ANNUAL REPORT OF THE LAPORTE COUNTY

PROSECUTING ATTORNEY’S OFFICE FOR 2005

       In 2005, the LaPorte County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office was staffed by one full-time Prosecuting Attorney, one full-time Chief Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, three state-paid Deputy Prosecuting Attorneys, eleven county-paid Deputy Prosecuting Attorneys, two Adult Protective Service Investigators, three Victim Advocates, one Bad Check administrator, one Infraction Deferral administrator, three Trial Support staff members, two Metro Operations staff members, eleven Child Support staff members, one Receptionist, one Data Entry Clerk and one Administrative Assistant.

            Source of funding for employee wages for the department is as follows:

            19.6  employees wage paid by LaPorte County.

            6.75  employees wage paid by the State of Indiana.

            9.80  employees wage paid by federal reimbursement.

            1.6    employees wage paid by self funding from revenue generated in the prosecutors office.

            4.25  employees wage paid by Grants.

            In 2005, for the sixth consecutive year, the office continued its conscientious effort to monitor spending, and at year end returned $ 68,672 budgeted to the Prosecutor’s Office for fiscal year 2005 to the county general fund from the departments’ various operating budgets and the departments’ various salary accounts, as shown below.

            The LaPorte County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office operating budgets, excluding salaries,  have remained the same through out all 7 years of the present administration with no requested increases in the various operating budgets of the department over the last six years and with decreases

requested by the County Council fully accepted.  All office financial requirements beyond that provided by the operating budgets are covered by funding generated within the Prosecutors office.  

            The following chart shows the office’s expenditures.  Among our major purchases in 2005 from office discretionary income were $21,569 for three copiers, $14,466 for document scanning/archiving equipment, $11,825 for computers for the Child Support office, $8,000 for a K-9 dog including training, $7,000 to supplement the Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council to conduct a weighted caseload study, and $10,000 for Superior Court No. 1 UEA Vocational Training Program.    These one-time expenditures increased the 2005 office budget over prior years.

 

              In 2005 the LaPorte County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office continued to receive two grants from the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute.  Our Victim Services Grant was reduced 16% upon renewal; and our Metro Operations Grant was reduced by 11%.  These grants were administered to improve victim services and to continue our unified, county-wide drug and law enforcement efforts.  Each grant paid for two employees’ salaries, and the Metro Operations Grant paid for training, equipment and operating expenses for the drug task force. 

            The LaPorte County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office again shared its financial resources generated by the Prosecutor’s Office with local law enforcement agencies.  The Prosecutor’s Office purchased and provided needed equipment for numerous law enforcement agencies in LaPorte County.  The following items are some of the purchases made during 2005.

Four Armorlite protective vests for Metro Operations.

A Mavica Camera, receiver and battery packs for the Michigan City Police Dept.         

Evidence Van equipment for Sheriff’s Dept.

Entry tools for Indiana State Police Lowell.

A speaker for an Indiana State Police Camp presentation

Portable computer equipment for LaPorte County courts.

Weighted caseload study for Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council.

UEA Vocational Training Funds for Superior Court #1.

K-9 dog and training for LaPorte Police Dept.

Two used copiers were given to the LaPorte County Extension and
the LaPorte County Leadership office.

            These purchased and gifted items were valued at $55,258.00.  In addition $4,626.00 of law enforcement equipment and supplies was provided to local law enforcement agencies through grants secured by the office.        

            In 2005, the LaPorte County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office sponsored training for staff members and law enforcement agencies.  Total training costs were $10,860.00.

            Topics included:

State APS (Adult Protective Services) Mandatory Training, Indianapolis

National Conference on Aging for APS, Philadelphia

INCASA Conference for Victim Advocates, Indianapolis

Child Support Conference, Merrillville

IPAC/Attorney General Summer Conference, Evansville

Alzheimer’s Conference for APS, Chicago

“One Voice Many Visions” Conference for Metro Ops, Indianapolis

Meth Training for Metro Ops, Merrillville

Fall Alliance Meeting for Child Support, Michigan City

APS State Conference, Angola

ICLEF Legal Writing Seminar, Indianapolis

Juvenile Justice Symposium, LaPorte

IPAC/AG Winter Conference, Indianapolis

APS Computer Training, Indianapolis

Forensic Entomology Workshop for Sheriff’s Dept., Rensselaer

Forensic Training Services for Sheriff’s Dept., Texas

PROSECUTION AND COURT STATISTICS

        The following chart shows the number of criminal cases filed in LaPorte County over the past

 years, including 2005.

The following chart shows the Felony charges filed over the past year 2005.  

            The following chart shows the Juvenile cases filed in LaPorte County over the past years and in 2005.

PROGRAMS/DIVISIONS WITHIN THE

PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS OFFICE

ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES

            Adult Protective Services (APS), is a state mandated program that was developed for the purpose of investigating allegations of abuse, neglect, and exploitation of endangered adults.  APS serves adults who are physically and/or mentally incapacitated to the extent that they cannot provide self care or direct their own care.

            The La Porte County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office serves as the hub county for APS, Unit 1A.  This APS unit investigates allegations in a six county area including La Porte, Porter, Starke, Pulaski, Jasper, and Newton Counties.  The unit consists of two full-time investigators.  In 2005, the APS unit investigated 1,015 cases of abuse, neglect, and exploitation.  320 allegations were investigated in La Porte County.

            2005 was a challenging year for APS, as the unit went from three full-time investigators to two full-time investigators.  APS had received grant funding for the third investigator from the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute for the past seven years, but funding was denied for 2005.

            APS Investigators participated in domestic violence trainings in La Porte and Porter Counties.  This was an opportunity to educate law enforcement officers regarding how to respond to the abuse of elderly and disabled citizens.

            APS Investigators also attended TRIAD meetings in La Porte and Porter Counties.  TRIAD is a commitment shared by law enforcement, seniors, and social service organizations to address crime prevention, education programs, and safety issues of seniors.  The La Porte County TRIAD began meeting in the fall of 2005 and the charter was signed on March 2, 2006.

            APS Investigators were actively involved in the organization of the Northwest Indiana Adult Guardianship Program.  This non-profit organization will provide guardianship services to incapacitated adults in the northwest region of Indiana.  The formation of this agency will provide protection and advocacy to endangered adults in need of guardianship.

            APS received referrals from hospitals, home health agencies, law enforcement agencies, councils on aging, nursing homes, group homes, mental health providers, numerous other agencies, and the general public throughout 2005.  APS remained focused on safeguarding endangered adults while providing the least restrictive form of intervention.

BAD CHECK DIVISION

            The Bad Check Program which assists in collecting amounts due from insufficient funds checks and account closed checks continued to expand and perform collection services to the recipients of bad checks in 2005.   The Bad Check Division collected in excess of  $156,384.00 in restitution for citizens who received Non-sufficient Funds and Account Closed checks in year 2005.

          It is important to note that the following figures represented in the graphs do not reflect all restitution paid through the Clerk’s Office on cases which resulted in criminal charges being filed, or any cases which may still be pending in the court system, and thus actual collections exceeded those reported.        

          The Bad Check Division continued,  in conjunction with the LaPorte County Clerk’s Office, refinement of the system regarding the distribution of restitution on criminal bad check cases filed with the courts.  The system allows all restitution secured through court action to be released to the Bad Check Program for distribution to the recipient business.   This is a very positive step which allows the program to reimburse monies in a more timely fashion and also allows better record keeping to identify cases where restitution is paid and cases where restitution is still owed.

            From 1990 - 2005 the Bad Check Program has collected $2,238,367.00 in restitution on bad checks for businesses and individuals.  Further, the distribution of the fees charged by the program to the LaPorte County General Fund from 1991 - 2005 totals $310,294.00.

            In 2005, the Bad Check Division handled 764 cases.  A break down of those cases follows: 400 (53%) of the cases handled were paid and satisfied; 271 (35%) of the cases had criminal summons or warrants  issued and were handled by the court system; 75 (10%) of the cases were handled civilly; and 18 (2%) of the cases could not be processed due to improper addresses.

            The chart below shows the total monies collected on behalf of businesses, and the fees that have been returned to the County General Fund.

             This chart shows the number of cases handled by the Bad Check Division historically and during 2005.

CHILD SUPPORT DIVISION

            The Child Support Division IV-D Office establishes paternity and collects support for children who reside in LaPorte County or whose parent(s) live in LaPorte County.  The division is governed by Federal and State laws and regulations.  The State reimburses each County Child Support Division a percentage of its expenses, plus a formula-based “incentive” amount determined by the collections of reimbursable welfare assistance costs.  New inner office policy established in 1999-2000 coupled with new legislation and regulations from 2001 now limit expenditure of Child Support Incentive Funds to the exclusive benefit of the Child Support Division.

            Year 2005 collections of child support in TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families cases where public assistance has been received) and NON-TANF cases (where no public assistance has been received) totaled a record $8,856,458.00.  This amount represents an approximate $90% increase in total child support collections, during the current administration, from 1999 through 2005.  While the number of cases handled by the division continues to increase yearly, the 2003 case review and clean up resulted in a current caseload reaching approximately 13,000 cases.  The trend of increasing numbers of Non-TANF cases and decreasing TANF cases continues at a dramatic rate in the wake of State and National Welfare Reform Legislation.  As stated by Prosecutor Beckman, achieving his established four year goal for the IV-D program of increasing 1998's $4.4 million collection to $7.1 million collected in support payments by 2002, increasing 2002 collections by an additional $700,000.00 in 2003, and further increasing 2004 collections over 2003 by an additional one-half million dollars is an extraordinary accomplishment by a dedicated staff.  In year 2005 the IV-D office again increased collections over the prior year.  

            These record increases were accomplished without any increase in funding to the division and with the same number of employees.  In addition, it was announced in April of 2004 that Indiana children receive more child support for every dollar spent on administrative costs designed to operate Indiana’s child support program than any other of the 50 states in the Nation, collecting $7.80 for every dollar spent on enforcement.  A representative portion of this noted achievement is directly related to the exemplary performance of the LaPorte County IV-D Child Support Division.

Enforcement Measures:

            The Child Support Program’s arsenal of tools available to enforce child support obligations now include: computer automation of its operations (including interfaces with numerous other computer systems and data bases as well as other state agency systems), financial institution data cross-matching (locating of bank assets), credit bureau reporting, cross matching new hire reporting (New Hire Registry), automated income withholding orders, income withholding liens on property and financial institutions, federal loan data matching, interception of income tax refunds (state and federal), interception of unemployment compensation benefits, interception of lottery winnings, driver’s and professional license suspension, hunting and fishing license suspension, passport revocation or denial, court ordered classes and appointments scheduled with fatherhood programs, jail time pursuant to a court finding of Contempt, and prosecution for felony criminal non-support.

            Location sources include: custodial parent, Federal and State Parent Locator Services, U.S. Postal Service, State employment security agency, Department of Motor Vehicles, and credit bureaus.

Programs for Fathers and Visitation:

            We continue to work with various fatherhood programs, including Harmony House and Family Focus, referring appropriate participants to these programs with the goal of strengthening the role that fathers play in the lives of their children by improving fathers’ parenting skills and accessibility to support services, providing a safe haven for supervised visitation, increasing fathers’ positive involvement with their children, providing access to a co-parenting mediator, and helping fathers and mothers cooperate in parenting for the sake of their children, thereby increasing establishment of paternity and payment of child support.

Criminal Enforcement:

            LaPorte County continued its initial efforts begun in 2000 with the Child Support Division's filing of felony criminal non-support cases resulting in twenty-three C Felony non-support filings, nine D Felony convictions, and approximately $71,000.00 in child support payments received as a direct result of criminal prosecution in cases where no payments had been received prior to prosecution.  In addition to these payments, we have also started seeing an increase in the use of jail time and road crew in sentences.  The department is anticipating filing additional felony criminal cases in year 2006 as a last resort in cases where all other civil remedies have been exhausted, and the arrearage exceeds $15,000.00.

Child Support Incentive Funds:

            The following chart shows the Incentive Funds returned to the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office IV-D Child Support Division over the past years, including funds received in 2005.  The same amounts were returned to the General Fund and the Clerk’s Office for their use.  Incentive Funds are divided into thirds and distributed to the General Fund, the LaPorte County Clerk’s Office and the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.

            In order to receive incentive funds from the federal government, a state must meet minimum performance thresholds in five performance measures: order establishment, paternity establishment, current support collections, cases paying on arrears, and cost effectiveness.  The Federal Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE) evaluates every state’s performance in those five areas yearly, and incentive payments increase with improved performance percentages.  According to the FFY2002 Title IV-D incentive reconciliation received by the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA), Indiana’s improved performance resulted in a 77% increase in incentive funding to the state.  When incentives are distributed to the counties, the same performance-based standards are used.

            Child Support Incentive Funds are now distributed annually for the previous year.  The one-third portion of the LaPorte County Prosecutor’s incentive funds for federal fiscal year 2004 was $42,321.00.  The LaPorte County General Fund likewise received $42,321.00, and the LaPorte County Clerk’s Office also received $42,321.00.

Indiana Support Enforcement Tracking System (ISETS) Data Reliability:

            As a result of the federal audit conducted during the year 2000 in regard to the integrity of data contained in the Indiana Support Enforcement Tracking System (ISETS), and in preparation for the 2002 audit, the state Child Support Bureau directed a review of the accuracy of updated case activity and court order information within the ISETS database.  The massive project included review and clean-up of existing case files, purging of inappropriate case referrals, and removal of cases created in error dating back to the 1994/1995 conversion to ISETS.  In addition, the federally mandated 90% accuracy standard which each state must meet for the reliability of child support data, which is also utilized in determining future incentive funding, was raised by the federal government to a required 95% accuracy for the year 2002.

            Results received in January of 2004 from the Deputy Director of the Indiana Family & Social Services Administration, Division of Family and Children, Child Support Bureau in Indianapolis indicated that the LaPorte County IV-D Child Support Division achieved 100% Data Reliability for those cases which were targeted.  Completion of this project has had a positive long-term impact on Indiana’s child support program, contributed to increased enforcement, facilitated the implementation of system changes and procedures for the ongoing maintenance of data integrity, and resulted in programming changes to the ISETS system that will prevent inappropriate system referrals.

            Information recently received from the Director of the Office of Finance, FSSA and the Deputy Director of the Child Support Bureau in Indianapolis demonstrates that the Indiana audit for FFY 2003 found reliable data for both the number of children born out of wedlock and for the number of children with paternity established.   

Additional:

            LaPorte County is now a satellite hub for training sessions.  The Northwest Region Training Center is located within the office of the LaPorte County Division of Family & Children, 1551 S. Woodland, Michigan City, and was first put to use in December, 2003, when all caseworkers were required to attend IRS/Confidentiality Training regarding tax information security guidelines for Federal, State and local agencies.

            Indiana now provides online access to electronic fund transfers of child support payments by employers, allowing employers to transfer payments directly into the state’s distribution system.  In addition, many custodial parents are now receiving their child support payments from the Child Support Bureau through electronic transfer.

            As part of an FSSA run federal grant for a 2004 pilot project on electronic distribution of child support funds, a number of custodial parents not in possession of a bank account into which their child support may be directly deposited have been provided a Hoosier Works MasterCard CDA (Commercial Debit Account) card, with which purchases can be made (wherever MasterCard is accepted) as well as cash withdrawals.  The degree of success of this pilot project will be independently evaluated by Indiana University, and should the CDA prove to be a more effective and efficient way to distribute child support payments, CDA distribution may become a statewide initiative.

            In January of 2005, Governor Daniels signed executive orders to establish the Department of Child Services, moving Child Protection Services, foster care, adoption, independent living, and the Child Support Bureau from the Family and Social Services Administration.  Following approval of the bill, the DCS commenced as an official agency starting July 1, 2005.

INFRACTION DEFERRAL PROGRAM 

            Changes were made to the Infraction Deferral Program due to new legislation in 2005. The program  fees were restructured because court costs were increased in the new legislation. A requirement of maintaining a Infraction Deferral program is transmitting all deferral information to the Proslink Data base maintained by the Prosecuting Attorneys Council which began in January of 2006.

            In 2005, the total number of participants for the Infraction Deferral Program was 1882. Ticket
Incentive available for the police departments was $37,670.00. The amount has increased from the
previous year because the ticket incentive received by law enforcement was doubled by the Prosecutors’ Office.  The program benefits the police departments by returning a portion of the fees to them. The police departments may utilize the funds for training programs.

         

            The following charts illustrate the ticket incentive money for the police departments for the year
2005, and  the number of participants for each court since 1995.

METRO OPERATIONS

            LaPorte County, the second largest geographical county in the State, is over 30 miles long and 20 miles wide, containing a population of approximately 110,000 citizens.  LaPorte County is also in a unique geographical location:   adjacent to direct routes linking Chicago and Detroit as well as within a 40 minute drive to Gary.  All of these cities are recognized as High Intensity Drug Areas (HIDTA) providing both ample amounts of illicit drugs and easy access to LaPorte County.  The presence of Indiana Toll Road and Interstate Highway 94 exits located in the County, facilitate the potential for the influx of controlled substances and out of area drug traffickers to the area. 

            LaPorte County is predominantly rural, but also contains eleven diverse jurisdictions, including small towns with no independent police presence, and two cities with populations of 32,000 and 24,000 residents. Additionally, LaPorte County is home to two Indiana State Prisons at Michigan City and Westville.  By utilizing the task force to collect intelligence and investigate drug trafficking, we are able to overcome the jurisdictional boundaries that so often are detrimental to investigations of criminals who enter many jurisdictions to commit crimes.

            The LaPorte Circuit Courthouse located in LaPorte and the Michigan City Superior Courthouse in Michigan City contain the Circuit Court, four Superior Courts, and three magistrates courts in what are basically two separate judicial systems.

            In order to address the increasing evidence of illegal drug trafficking and usage in the LaPorte County area, in 1999, a multi-jurisdictional task force involving local law enforcement as well as the LaPorte County Prosecutor and State of Indiana and Federal agencies was developed.  It was hoped that the development of the task force would impact the entire population of LaPorte County as well as the larger region of Northwest Indiana.   As a result, the quality of life of LaPorte County citizens would improve by eliminating not only illegal drugs, but by reducing the collateral crime associated with illegal drugs.

            The LaPorte Metro Unit operation has investigated 3288 cases since its inception in July 1998 and reconfiguration in 1999.  The Unit has targeted mid-level to higher dealers and has succeeded in solving many other previously unsolved crimes in the County, through development of confidential informants, cooperation among the various local police departments, utilization of high tech surveillance equipment, and improved evidence gathering techniques to better prepare cases for prosecution.

            LaPorte Metro Operations works with several federal agencies including the FBI, DEA, and Secret Service, in addition to supporting surrounding state and county law enforcement agencies to develop cases and information.  Metro also has assisted Homeland Security/Immigration and Customs (ICE) with cases involving illegal border crossing and firearms violations by convicted felons. 

            Because of the positive impact and performance of the LaPorte County Metro unit, surrounding smaller counties have assigned patrol officers on a temporary basis to assist Metro in specific cases affording their officers “on the job training” as well as the experience in working in a focused drug task force situation. 

            The Metro Unit now has a local Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) task force officer working out of the unit.  In addition, Metro has developed a working relationship with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), assisting them with illegal border crossings and drug smuggling between LaPorte County and Chicago. Due to the rapidly increasing Hispanic community in LaPorte County, Metro anticipates more involvement with ICE in the future.  In the past several years Metro has developed a good working rapport with the Secret Service, the FBI and ATF as well as the U.S. Attorney's office in South Bend.   The DEA’s Mobile Enforcement Team, (MET) has been deployed in LaPorte County not once, but twice in the past five years due to the great success of the missions.  As a result of Metro’s cooperation with the Federal agencies, the prosecution of targeted felons in the Federal Court System has increased.  

            A Board of Directors continues to govern the LaPorte Metro Operations Unit. This Board consists of the LaPorte County Prosecuting Attorney, LaPorte County Sheriff, Police Chiefs, and Town Marshals, as well as representatives from the Indiana State Police, Indiana Department of Corrections and the Department of Natural Resources. This Board meets monthly to review the operations of the Metro Unit and to discuss its future operation.

            It has been determined that the total cost of project for the 2006-2007 grant period will be $157,963.  This figure includes personnel costs for the coordinator and the administrative person in the amount of $98,000.00.   The project coordinator reports to the Board as to the activities of the Unit and serves as liaison between the Board and the assigned Metro Operations detectives.  In addition, the coordinator plans controlled drug buys, develops informants, and investigates cases as part of the team.  A full time administrative assistant maintains office files, tracks and maintains statistical information, as well as, receives and disseminates tips and other information in a confidential manner.  A part time person maintains employee records and salary information in addition to tracking purchases, budgets and other grant financial activity.

            The Metro Unit continues to be a vital and necessary tool in the fight against drug dealing and collateral crime in LaPorte County.  The Metro Operations Unit has developed a reputation in the community as a threat to drug dealing in the County.  Since the installation of a toll free tip line, Metro has received an influx of useful information from local citizens.  Citizens have become increasingly proactive about keeping drug trafficking out of their neighborhoods.  Metro receives and tracks the tips from citizens and works to improve communication with these concerned citizens.  Each year the number of tips from the private sector has increased, becoming a useful tool for broadening of the database of targets and potential informants.  With the cooperation of citizens of LaPorte County and all law enforcement agencies in the county,  Metro Operations has been able to pool resources, manpower and equipment to work toward a common goal.

            The LaPorte Metro Unit operation has investigated 3288 cases since its inception in July 1998.  In 2005, Metro Operations made 558 cases, resulting in the arrest of 316 suspects.  Estimated street value of seized controlled substances in 2005 was over $208,000.00.  In addition to controlled drug buys and search warrants, Metro Units have investigated numerous robberies, thefts, identity fraud cases, prescription fraud and credit card fraud.  According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, Indiana State Factsheet:

 “Powder cocaine is readily available throughout the state, while
crack cocaine is primarily available in urban areas of Indiana.”

In 2005, LaPorte Metro Operations seized, through controlled buys and purchases, 435.5 grams of cocaine with an estimated street value of over $133,000.00.

                                            “In northern Indiana, Southeast Asian white heroin has decreased and has been replace by Mexican brown and black tar heroin.”

LaPorte County Metro Operations purchased heroin only once in calendar year 2005, however three purchases of heroin have already been made in 2006.

                                          “The abuse of marijuana remains a significant problem within Indiana.”

In 2005, LaPorte Metro Operations seized, through controlled buys and purchases, 41.49 pounds of marijuana with an estimated street value of over $50,000.00.

“Oxycontin continues to be threat in Indiana.  Hydrocodone and benzodiazepines remain the
primary pharmaceutical drugs of abuse throughout the state. 

In 2004, Indiana expanded their prescription-monitoring program to include
pharmaceutical controlled substances in Schedules II through V.”

In 2005, Metro investigated and seized Schedule substances in 24 cases.  In addition, 7 prescription fraud related cases were investigated.

            Metro has seen a significant rise in the purchase and/or theft of meth precursors including pseudoephedrine and anhydrous ammonia.  Metro is currently involved in several such cases, both in filing criminal charges in LaPorte County and in providing information and intelligence to agencies in adjoining counties where some suspects reside. 

            Recent increases in the diversity of the population in LaPorte and surrounding areas have added another dimension to crimes committed in LaPorte County.   Identity theft, immigration violations and new faces in drug trafficking have strengthened the need for cooperation between LaPorte Metro and State and Federal Law Enforcement officers.

            The following highlight the LaPorte County Metro Operations Michigan City Unit activities in 2005:

Total cases 441.

Total arrests 263.

Weapons seized 18.

Cocaine seized 399.5 grams

Marijuana seized 19.8 pounds

Value of drugs seized $180,920.00.

                  The following highlight the LaPorte County Metro Operations LaPorte  unit activities in 2005.

Total cases 117.

Total arrests 53.

Cocaine seized 36 grams

Marijuana seized 21.69 pounds

Value of drugs seized $27,798.00

Below is a chart showing the number of cases filed to date  from the combined units of Michigan City and LaPorte.

VICTIM  ADVOCATE DIVISION

            The Victim Advocate Program is the only one of its kind that functions within the criminal legal system.  Victim advocates work closely with law enforcement, prosecuting attorneys, probation departments, clerk’s office, the courts, and community agencies to best inform and educate a victim.  Advocates provide services to individuals who have been victimized during any crime with special emphasis on such crimes as domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, burglary, rape and alcohol related criminal conduct where injury or property damage has occurred.

            Advocates have access to information that will assist victims of crime with case status, court dates, court ordered restitution and Violent Crime Compensation Fund procedures, orders of protection, and options and referrals to other community and statewide resources.  Continuing education for the advocates include their attendance at conferences and seminars to receive updates on various topics, and to develop skills to offer appropriate support and crisis counseling when victimization occurs.

            The Victim Advocate Division has three advocates each based within the three major law enforcement jurisdictions the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Department, the LaPorte City Police Department, and the Superior Courthouse in Michigan City.  Service areas provided by the advocate located in the Sheriff’s Department include Rolling Prairie, Kingsford Heights, Westville, and Purdue North Central.  LaPorte City residents receive services from the advocate assigned to the LaPorte City Police Department.  The communities of  Michigan City, Trail Creek, and Long Beach receive services from the advocate located at the Michigan City court house.