BREAKING NEWS!
PALS (People & Animals Learning Services) Recognition. On May 2, 2005, PALS celebrated 25 years of operation with the “Mane Event: Silver Reins Gala.” At the gala, PALS recognized the Monroe County Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI) Coordinator Christine McAfee as their Outstanding Community Partner. PALS is a non-profit adaptive riding center located in Bloomington, Indiana. They provide equine-assisted services to people with disabilities, veterans, senior citizens, and at-risk youth. The therapeutic power of the horse can offer many physical, emotional, and social benefits for a diverse population. PALS partners with community organizations, including our Probation Department, to provide classes for at-risk youth to develop social-emotional skills. Horses provide an environment for participants to develop leadership skills and trust, learn how to set boundaries, and overcome challenges. The Monroe Circuit Court Probation Department provides JDAI grant funds to support community access to PALS services.
From Research to Action to Successful Outcomes
July 17, 2024
Probation is by far the largest form of correctional control in the United States, and a leading cause of incarceration. Despite the widespread use of probation as a method of correctional control, historically little has been known about the drivers of probation violations and how to meaningfully improve outcomes for those under supervision while maintaining community safety. It was against this backdrop that CUNY ISLG launched the Reducing Revocations Challenge (RRC) in 2019, with support from Arnold Ventures.
The RRC aimed to fill the void of information on drivers of revocation through in-depth, mixed-method research, which was conducted in 10 counties during Phase I; in Phase II the findings were put into action with innovative strategies to improve probation outcomes and equity in a subset of those sites: Monroe County, IN; Pima County, AZ; Ramsey County, MN; and Santa Cruz County, CA.
This report documents Phase II and the lessons learned from the RRC for cities and counties seeking to implement similar reforms, and the accompanying policy brief describes the action research model employed in the initiative.
See our blog for a look at what Action Research meant in the RRC, as well as how counties applied what they found.
download the full report
download the executive summary
Download the Policy Brief
Mission
The mission of the Monroe Circuit Court Probation Department is to promote a safer community by intervening in the lives of justice involved individuals, 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) End PHASE 2:
In 2019, Arnold Ventures and the City University of New York Institute for State and Local Governance launched the Reducing Revocations Challenge, a national initiative dedicated to transforming probation supervision and reducing unnecessary failures that contribute to mass incarceration. For the Reducing Revocations Challenge (RRC) Phase 1, Arnold Ventures funded research in ten jurisdictions across the United States, including Monroe County, IN, 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. Monroe County, IN completed the RRC Phase 1 in June 2021. See findings from Monroe County, Indiana, Final Report (June 30, 2021)
Monroe County and its research partners were chosen as one of only five sites from Phase 1 of the Reducing Revocations Challenge to continue with Phase 2 of the Challenge. In this second phase, Arnold Ventures provided 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. During Phase 2, from September 2021 to September 2023, the Monroe Circuit Court Probation Department implemented interventions to interrupt probation revocations and track their impact. Because an average probation case lasts between one and two years, we will not have a full picture of the impact of interventions until probationers sentenced under the old norms have processed out, and we can collect data on the experiences of a full group of probationers sentenced under the new norms. Nonetheless, the implementation phase yields critical insights. Our final report covers what we have learned in Phase 2, including both the “how to” of driving policy change through action–research, and some interesting preliminary data.
(1) The full report: Indiana Probation Policy Brief
(2) A short summary of the lessons learned: Indiana Probation Policy Brief Takeaways
Acknowledgements: This research was made possible by funding from Arnold Ventures and with support from CUNY ISLG. Applied research is a collaborative endeavor; it is not possible without the participation of many stakeholders. We are grateful for the assistance and cooperation of Monroe Circuit Court Probation department, as well as the judges, attorneys, and community members who made this work possible. We would also like to thank Emma Stone and Justice System Partners.
Citation: Northcutt Bohmert, Miriam, Troy Hatfield, Michelle Ying, Eric Grommon, and Evan Lowder (2023). “Reducing Revocations Challenge: Phase 2 Policy Brief. Monroe County, Indiana.” Indiana University.
Monroe Probation Deputy Chief Receives National Award
Since 1989, the National Association of Probation Executives (NAPE) and the George J. Beto Criminal Justice Center at Sam Houston State University have recognized the Probation Executive of the Year by presenting the recipient the Sam Houston State University Award. This year’s recipient was Troy Hatfield, Deputy Chief Probation Officer for the Monroe Circuit Court Probation Department in Bloomington, Indiana. This national award was presented at the recent American Probation and Parole Association national conference in New York City where Hatfield served as a presenter for the Reducing Revocations Challenge project funded by Arnold Ventures.
Hatfield is now in his 26th year serving as an Indiana probation officer. He started his career as a juvenile probation officer in Owen County, Indiana. After coming to the Monroe Circuit Court Probation Department in 2004, he quickly moved to leadership and supervisory roles, being promoted to a Community Corrections Supervisor in 2006 and Deputy Chief Probation Officer in 2008.
Since becoming Deputy Chief, Hatfield has served on numerous statewide committees and boards, including the Probation Officers Advisory Board and the Probation Officers Professional Association of Indiana for which he currently serves as President. Monroe Circuit Court Chief Probation Officer Linda Brady who serves on the National Association of Probation Executives Board, nominated Hatfield for the award stating, “Troy’s service on both of these state-wide boards has been instrumental in making positive and progressive changes in the community supervision of offenders. His impact locally has been tremendous during his tenure. He provides strong leadership in this department has helped us move toward more effective use of evidence-based practices.”
Nationally, Hatfield is a member of the American Probation and Parole Association.
Hatfield’s contributions to the field of probation have been recognized through two prestigious awards. He was awarded the Founder’s Award by the Probation Officers Professional Association of Indiana given to those who are dedicated to improving the field of probation. In May 2023, he was honored with the John Augustus Award given to one probation officer each year in the state of Indiana by the Probation Officers Advisory Board to the Judicial Conference of Indiana.
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.
The Monroe County Community Corrections Advisory Board
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.
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
Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI) Presentation about Community Partnerships, Grant Funds, Data, and Statistics. Presentation for Monroe County Commissioners 7-1-2020
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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Helping Bloomington Monroe
Helping Bloomington Monroe is a free community resource to help individuals find the services they need. Enter a zip code to find information about health care, food assistance, emergency shelter, and more.
To learn more, click the picture to the left or visit helpingbloomingtonmonroe.org.
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