Monroe County, Indiana

• Intake Unit
• Administrative Unit
• Supervision Unit
• Enhanced Supervision Unit

INTAKE UNIT

The Intake Unit is the initial point of contact for adult offenders who will be supervised by Monroe Circuit Court Adult Probation. The purpose of the Intake Unit is to provide the initial intake, assessment and case plan for offenders who have been placed on probation. 

Probation officers have the specialized training and expertise necessary to examine the needs of the offender and the present risk to the community. Intake probation officers strive to accurately assess each offender’s needs, risk for recidivism, mental health status, and substance use history in order to develop a preliminary case plan. Intake probation officers make referrals to substance abuse and mental health providers.  

Intake probation officers also complete Presentence Investigations (PSIs) for the Court. The Presentence Investigation Report contributes to a timely, fair, and consistent sentencing process. Intake probation officers provide a full written investigation which includes: the circumstances of a criminal offense; a defendant's criminal record; defendant’s personal history, present condition, and living environment; and sentence recommendations. The investigation report assists the court by providing information that is relevant to the sentencing decision and by presenting sentencing options that give the offender an opportunity to achieve positive changes through integrated supervision, treatment, and sanction strategies. As part of the presentence investigation, victims are given the opportunity to inform the sentencing court how they have been affected by the crime committed against them and are provided ongoing information during and after sentencing. The PSI report is provided to the defendant, the Prosecutor, and the Court and is a resource that is available to other agencies as provided by Indiana law.

ADMINISTRATIVE UNIT

The Administrative Unit provides reduced direction and resources to offenders who have been sentenced to a suspended sentence without a term of supervised probation, and offenders sentenced by the Monroe Circuit Court but who reside in another jurisdiction and have had their probation supervision transferred to that jurisdiction.

The Administrative Unit’s focus is tracking offender compliance with terms of a suspended sentence, monitoring new criminal activity, and responding to violations with an array of sanctions, including an increased level of community supervision. An offender on probation with the Administrative Unit is not normally required to see a supervising probation officer in Monroe County, but must report any changes in address; report any arrests; and complete any court-ordered conditions including payment of restitution, court costs and fees.

SUPERVISION UNIT

When a person is convicted of a crime, the trial judge may order probation.  The Adult Probation Division is responsible for supervising adults on court-ordered probation and monitoring their compliance with the conditions set forth by the court.  The Monroe Circuit Court has established standard conditions of probation for adult offenders. Adult Probation Conditions

The Judicial Conference of Indiana requires probation departments to classify supervisions and measure probation officer workloads according to the Indiana Case Classification and Workload Measures System.  This system provides probation departments with a standardized risk assessment, needs assessment and an accompanying workload formula.  Indiana Probation Standards require assigned probation officers to maintain contact with their probationers according to the minimum requirements established by the Case Classification and Workload Measures System.  These systems were designed for the intelligent allocation of resources and to establish minimum contact standards for each level of community supervision. (Indiana Probation Standards, Forms, Documents and Polices can be found at https://www.in.gov/courts/iocs/probation/forms/ )

 A system of regular meetings between assigned probation officers and probationers serves a number of purposes.  It holds the probationer to the level of accountability associated with their risk of re-offending while on probation; it provides the means for officers to obtain updated information about the probationer; and it affords the opportunity to address relevant issues with the probationers.  The Adult Probation Supervision Unit has three levels of supervision: High, Medium, and Low.  Offenders who succeed while under High or Medium supervision may be transferred to Low Risk supervision.  Offenders who fail to comply with their terms of supervision may be switched to a higher level of supervision.

 ENHANCED SUPERVISION UNIT

Specialized caseloads provide specialized supervision for high-risk and high-need offenders.  This department has developed the Enhanced Supervision Unit to most effectively supervise these types of offenders.

The Enhanced Supervision Unit (ESU) provides supervision to offenders who have been identified as needing a higher level of community supervision and/or who are in need of specialized services.  The ESU primarily supervises three specialized caseloads:

• Mental Health caseload
• Domestic Violence caseload
• Sex Offender caseload
• Serious Violent caseload

Mental Health Caseload - The Mental Health caseload provides supervision services for probationers who have a clinical diagnosis of a mental illness.  Probation officers are trained specifically to supervise this type of offender.  Officers have frequent contact with the offenders, with the mental health professionals who are treating these offenders, and work in partnership with a variety of community agencies that have mutual responsibility and interests in mental illness. 

Domestic Violence Caseload – Offenders who are extremely high risk with histories of violent or assaultive offenses are assigned to this caseload. The focus of this caseload is to facilitate offender behavioral change through mandated participation in batterer's intervention counseling, alcohol and drug treatment or other interventions as appropriate. Frequent contact is made with families, employers, and treatment agencies that address substance abuse and anger management.  Probation officers provide intensive community based supervision for offenders to improve safety for victims of domestic violence.

Sex Offender Caseload - This unit supervises those offenders required by law to register as sex offenders. Probation officers providing supervision are trained in areas of supervision of sex offenders, sex offender treatment, and the state registration program.  The supervising officers of these offenders have frequent contact with offenders' sex offender therapists and numerous contacts with the offenders each month in the office and at home and work.  The primary focus of the sex offender caseload is to enhance community safety, protect existing victims, prevent further victimization, preclude new criminal activities and enforce strict compliance with the conditions of supervision established by the Court. In addition to the Standard Conditions of Probation, the Monroe Circuit Court utilizes special probation conditions for sex offenders. 

Serious Violent Caseload – Offenders who are extremely high risk with histories of violent or assaultive offenses are assigned to this caseload. The focus of this caseload is to facilitate offender behavioral change through mandated participation in anger management,  batterer's intervention counseling, alcohol and drug treatment or other interventions as appropriate. Frequent contact is made with employers, and treatment agencies that address substance abuse and anger management.  Probation officers provide intensive community based supervision for offenders to improve safety for the community.

• Useful
  Links
• Forms &
  Applications