Probation

INTAKE PROBATION

2929 North Wells Street, Fort Wayne, Indiana 46808
Phone: (260) 449-8072 • Fax: (260) 449-8900
Intake Probation is responsible for addressing and seeing a case through the Court process. An Intake Officer will be assigned to the juvenile’s case, and is responsible for gathering the facts and recommending whether a case should be: dismissed, informally adjusted, referred to counseling or another agency, or if a delinquency petition should be filed. Intake Officers work closely with the juvenile, parents, school officials, service providers, and the Court to assist in implementing a treatment plan for the care and rehabilitation of the juvenile.

ADMINISTRATIVE PROBATION

2929 North Wells Street, Fort Wayne, Indiana 46808
Phone: (260) 449-8072 • Fax: (260) 449-8900

Administrative Probation is the lowest level of probation offered by the Court.  Administrative Probation is generally ordered as part of an Informal Adjustment, however, it can be ordered after adjudication as well.  Administrative Probation is geared to handle the low risk offender.  As a general rule, once a child has been placed on Administrative Probation, the term is approximately six (6) months but can be extended when necessary.

Once placed on Administrative Probation, the juvenile will have to fulfill a range of special probation conditions in order to complete the probation plan successfully.  Some of those requirements include but are not limited to:

•           Community Service
•           Apology Letter
•           Written Essay
•           Counseling (i.e. individual, family, anger management, substance use)
•           Thinking Errors Class
•           Parenting Classes
•           Phoenix Parent/Adolescent Education

FIELD PROBATION

Field Probation is responsible for monitoring juveniles who are placed on probation by the Juvenile Court. This division is divided into three (3) regional probation offices thus allowing an opportunity to provide services and supervision to juveniles and their families relatively near their homes.  Field supervision consists of maintaining contact with the juvenile, the family, school personnel, mental health professionals, law enforcement officers, social service providers, and other agencies that may positively impact the juvenile and his or her family.  Conditions of probation may include but are not limited to: school attendance, employment, curfew, counseling, and refraining from all illegal substance usage.

North Probation Office
2929 North Wells Street, Fort Wayne, Indiana 46808
Phone: (260) 449-8208 • Fax: (260) 449-8417

East Allen Probation Office
925 Main Street, New Haven, Indiana 46774
Phone: (260) 449-7437 • Fax: (260) 449-4312

South Probation Office
2211 Fairfield Avenue, Fort Wayne, Indiana 46802
Phone: (260) 449-7100 • Fax: (260) 449-4308

DETENTION ALTERNATIVE PROGRAM (DAP)

2929 North Wells Street, Fort Wayne, Indiana 46808
Phone: (260) 449-8140 • After Hours: (260) 449-8449

The DAP Program was implemented by the Court in 1991 as a tool to reduce the number of juveniles being held in detention.  DAP provides the opportunity for a juvenile to remain in the home, and within the community, during the court process rather than being held in detention.  Simply put, DAP is a conditional release while a juvenile is pending a court hearing.  The goal of DAP is to provide additional structure and supervision within the home to juveniles who are pending court proceedings.

There are three levels of DAP supervision – curfew checks (least restrictive), home detention (moderately restrictive), and anklet supervision (most restrictive and requires a phone line).  The level of DAP supervision that a juvenile receives is determined by the Court.  The Court will consider the nature of the offense and/or a juvenile’s legal history in deciding the DAP supervision level.  Each DAP level has a specific set of rules that are designed to provide the juvenile with structure and supervision while allowing the juvenile to remain in the home and continue with his or her daily schedules such as school, work, or counseling.  If a juvenile is not compliant with DAP rules, the juvenile may be returned to detention.  A detention review hearing will be scheduled for the next business day after a juvenile is taken into custody.

ELECTRONIC MONITORING PROGRAM (EMP)

2929 North Wells Street, Fort Wayne, Indiana 46808
Phone: (260) 449-8140

The Electronic Monitoring Program is the most intensive, restrictive, and structured form of probation supervision that the Court has to offer. EMP requires a juvenile to be monitored by an anklet device for the duration of his or her probation supervision, which is a minimum of 6 months. While on EMP, a juvenile’s schedule and daily activities are closely monitored. EMP tends to be utilized when all other community-based services have been exhausted or when the juvenile is adjudicated delinquent for a serious offense. The goal of EMP is to provide a juvenile the opportunity to complete probation while in the home and within the community. As well as providing strict structure and constant supervision, EMP helps a juvenile develop skills such as responsibility and time-management.

PLACEMENT

2929 North Wells Street, Fort Wayne, Indiana 46808
Phone: (260) 449-8072 • Fax: (260) 449-8900

The Placement Team is composed of three specially trained probation officers. These officers are responsible for securing a placement for any child who has been ordered by the Court to be placed outside of their home into placement facilities with programs that fit the child’s counseling or treatment needs. Placements range from foster care to residential treatment facilities, each serving a specific purpose. Once a placement is secured, the Placement Officers are responsible for monitoring the child’s treatment program by conducting placement visits and maintaining regular contact with the treatment team.   Placement Review Hearings are held every six months, at which time the child’s progress in placement is evaluated.