The JJC Update
Through the JJC Update, the Court provides information about activities
at the St. Joseph County Juvenile Justice Center and the St. Joseph
Probate Court. As of this update, the Court has been in operation at the
JJC for almost two and one-half (2 1/2) years. Since the St.
Joseph County Office Of Family And Children moved into their quarters in
the JJC, citizens of St. Joseph County have been able to rely on
the Court and the JJC as a source of "one stop" shopping for services
related to children and families.
1. APPOINTMENT OF SECOND MAGISTRATE:
On August 16, 1999, St. Joseph Probate Court Judge Peter J. Nemeth announced
the appointment of Jane Woodward Miller as the Court's second Magistrate.
Ms. Miller began her duties with the Court on September 7, 1999.
Ms. Miller graduated from the University of Notre Dame Law School, cum
laude, in 1978, served as a child welfare worker for the Lake County
Department of Public Welfare from 1972 through 1975, and prosecuted felony
cases in which children were victims for the St. Joseph County Prosecuting
Attorney's Office from 1987 through 1998. As Juvenile Court Magistrate,
Ms. Miller is handling delinquency, CHINS, (child in need of services)
and paternity cases. She was sworn in and began serving in her position
on September 7, 1999. Ms. Miller is married
to the Honorable Robert L. Miller, Jr., and has two daughters.
2. INCREASE IN PATERNITY FILINGS:
In 1997 and 1998 respectively, 812 and 837 new paternity cases were filed
in the St. Joseph Probate Court. Through the third quarter of 1999,
1,313 new paternity cases were filed, making it likely that by the end
of 1999 over 1,700 new paternity cases will be filed. This level
of case filings was achieved even in light of a transition in the Prosecutor's
IV-D staff brought about by the election of a new Prosecuting Attorney
for St. Joseph County in the November 1998 election. In February of 1999,
the Court switched its paternity civil caseload over to the QUEST
computerized case management system. Even before the appointment
of Magistrate Miller, this switch over along with the interest of the IV-D
staff has allowed the Court to effectively double its paternity caseload
in 1999, thereby helping more children secure the financial and emotional
support that they are entitled to receive from their parents. Child
support enforcement in paternity cases has similarly improved thorough
the use of QUEST and the cooperation of the IV-D staff.
3. PUBLIC OPEN HOUSE/TOUR SCHEDULED: As a part
of Indiana's recognition of YOUTH, JUSTICE AND CITIZENSHIP WEEK,
on October 27, 1999 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., the Court and its staff
will provide the public with an opportunity to learn about the work of
a juvenile court and the specific programs and activities carried on in
the JJC including: the court, probation, prosecutor, public
defender, CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), St. Joseph County
Office of Family and Children (Child Protective Services Division), St.
Joseph County Prosecutor's Family Violence Unit, secure detention (90 secure
beds, psychologists, cafeteria, gym, and class rooms), S.U.C.C.E.E.D.
(day reporting), Madison Center Residential (34 beds for non-secure
treatment), South Bend Community School Corporation (A.P.P.R.O.V.E. educational
program), parenting classes (for paternity cases), Drug testing lab
(for children and some adults), Electronic Monitoring Program (an alternative
to secure detention and sometimes referred to as "house arrest"),
J.S.A.P.P. (juvenile substance abuse testing, assessment, and education
program), Shoplifting Deterrent Program, S.T.A.T. Program ("Start
Turning Around Teens" diversionary program), Prison Ministry, and AmeriCorps
(mentoring program). The schedule of planned activities includes
the following:
4:00 Presentation of 1st Annual Award of "You Made
a Difference in a Child's Life"
4:15 Tours of Detention
Every 15 minutes-ongoing
4:15 "Ask a Judge"
Magistrate Brueseke
Court Room 2-ongoing
4:15 Mock Shoplifting Trial
Judge Nemeth and
Notre Dame Law Students
Court Room 1
5:00 Mock Shooting Trial
Magistrate Miller and members of Adams
HS Mock Trial Team
Court Room 1
5:54 Mock Shoplifting Trial
Judge Nemeth and
Notre Dame Law Students
Court Room 1
6:30 Mock Shooting Trial
Magistrate Miller and members of Adams
HS Mock Trial Team
Court Room 1
4. FACTS ABOUT THE JJC and THE ST. JOSEPH
PROBATE COURT:
The JJC was built in 1997 at a cost of
$20 million and is now 80% paid for.
In 1998, the Court's activities returned $1,038,200
to the county general fund.
The Juvenile Probation Department receives about
5000 referrals each year.
In 1998, community service hours valued at $126,638
were provided by youth under the Court's supervision.
The Court's Middle School Truancy program has
raised student attendance rates to over 94%.
The Court's Elementary School Truancy/Neglect
program at C.A.S.I.E. served 240 students in 1998.
The JJC is fully occupied with children
and family related services:
The Court is served by many volunteer tutors,
counselors, and special teachers.
Prepared 10/19/99 by Harold E. Brueseke, Magistrate
1000 S. Michigan St. , South Bend, IN 46601-3426
Phone: 219-235-KIDS (5437) FAX 219-235-5382