Probation Department sees increased activity
Annual report cites statistics
Mary Margaret Moorhead - Staff Writer

Ripley County's Probation Department has shown increased activity, according to the "2004 Year in Review" recently released by Chief Probation Officer Shannon G. Schmaltz.

As of December 31, 2004, the Ripley County Probation Department listed 589 Adult Open Cases compared with 486 in 2003; 48 probationers in Ripley County Jail compared with 27 in 2003.

Felony and misdemeanor cases, however, showed a very slight decrease in the adult statistics. The total for 2004 was 573 compared with 577 in 2003. The adult probation violations in 2004 rose above the 161 figure for both 2002 and 2003.

Schmaltz also notes in the adult statistical report that 103 defendants are currently incarcerated in correctional facilities and will be on probation at the completion of their executed sentence.

In the juvenile division, the report lists 77 active cases as of December 31, 2004, an increase of 24 over the total in 2003. In 2004, 74 juveniles were placed on informal adjustment compared to 60 in 2003, and 97 juvenile cases were closed compared to 80 in 2003.

"We work at the pleasure of Circuit Court Judge Carl Taul and Superior Court Judge Jim Morris," Schmaltz says when releasing the Probation Department statistics for the year.

On a monthly basis, February 2004 showed the most adult activity with a total of 188, while November was highest for juvenile activity with 64 probation appointments listed.

The total adult in-office probation intake was 638 for 2004 compared with 566 in 2003.

On the juvenile side, the total in-office formal probation intakes numbered 61 in 2004, a much lower figure than the 100 listed in 2003. "Juvenile offenders are on the decrease,"

commented Schmaltz, "and that's a good thing whether it's due to programs, community activities, or parental intervention."

Probation Department programs

The 28-page report lists a number of programs maintained by the Ripley County Probation Department throughout 2004. Among those were both the Adult and the Juvenile Community Service programs; the Juvenile In-Home Detention Program; the Adult Substance Abuse Program through Life Works Counseling.

Also, the Adult Substance Abuse Educational Program taught by Dave Simpson; the Juvenile Intensive Probation Supervision; the Juvenile Adolescent Intensive Treatment and Recovery Group, through Life Works Counseling; Adult Day Reporting Program; Juvenile and Adult Home Visit programs; Adult In-Home Incarceration Program; and the Adult Community Transition Program.
Probation Department fee collections

One of the most impressive parts of the report is the amount of fee collections listed for 2004. According to Schmaltz, this goes a long way to releasing the burden of the county. The adult collection fees for 2004 totaled $161,123.19, while the juvenile fee collections were $25,131.50, making a total of $186,254.69.

Commenting on these statistics, Schmaltz explained, "The Ripley County Probation Department balances the needs of the offender with the needs of the community."

An important source of income for the Ripley County Probation Department has been a number of grants. "Since 1998 we have been able to collect $101,832.29 in grant money. From this we have been able to purchase a van, a car, a community service trailer, vests, and a metal detector system."

In 2004 the department received $15,000.00 from a Juvenile Accountability Incentive Block Grant, a federal grant that required a matching amount of $1,667.00 from probation fees.

Other grants over the past five years have come from the Ripley County Local Coordinating Council against Substance Abuse, the Indiana Department of Correction's Community Transition Program, and the Ripley County Community Foundation, Inc.

Community Service programs

The Ripley County Probation Department Adult Community Service Program operated on a bi-weekly basis throughout 2004. The report lists 56 offenders that successfully completed the program, having worked 29 days and a total of 1,253 hours.

The "work crew" consisted of medium to higher risk male offenders sentenced by the Ripley Circuit and Superior courts. Projects consisted of maintenance of selected abandoned cemeteries, trash pick-up along county highways and roads, clean up after the Versailles Pumpkin Show, painting at the Ripley County Courthouse, and assistance of local towns, volunteer groups, and organizations in completing projects.

"The Adult Community Service Program was 100% financed by Adult Probation User Fees," Schmaltz noted.

Juveniles also participated in community service programs, according to the report. A total of 12 juvenile offenders - eight males and four females - completed 18 days and 90 hours.

Their work sites included the Ripley County Courthouse, the Versailles State Park, the Ripley County Fairgrounds, the park at the "wye," the Milan Town Park, Milan High School and Middle School, Jac-Cen-Del High School, South Ripley High

School, Pangburn Park, Holton Town Park, Sunman Park, and the Career Center.

Employees of the Probation Department

In addition to Chief Probation Officer Shannon Schmaltz, the 10-member staff includes: William D. Belew, adult probation officer/adult community service coordinator; Fran T. Moore, juvenile probation officer; John J. Catalano, juvenile probation officer.

Also, Vicky Hensley, office manager; Shirla Jones, bookkeeper; Julie Gilland, secretary; Toni McDonald, receptionist; Kristy Sams, juvenile placement coordinator; and Mike Benjamin, juvenile community service coordinator.