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| Indiana readies to parole 100 juvenile offenders |
| By The Journal Gazette |
| Published: 02/11/2005 |
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As many as 100 offenders held in the juvenile justice system who are now older than 18 could be released from the Indiana Department of Correction in coming weeks. State officials sent letters last week to judges in the counties where offenders were adjudicated, giving them the required 10-day notice of the release. At least eight of the offenders are from northeast Indiana, including two from Allen County. "It's not really a cost issue. We will get other juveniles in, so it's not that this is being done to save money," said Randy Koester, executive assistant to new DOC Commissioner J. David Donahue. "It's being done because it's good correctional policy. When there is nothing more for us to offer them, it's time for them to transition to the community." Donahue ordered a review to "make sure we haven't gotten into a malaise and they stay on and on," Koester said. Juveniles are sent to the Indiana Department of Correction under open-ended sentences, and the department is charged with deciding when to release them. The state currently houses 1,237 juvenile offenders, and 175 of them are older than 18. People convicted as juveniles can be held until age 21. The average length of stay for a juvenile sent to the Department of Correction is 14.9 months, and Koester said many of those likely to be released have stayed longer - including some more than two years. Decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis, with particular attention paid to the offenses committed, the offenders' histories, their conduct at the state institution and their involvement in different programming options. Koester said another key factor will be whether an offender has a suitable placement plan for transition. Koester said most of the offenders who will be released are considered non-violent and are serving time for theft, drug-related offenses or residential entry. A few might have misdemeanor battery histories. After release, they will be on a juvenile form of parole, which could involve home visits, drug testing and other supervision. |
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