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Welcome to the Posey
Circuit Court
Juvenile Probation
Department Web Page
Here you will find
information about the mission of the Juvenile Probation Department, its
objectives, its organization, how the Department operates, answers to frequently
asked questions, how to contact the Department, and
links to school sites.
Mission
The mission of the Posey Circuit Court Juvenile Probation Department is to
accept people below the age of 18, who have been referred to the Department, and
to work with them, their relatives and custodians, their schools, their
churches, law enforcement agencies, social service agencies, mental health
agencies, the Court, and correction agencies within the resource constraints of
the Department to assess their behavior and their needs to prepare and execute
plans for establishing conditions and behavior which will protect the public and
their families and will assist them in becoming healthy, happy, and productive
members of our community.
Objectives
1. Recognize and handle emergency needs quickly;
2. Determine needs of the child, caregivers, and the environment;
3. Match the child's situation with services to meet the needs;
4. Treat the child in the environment;
5. Build support in the environment;
6. Evaluate treatment effectiveness;
7. Evaluate treatment plan efficiency;
8. Terminate Department involvement on a timely basis.
Organization
Rodney Fetcher is Chief Probation Officer of both juvenile and adult probation
departments. Mark and Michelle specialize in juvenile probation activities, but
also have adult probation duties. Sam also is available for juvenile probation
support.
Juvenile Probation Procedure
Complaint Lodged with the Posey County
Prosecutor
Law enforcement officers, school officials, or private individuals file
complaints against juveniles with the Posey County Prosecutor.
Complaint Referred from Posey County Prosecutor
to Posey Circuit Court Probation Department
In juvenile matters, the Prosecutor often
refers complaints to the Probation Department for further inquiry. Referred
complaints then are called referrals.
Juvenile Probation Department Inquires into the
Referral
The Juvenile Probation Department types
referral information into the Juvenile Probation computer system where a
tentative appointment is scheduled and letters are written to custodians
inviting them to appear with the child for an informal hearing with a probation
officer. The informal hearing is called a Preliminary Inquiry. The hearing is
called "informal" because the hearing does not take place before a judge and
statements are not sworn.
Subsequently, the child, a custodian, and sometimes
other interested relatives meet with a probation officer for the Preliminary
Inquiry. Before any questions are asked, the probation officer will read the
child's rights and ask that the child sign that the rights were read. Next, the
probation officer will ask for the child to sign a document which permits other
agencies to release information to the Probation Department and vice versa.
Following the signing of the rights and release forms,
the probation officer will ask questions which help in understanding the child
and the environment. The probation officer will ask questions about the
referral.
The probation officer may verify some of the
information received in the Preliminary Inquiry and then produce a Preliminary
Inquiry Report which includes a recommended course of action. Possible
recommended courses of action include: (1) Dismiss the charge; (2) Refer to
another agency; (3) Informal adjust the matter; or (4) File a formal charge.
The Posey County Prosecutor Responds to the
Preliminary Inquiry
The Prosecutor responds to the Preliminary
Inquiry Report recommendation by returning a Notice of Action to the Probation
Department. For Informal Adjustments, the juvenile agrees to terms of probation
which the Probation Department supervises. When formal charges are filed, the
Court will decide whether to adjudicate the juvenile. If the juvenile is
adjudicated, the Probation Department will file a Predisposition Report to
assist the judge in determining the disposition of the case.
The Juvenile Probation Department Helps Carry
Out the Orders of the Court
The Probation Department assists in
carrying out the orders of the Court by coordinating travel and arrangements at
placement facilities such as Boys School or Girls School. The Probation
Department also supervises juveniles during any period of probation decided by
the Court.
How
to Contact the Posey Circuit Court Juvenile Probation Department
Posey Circuit Court Probation Department
is located on the north side of the third (top) floor of the Posey County
Courthouse located on the square in Mt. Vernon, Indiana.
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 745, Mt. Vernon, Indiana 47620
Telephone:
(812) 838-1312
Fax:
(812) 838-1345
Electronic Mail:
mailto:pcc@sigecom.net
Links
Mt. Vernon Senior High School
Mt. Vernon Junior High School
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