Adult Alternative Placement Coordinator: Carolyn Marshall,
Phone: 327-3222, Fax: 327-4117
John Schulte, Adult MSW, LCSW, CADAC;
Phone: 327-8175, Fax: 327-4117
Juvenile Alternative Placement Coordinator:
Sophia Mustaklem, BSW
Phone: 327-8746 or 327-8218, Fax: 327-4117
Steven Davidovich, Juvenile MSW, LSW;
Phone 327-5760, Fax: 327-4117
Tabitha Lamm, Intern
Phone 327-327-8288
The Marion County Public Defender Agency received a grant from the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute to initiate a program to reduce the over-reliance on incarceration as punishment for adult and juvenile offenders who are appropriate for community-based sentencing.
P.A.I.R.(Psychiatric Assertive Identification and Referral Program: is a mental health diversion program designed to address the needs of persons diagnosed with serious and persistent mental illnesses, with minor criminal charges pending and moving them out of the criminal justice system into treatment.
The goal of the program is to identify these individuals as early as possible and facilitate their release into community based treatment. The PAIR program allows those eligible to remain living in the community by following an individualized treatment plan created and administered by the treatment provider and monitored by the Mental Health Court.
The program works in cooperation with Marion County Prosecutors Office, Marion County Superior Court, Mental Health America of Greater Indianapolis, Volunteers of America, Midtown CMHC, Behavior Corps CMHC, Gallahue MHS, Adult and Child CMHC and Veteran's Administration.
Through PAIR, individuals who are charged with minor criminal charges and are diagnosed as seriously mentally ill, may be eligible for and enter into a mental health diversion agreement. Terms of the agreement may vary, but all will require the client to obtain a mental health treatment plan and maintain compliance for the year they are on the diversion program. Upon completion of the agreement, the original charge will result in a dismissal.
Along with the PAIR Program, which is a pre trial diversion, we also refer clients to Community Corrections and Community Corrections Mental Health Component which are post conviction alternative placement programs as well.
The Juvenile Division represents children accused of committing delinquent action in Marion County Indiana. The Juvenile Social Worker and Disposition Coordinator work in conjunction with the agency attorneys to provide individualized assessments and alternative plans to present in court. This is critical due to the recent change in legislation limiting the alternatives available to be presented in the delinquency court settings by the Probation department. It is clear that increasing bio-psycho-social assessments are imperative to better advocate for youth in a manner that focuses on a less-restrictive approach to rehabilitation, the goal of the Juvenile Justice system. In addition, the Public Defender Agency works to continually contrast to the court programs and community resources as they relate to our clients.
The Juvenile Alternative Placement Program will continue to stress the importance of evidence-based social work practice. This approach is vital to finding the best way to engage our clients, families and the communities in rehabilitation. It also assists us in continually making our services provisions better. This important approach will be addressed through informing agencies of particular clients needs and strengthens at the front end of referrals.
How We Help Our Clients and Our Community
We are able to provide the means to make alternative sentencing services, alternative placements and planning available to clients in both the adult and juvenile court systems.
- This grant will reduce jail overcrowding by placing adults with serious mental illness in appropriate treatment programs opposed to incarceration.
- Community Correction programming offers offenders work-release, substance abuse treatment, mental health treatment, anger control, parenting classes, life-skills training, and an education for a GED. These programs reduce the likelihood that offenders will re-offend when released.
- Juvenile crime is an extension of a troubled family system. By adding support staff to assess client and family needs, and make appropriate social service referrals, we can reduce our client base.
- Our Social Service referrals for both the adult and juvenile divisions meet the need for immediate intervention. This grant will provide funds for psychological testing and other assessments, thus reducing the financial burden of the Courts resources.
Internship Program
The Marion County Public Defender Agency in downtown Indianapolis seeks social work student interns for the Fall of 2009. The Agency employs more than 140 full-time lawyers, 100 part-time lawyers, three social workers, and numerous paralegals and support staff, all of whom represent indigent defendants in criminal, juvenile, mental health, and appellate proceedings.
Social Work Practice with Adults
The Marion County Public Defenders Agency is offering qualified BSW and MSW level Social Work students focusing on mental health and addiction practice areas an excellent internship placement opportunity. The Adult Practice experience will facilitate students development of client centered, strength based approaches in the following clinical and programmatic domains:
Social Advocacy in Marion County Courts- Working with persons having a diagnosis of serious and persistent mental illness access the PAIR Program. ( The PAIR Program is a nationally recognized Court Diversion option for persons who have symptoms of serious and persistent mental illness.)
Mental Health Treatment/Differential Diagnosis- Learn engagement skills, complete assessments, and assist clients with case management approaches as they access mental health services in Marion County. The development and use of clinical skills in conducting addiction assessments with persons experiencing symptoms of mental illness.
Forensic Social Work Practice- As a social worker you will have the opportunity to engage, screen and assess persons reporting symptoms of mental illness in Marion County Jail 1 and 2. Following assessment, you will evaluate the level of need for linkage with the Mental Health Court and community based mental health service providers.
The previously mentioned areas of clinical and programmatic practice will involve evaluation of the interventions used, data collection, and interpretation of objective information for practice and policy. The student will be encouraged to explore the use of objective practice measures to evaluate intervention.
Juvenile Division Internship
BSW and MSW level Social Work students in the juvenile division will participate in a broad range of practice experiences and projects.
First, students will be involved in a variety of areas such as assessment and treatment recommendations, advocacy, case management, and community practice--all within the context of the juvenile/criminal justice system. Other areas will also cover program evaluation including data collection, interpretation, and dissemination. Second, students will embark on further in-depth study of the juvenile court system in Marion County, its non-adversarial role, and opposing attitudes toward treatment. Third, through these assignments students will gain valuable knowledge to recognize the causes, prevention, and treatment of social problems among youth utilizing the strengths-based model.
Finally, these experiences will provide for a rich semester(s) that will facilitate further application of theoretical knowledge and skills, along with demonstrated competencies in working with various client systems and stakeholders.
Those interested in the practice areas of child welfare and advocacy or leadership are encouraged to apply, although any student interested in social work will find this experience invaluable.
Application Information
Fall practicum's are expected to commence around the start of the school calendar. Interns may work full or part-time but are expected to complete the hours determined by your School of Social Work program.
For additional information please contact John Schulte, Adult Field Instructor, at jschulte@indy.gov, or Steven Davidovich, Juvenile Field Instructor, at sdavidov@indy.gov. Summer Internship applications are now closed. The deadline for fall internships is the second week in August, 2009.