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Tuesday, April 15, 2014

The Clark Co. Probation Office and Court System is it Broken ???

   More controversy in the Clark Co. court system. It seems like the other local judges don't agree with Judge Dan Moore's idea to consolidate the (2) HIPs (home incarceration program) now being used here in the County. Presently one is operated by the Clark Co.Probation Office the other by Community corrections. Judge Moore who is also president  of the Community Corrections advisory board would like to consolidate the programs into only one to be maintained by Community Corrections.

 It seems that Judges Joe Weber and Vicky Carmichael have a problem with Judge Moore's idea and  the question is why ??? Weber wouldn't comment on the News/Tribune story...So what gives Judge Joe  why not ?? Seemingly the Community Corrections program is more efficient with newer technology on the ankle bracelets attached to the defenders and  CC has a better track record in getting the offenders hooked up as soon as possible. The Probation Office often waits until the offender has the money for the fees before they are hooked up.

Judge Moore who the BatBlog has a lot of respect for, feels this is win /win situation to consolidate. For the County financially and the public safety of citizens. So what gives ??? Why are the other judges opposed ??? is it not wanting accountability for the fees collected ?? Is it political ??

The probation office has had enough problems with the drug court fiasco, it appears to be mismanaged and somewhat incompetent. It's time to do the smart thing and listen to a voice of reason that of Judge Dan Moore

14 comments:

  1. Amen batman, when asked about how many ankle bracelets the probation office would buy with $10,000 Mr.Fords comment spoke volumes about the office he is responsible for. He was quoted as saying "that's a good question, I don't know". Is that not a question anyone would expect to be asked when wanting to spend $10,000? Also, if they are paying $1,400 a month in "shelf fees" that means they already have ankle bracelets they are not using. Why on earth then would we want to spend another $10,000 to buy more? Lastly, if we did buy more then how much more would they pay I. Shelf fees? No wonder our County taxes went up 28% last year!

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  2. Good point Anon. my guess is the probation office doesn't want the amount or where the money from these home incarcerations fees are going(Accountability).

    More than likely just like most of Clark Co. offices this dept. is staffed with relatives ,inlaws, and friends of an office holder.

    It's the Clark Co. way, don't hire the best, most qualified candidate...hire your sister in law, best friends daughter, or Uncle Jack's niece keep it in the family ...to hell with efficiency and the taxpayers...

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  3. Anon's point about Ford's requesting $10,000 worth of additional ankle bracelets when in fact he had no idea of how many that would buy...just validates my point about how incompetent and mismanaged the probation Dept. is...Here's the chief probation officer who wants $10,000 more for items (ankle bracelets)that they already have, and are not fully used....

    I would say this is typical of how Clark Co. government operates. Each department needs to be audited to stop this type waste ...

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  4. My basic math skills indicate thAt if they are averaging $1,400 per month in shelf fees, that means they are averaging 58 units per day sitting on the shelf. And now they want to buy more? Sounds like gross mismanagment to me.

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  5. The battle is Moore vs Carmichael. Moore has been the power (often behind the scenes) for a long time. Carmichael had the audacity to usurp and the other judges helped her mutiny by making her the lead of the consolidated courts. Only, as she herself has said, they're not really consolidated.

    They don't REALLY want consolidation. They just want Dan Moore out.

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  6. All the above posts about the Judges and probation are right on. Carmichael controls Weber and Jacobi. She also runs the probation department with Ford as her willing puppet. He says nothing without asking her first. Follow the money

    Community Corrections money comes from the Depth of Corrections in Indy. Community Corrections is paid for each individual that is in the program. This money is not controlled by the 3 stooges like probation money.

    In an effort to do away with Community Corrections the trembling threesome has greatly reduced the number of individuals they sentence to Community Corrections.

    Obvious question here is: (The state is paying for the individuals in Community Corrections and the County is paying for individuals in the probation department) Why the heck aren't the three amigos sending more individuals to Community Corrections? Answer: Control, perceived power, and the ever popular MONEY.

    Yes, once again Clark County business as usual

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  7. http://www.govtech.com/public-safety/Clark-County-Probation-Department-Can-Take-Months-to-Activate-Monitoring-Bracelets.html

    "Sumler told the News and Tribune that Delehanty’s salary is paid out of probation user fees, but the auditor’s office told the News and Tribune that his salary, which totals $52,691 with retirement and insurance included, is paid out of the county’s adjusted gross income tax revenue."

    So is this another Jim Ross position where he gets additional salary from other, non-council directed, funds?

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  8. No, it's a matter of Summler flat out lying. Just like he tried to do about the shelf fees. Probation in Clark Co. Is simple. It is not about justice, but about power and money. The more people you have on probation the more probation officers you need. The more probation officers you need the more lucrative jobs you have to offer friends and supporters.

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  9. You are completely right it's all about power and money. When judges especially should be concerned about public safety. How can we expect them to make just decisions when their decisions seem to stem from greed and not justice. Our system is broken. It's not only sad but scary as well.

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  10. Lots of good comments on this post this is obviously a big issue with a lot of people...

    We have a good opportunity this year as someone else mentioned 3 of the four judges are up for re-election..

    I urge everyone to vote for Dan Moore who isn't in the clique of the other 3 current judges Jacobi, Weber and Carmichael...and is honest and a voice of reason..

    and do everything possible to defeat Jacobi and Weber this year (Weber is unopposed in the primary)and vote out Carmichael when her time comes...

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  11. I'd also would like to thank the News/Tribune for their article and hope they stay on top of this issue in the future...

    And News/Tribune how about an update on the drug court mess before next months primary...

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  12. We need other qualified, honest people to run for judge. Let's clean house.

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  13. Holy cow batman, there is an article in the CJ stating that judge Carmichael place one of the drug court defendants in jail without a hearing. Does this now disqualify her from heading up the program?

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  14. http://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/local/indiana/2014/04/16/eight-plaintiffs-added-clark-drug-court-suit/7794511/

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