Juvenile |
| The Juvenile Division of the Prosecutor's Office is responsible for all
criminal charges against individuals under the age of eighteen (18). In
Spencer County reports of criminal activity against those who are under
eighteen (18) go to the Circuit Court Juvenile Probation Officer where they
are reviewed and action is recommended. The Prosecutor's Office then assists
in the prosecution of juvenile delinquency referrals. Some delinquency complaints
are disposed of by referral to juvenile probation without necessity of a
formal hearing while others result in trials where the guilt or innocence
of the juvenile is determined and a disposition is ordered. The sanctions
for delinquency range anywhere from probation to commitment to the Indiana
Boys or Girls School. Certain offenses, if serious enough, can result in
automatic or requested waiver to adult court where the juvenile is tried
as an adult and receives an adult sentence.
After being elected Prosecutor Jon Dartt was active in setting up Spencer County's first formal community service program which is now used regularly for juvenile offenders to make them work for governmental and not-for-profit organizations without pay to learn responsibility and respect and to repay society for their wrongs. Many of Spencer County's juvenile offenders are also sent to the Youth Village and Detention Center in Vincennes where they receive counseling and education in addition to detention. Prosecutor Jon Dartt since his election also began using Vincennes' boot camp program for certain juvenile offenders to work on issues of respect, responsibility, and improve their work ethic. Finally, Prosecutor Jon Dartt with the assistance of the Extension Office applied for and received a grant to obtain monies to set up the "Keep Kids First" juvenile program. That grant allows for intensive supervision of certain juveniles by the Prosecutor's Office/Probation Department and also requires them to be drug and alcohol tested on a regular basis. The program also has a mentoring component for at-risk children which the Prosecutor's Office is working on in cooperation with Big Brothers and Big Sisters. Hoosier Hills Pact now administers our juvenile program and program administrator Janis Sisley is located in the Prosecutor's Office at 812-649-6038. Prosecutor Jon Dartt and Chief Deputy Prosecutor Jack Robinson prosecute juvenile cases. Chief Deputy Prosecutor Jack Robinson is the primary juvenile prosecutor and inquires about juvenile prosecutions should be directed to him or legal assistant Becky Kramer at 812-649-5011. The Probation Office phone number is 812-649-6026.
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