Franklin County launches Community Corrections program

(BROOKVILLE, Ind.) – Franklin County has launched a Community Corrections program in an effort to reduce repeat offenses. 

Community Corrections is a sentencing placement where an offender could be placed on home detention, be forced to report daily to Court Services, and receive intensive treatment. 

Previously, Franklin County judges could either sentence an offender to jail or probation. 

This new program provides more stringent supervision than probation, such as daily reporting, random drug screening, intensive out-patient drug treatment, anger

management or domestic violence intervention courses, and community service locally.

It was implemented by Franklin County judges Alex Dudley and Clay Kellerman and comes at no cost to the county. 

“Judge Kellerman and I began working on implementing Community Corrections as soon as I took office last year in hopes of having this operating by 2026. It was an ambitious goal, but we have seen the successes it has created in surrounding counties,” Judge Dudley said. 

The Indiana Department of Corrections awarded Franklin County Courts a yearly grant of $175,445 to operate Community Corrections.  

The funding will also be used to partner with Nate Striegler of Whitewater Counseling who will conduct the intensive out-patient drug treatment and anger management/domestic violence intervention programming. 

The judges say this program will bring a substantial benefit to the community. 

“Not only will it allow us to better supervise offenders, but through services such as drug treatment and/or anger management and domestic violence intervention, it will teach them necessary skills in an effort to allow them to be productive members of our community rather than repeat offenders once they are no longer under Court supervision.” said Judge Dudley.

Amanda Tebbe has served as a Franklin County probation officer since 2017 and is credited for helping develop the program. She will now serve as Director of Court Services and Director of Community Corrections.  

In addition to Tebbe and Stiegler, Ande Beasley was hired as a Case Manager to supervise the offenders placed on Community Corrections.  

Prior to the launch, Franklin County was one of only three counties in Indiana without Community Corrections.