Monroe County, Indiana

BREAKING NEWS!  Participants for Probation Advisory Workgroup sought

The Monroe County Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI) is seeking individuals, age 18 – 25, who have prior experience with our local youth justice system to join a Probation Advisory Workgroup. Members of the Workgroup will provide input on local youth justice system reform efforts.

The Workgroup is being created by the local JDAI Steering Committee in collaboration with the leadership of the Monroe Circuit Court and Monroe Circuit Court Probation Department.  This Workgroup is based on recommendations made by a collaborative group of county youth, community leaders, and justice system staff, to increase youth engagement to improve the youth justice system in our community.

 Those interested in learning more about this opportunity are encouraged to contact the Monroe County JDAI Coordinator Christine McAfee (phone (812) 349-2649 or email cmcafee@co.monroe.in.us). 

Application to serve on the workgroup. 

Applications are due no later than June 30, 2023.

Mission

The mission of the Monroe Circuit Court Probation Department is to promote a safer community by intervening in the lives of offenders, holding them accountable, and serving as a catalyst for positive change.

Monroe Circuit Court Probation Department Informational PowerPoint Presentation

PROBATION NEWS:

• REDUCING REVOCATIONS CHALLENGE (RRC) PHASE  2:    
• Monroe County and its research partners (listed below) were chosen as one of only five sites across the U.S. to continue with Phase 2 of the Challenge.  The first phase focused on examining existing data and talking with probation clients, probation officers, attorneys, and judges to identify potential areas of change.  In this second phase, Arnold Ventures provides funding to support training for probation officers and other interventions to disrupt pathways that lead to revocation, and ultimately increase client success on community supervision.  

           The Probation Department will receive $170,000 to implement three (3) strategies:

• Strategy 1: Increase fidelity to Motivational Interviewing (MI), Effective Practices in Community Supervision (EPICS), and effective case planning.

             Update September 2022: Training to increase probation officer skills in these areas is underway.  

• Strategy 2: Revise standard conditions of probation.

            Update September 2022:  The probation RRC team met with consultant Dr. Brian Lovins several times,                              alongside probation staff, attorneys, and judges, to revise the standard conditions of probation.

• Strategy 3: Increase the use of incentives for probation officers and incentives for probation clients including earned early termination from probation supervision.

             Update September 2022:  Workgroups have been identified and are beginning to meet to discuss policy and                 practice around these important issues.

             For additional information contact Dr. Miriam Northcutt Bohmert, Ph.D., at mirnorth@indiana.edu.

• REDUCING REVOCATIONS CHALLENGE PROJECT PHASE 1:
• Findings from Monroe County, Indiana, Final Report (June 30, 2021).   In May 2019, Arnold Ventures and the City University of New York Institute for State and Local Governance (ISLG)announced the launch of the Reducing Revocations Challenge, a national initiative dedicated to transforming probation supervision and reducing unnecessary failures that contribute to mass incarceration. Arnold Ventures funded research in ten jurisdictions across the United States to examine the drivers behind probation revocations. The challenge supported action research in the selected jurisdictions to better understand why revocations occur and how they can be prevented. This is the final report for Monroe County, Indiana.  For additional information contact Dr. Miriam Northcutt Bohmert, Ph.D., at mirnorth@indiana.edu.

• PHASE 1 Reducing Revocations Challenge Monroe County IN FINAL Report Summary (6-29-2021)

• PHASE 1 Reducing Revocations Challenge Monroe County IN FINAL Recommendations Summary (6-29-2021)

• The Monroe County Community Corrections Advisory Board approved expanding the duties of the board to include serving as the local Justice Reinvestment Advisory Council pursuant to HB 1068 Local or Regional Justice Reinvestment Advisory Councils.  

The Board also approved the revised Monroe County Criminal Justice Collaboration Plan.

• Probation officers want juveniles to know they care-WRTV ABC News video   At the Monroe Circuit Court Probation Office, Juvenile Division, there is no "business as usual" these days. "Care packages" for youth, to let them know their probation officers care about their well-being are being delivered this week. Inside is a variety of items, including snacks, candy, playing cards, and brain teasers.

• Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI) Presentation for Monroe County Commissioners 7-1-2020

Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI) Presentation about Community Partnerships, Grant Funds, Data, and Statistics.

• PRETRIAL RISK ASSESSMENT IN PRACTICE: LESSONS AND RESEARCH FROM INDIANA
        Presentation by Center for Behavioral Health and Justice, Wayne State University July 15, 2020
               Link to video of the webinar
               Link to PowerPoint presentation from the webinar
  
  

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