoting its use is another. A few years ago, the National Academy of Medicine convened a panel of sixteen leading medical experts to analyze the scientific literature on cannabis. The report they prepared, which came out in January of 2017, runs to four hundred and sixty-eight pages. It contains no […]
The reason drugs are killing more Americans every year has to do with the social toxins in our communities. As opioid deaths surge nationwide, the overdose crisis that claims so many young lives every day has spiraled into a public health emergency. But the epidemic started long before your teenage neighbor took his last hit […]
ndiana’s chief justice and the most senior jurist on the Indiana Supreme Court published a sharp dissent Tuesday from a 3-2 ruling that could pave the way for defendants to be sentenced via video. Chief Justice Loretta Rush and Justice Steven David argued in the minority that defendants have a constitutional right to be physically […]
For the first time on record the odds of accidentally dying from an opioid overdose in the United States are now greater than those of dying in an automobile accident. The grim finding comes from the National Safety Council which analyzed preventable injury and fatality statistics from 2017. The NSC also found the lifetime odds […]
An attorney in northeastern Indiana has been suspended from the practice of law after she was criminally charged. The lawyer has been accused of signing a judge’s name to a phony order in a divorce case and sending emails to an expungement client’s widow posing as a deputy prosecutor. Jill N. Holtzclaw of Decatur was […]
According to the US Department of Justice, 856,130 juveniles were arrested across the country during 2016, 45,567 of which were held in 1,772 juvenile facilities. Of those 45,567 juveniles, an average of fifteen to eighteen percent identified as LGBTQ–that’s twice the rate at which LGBTQ are represented within the general US population. In a recent […]
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. 26. Morris replaces Suzanne Miller, who is retiring after serving in the role […]
Over the past three years the Recovery Works team has had the opportunity to serve over 35,000 unique individuals across the State of Indiana. Read more in this downloadable PDF: Recovery Works Update for Criminal Justice Partners.
A new and free science-based curriculum designed to teach adolescents about the risks of opioids has been released by Project ALERT, a national evidence-based drug education program created and managed by the nonprofit RAND Corporation. The curriculum is available for download from the Project ALERT website at http://www.projectalert.com. The opioid risk curriculum is part of […]
By Katharine Q. Seelye, Julie Turkewitz, Jack Healy and Alan Blinder
Amid an opioid crisis, police and strangers with cameras are posting raw images of drug users passed out. For those whose bleakest moments now live online, life is never the same. The first time Kelmae Hemphill watched herself overdose, she sobbed. There she was in a shaky video filmed by her own heroin dealer, sprawled […]
Jail Expansion as Prison Reform in Indiana During the 2016 presidential race, Governor Mike Pence said: “We need to adopt criminal justice reform nationally. I signed criminal justice reform in the state of Indiana, and we are very proud of it.” He was referring to House Bill 1006, which he signed on May 5, 2015 […]
A bipartisan bill aimed at overhauling federal prisons and reducing recidivism has been overwhelmingly approved by Congress. The legislation is now on the verge of becoming law, with the House’s approval on Thursday, the Senate’s passage on Tuesday and the backing of President