Juvenile Probation

Referrals To Juvenile Probation

Unlike the adult probation system where adult offenders are not introduced to the probation system until after a conviction, probation is the starting place for a juvenile’s interaction with the juvenile justice system.

All juvenile cases processed through the juvenile justice system begin with a written report, or referral. The Juvenile Division receives referrals for youth under the age of 18 from various sources, including law enforcement, parents, schools, businesses, and the public.

Juveniles are referred to the Probation Department for committing delinquent acts or status offenses. Delinquent acts are defined as acts that would be crimes if committed by an adult. Status offenses are acts of delinquency that are not crimes for adults, and include truancy, habitual disobedience, curfew violation, runaway, and illegal consumption of alcohol.

Citizens or parents may contact the Juvenile Division to inquire about making a referral to the Probation Department in one of three ways:

• Call the Juvenile Division Office at (812) 349-2000 and request to speak to a Juvenile Probation Officer.
• Visit the Juvenile Division Office located in the Community Corrections building at 405 W. 7th Street, Suite 2, during office hours and request to speak with a Juvenile Probation Officer.
• Email the Juvenile Probation Director @ juvprob@co.monroe.in.us to request information or assistance.

Juvenile Probation: A Focus on Prevention

Research has demonstrated that the best mechanisms to keep youth from “graduating” to the adult criminal justice system are programs and practices which focus on prevention and early intervention. The Monroe Circuit Court Probation Department provides many rehabilitative programs and services which keep juveniles out of detention and divert youth from incarceration.

Most of the juvenile programs operated by the Probation Department are funded by a grant from the Indiana Department of Correction (IDOC), with the express purpose of diverting youth from incarceration in the state’s juvenile correctional facilities.

Complaint of Incorrigibility

Indiana law (IC 31-37-2-4 Delinquent act; habitual disobedience of parent, guardian, or custodian), states,  “A child commits a delinquent act if, before becoming eighteen (18) years of age, the child habitually disobeys the reasonable and lawful commands of the child's parent, guardian, or custodian.”  (1997).  

If you believe your child needs the intervention of the court for habitual disobedience of a parent/guardian/custodian, please fill out the Complaint of Incorrigibility form and provide the completed form to Juvenile Probation in one of these three (3) ways:

• Send the form via fax to the Juvenile Division Office at (812) 349-2010
• Mail or deliver the form to the Juvenile Division Office, 405 W. 7th Street, Suite 2, Bloomington, IN 47404
• Email the form to the Juvenile Probation Director @ juvprob@co.monroe.in.us

Please note that if the primary complaint is truancy, a complaint of truancy must come to the Probation Department from the child’s school as specific school records are required. Also, if you wish to report a criminal act committed by a child who is under the age of 18, please contact the police department where the incident occurred.

Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI)

In August of 2014, Monroe County became the 19th Indiana county to participate in the Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI).

JDAI is a national juvenile justice improvement initiative developed by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. JDAI has been replicated across the country, proving to be successful in minimizing detention over-crowding, reducing the need to build more expensive facilities, improving efficiencies in the juvenile justice system operations, and producing better outcomes for youth and their families. Most importantly, JDAI has achieved successful outcomes while protecting community safety.

Indiana is one of over 200 JDAI sites in 39 states and the District of Columbia.  The JDAI process acknowledges the importance of having the family and communities of youth most affected by the juvenile justice system working in partnership with the juvenile justice system staff and community based organizations throughout the system improvement process. This engagement typically includes parents and other family members, community leaders, victims and youth.

Additional information on the JDAI model and the Annie E. Casey Foundation can be found at https://www.aecf.org/work/juvenile-justice/jdai//.

Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI) Eight Core Strategies

The JDAI process involves the implementation of its “Eight Core Strategies.”  Those strategies are:

1. Collaboration between juvenile justice agencies, other governmental entities, and community organizations.
2. Use of accurate data to diagnose the system's problems and to assess the impact of programs and reforms.
3. Objective admissions decisions including use of validated risk assessment instruments.
4. New or enhanced alternatives to secure detention to increase the options available for arrested youth.
5. Expedited case processing through the system.
6. “Special case” processing (probation violations, warrants, youth awaiting placement) to minimize detention time.
7. Reducing racial, ethnic and gender disparities to eliminate bias and ensure a level playing field for all youth.
8. Improving conditions of confinement.

You may obtain a printable PDF of the 8 core strategies here: Printable PDF Document: Indiana JDAI 8 Core Strategies

Monroe County JDAI Committees: 

Monroe County has two (2) JDAI Project Committees that meet quarterly. They are as follows:

• Steering Committee – Discusses progress of the entire JDAI project and the work of all JDAI committees. A copy of the current meeting schedule and recent minutes can be found at the bottom of this page.

• Data Workgroup – Monitors statistics and provides information to the committees in order to make data-driven decisions.