« Ind. Decisions - Court of Appeals issues 12 today (and 24 NFP) | Main | Ind. Courts - Another case lost for months in the Clerk's Office »

Thursday, March 20, 2008

Ind. Courts - City Court Judge Brandy Goodman proposes a probation department

From the Alexandra Times-Tribune, Randy Chambers reports:

Alexandria can maintain, and perhaps profit, from having its own probation department according to City Court Judge Brandy Goodman.
Living up to one of her campaign promises, Judge Goodman appeared before Alexandria City Council members Monday night and said she has submitted an ordinance proposal to City Attorney Jim Wilson.

“We are missing out on a lot of administrative and user fees that could sustain our own probation department and give us greater oversight of the people we have on probation,” Goodman said. “I’ve placed 18 people on probation already this month, and there are about 160 defendants from our court on probation through the Elwood Probation Department right now.”

Goodman proposes that the City create its own department by hiring one part-time probation officer to share space with Alexandria City Court staff.

Defendants sentenced to probation pay an administrative fee of $50 for each charge they are to serve probation for, and are then assessed a monthly user fee.

“We’ve lost a lot of money to other jurisdictions, and having our own probation department would help us keep in touch with our probationers,” Goodman said.

In addition, it could help the City develop a community service program in which defendants who do not have the means to pay fines or other costs could opt to perform various duties in the community.

A similar program was tried under former City Court Judge Jim King, but was discontinued do to a lack of supervising personnel.

In response to questions posed by Mayor Jack Woods and various City Council members, Goodman said probation was a viable alternative to jail for many defendants and can help alleviate overcrowding at the county jail.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on March 20, 2008 05:59 PM
Posted to Indiana Courts